Studies On The Translation Theory And Translation Practice Of Lin Yutang

Dr. Lin Yutang was a renowned scholar, translator and writer who attained a high rank and great international reputation among his contemporaries. In his 60-year academic pursuit, taking advantage of his strong background of education, religion, philosophy and culture, be inherited innovatively the modern translation theory of China, and made an illuminating academic breakthrough linguistically, aesthetically and psychologically. Simultaneously, he translated and introduced volumes of classical Chinese works, making important contribution to the Sino- foreign cultural exchange. This thesis analyzes from the perspective of translation study Lin Yutang's translation activities, translation theory and translation practice. For certain causes Dr. Lin and his works received no so unbiased evaluation and deserved recognition as they should have, especially in the Mainland of China. In the prime of his natural and academic life, Dr. Lin contributed with an easy tone more than 50 volumes of novels, family essays and translated works, which mostly took the philosophy, history, literature and culture of China as the archetype. He himself confessed on numerous occasions that what he wanted to do was telling the World about China and China about the World. He made it, did it and said it. Even up to nowadays Dr. Lin has been the champion possessing the largest quantity of published English writings among the Chinese people. Continuous attempts to evaluate Dr. Lin Yutang scientifically and objectively have been made at short interval recently,because Dr. Lin translated volumes of classics of Chinese literature and philosophy with trenchant English, which contributed much to the Sino-foreign cultural exchange and were well-received among the foreign readership. According to the author's limited knowledge, there is a vast vacuum in the study on Dr. Lin Yutang, especially on his translation theory and practice. So this thesis will venture to make initial efforts and attempts seeking ready and meaningful accesses to a comprehensive, thorough analysis on Dr. Lin Yutang's translation, with a hope to fill the academic vacancy. The following thesis subsumes three chapters in addition to the Introduction and the Conclusion. The Introduction provides a succinct account of Dr. Lin Yutang's life, background and his salient achievement. Chapter one presents the three stages of Dr. Lin's translation activities and English writing, combining with a dissection on factors which influenced the foundation and changes of his translation theory. The First Stage: 1927---l936 The SecondStage: l936---1966 The Third Stage: l966---1976 Chapter two analyzes the origin, development, impact and the true value of Dr. Lin's translation theory. The analyses are based on his two related papers: On Translation and On Poetry?Translation. Accompanied is a comparative study on Dr. Lin's and other people's translation theories, i.e., the theories of Yan Fu, Lu Xun, Fu Lei, Guo Moruo, Xu Yuanchong etc. in the East and Peter Newmark, Eugene A. Nida in the West. â…  Background of Dr. Lin Yutang's translation theory â…¡ Standards of translation â…¢ Nature of translation â…£ Poetry translation â…¤ Hallmarks of Dr.Lin's translation theoiy (inheritance and development) â…¥ Reexamination of Dr. Lin Yutang's translation Chapter three provides, a complete picture of his translated works with...