Ideological Manipulation On Translation: A Study On Lu Xun's Translation Theory

Hermans once pointed out that translation was a kind of manipulation to the original texts from the perspective of target culture. The author tends to apply ideological manipulation into the study of Lu Xun' s translation theory and activities under the theoretical frame of Manipulation. As one of the most important controlling factors in translation process, ideology plays a crucial role in the manipulation of translation theories. At the same time, translation theories also have influence on socio-ideology. This thesis aims at discussing how ideology has manipulated translation theories in the case of Lu Xun with Toury's translation norms and Lefevere's manipulation ideas, together with Zohar's discussion on the position of cultural translation.Translation can not be formed in vacuum environment. On the contrary, as a product of a specific social, cultural and historical background, it reflects the ideology and political ambitions of translators. Ideology manipulates translators' theories from four aspects:motivation, attitudes towards dominant ideologies, original texts selections and translation strategies. Conversely, a translator's theories also have impact on the social ideology and his readers'cultural consciousness. This thesis focuses on the discussion about the interactions among Lu Xun's ideology, social ideology and translation theory. With the social characteristics of semi-colonization and semi-feudalism, Lu Xun's translation theory has been stamped by ideology and politics. In the process of conflicts with other dominant ideologies, Lu Xun gradually formed his own unique ideology and systematic translation theory. In the viewpoints of Western Orientalism, he realized the deteriorated national qualities and the urgency of revolution. He had chosen lots of original texts from the oppressed countries, trying to arouse national consciousness of resistance. His adoption of foreignizing helped form baihua and new literary models in China. He contributed a lot to modern Chinese literary translation history.Ideology and translation are closely related. It is a nice try to explore new perspectives to study translation by taking "Manipulation" as a theoretical background to discuss ideological relationship between Lu Xun's translation and society. The author hoped that this thesis could be a little help for understanding the essence of translation, the role ideology plays in the process of translation and especially the role translators play in translation practice, culture rebuilding and ideology transitions.