A Brief Survey Of British And American Poetry Translation In China, 1864-1966

Poetry translation plays an indispensable role in literature translation and exerts great effects on new Chinese poetry. Yet, no introduction to poetry translation study could be complete without consideration of the discipline in an historical perspective. However, the relevant research upon the history of poetry translation is far from satisfactory. Therefore, this thesis is intended to present a general review of British and American poetry translation in China so as to provide the authentic historical accounts and the reference for poetry translation study.Based on the results of the expert researches, scientific approaches to both material collection and concrete analysis are adopted in expectation of a more complete and objective narration of poetry translation. With these advanced and effective approaches, the author has spent nearly one and a half year launching a thorough investigation on poetry translation in China from 1864 to 1966 and has come to a tentative conclusion as expounded in the thesis.The thesis is unfolded according to the historical development order, with the factual information, disposed of by computer, as the foundation. It is worth mentioning that figures and tables are employed on a large scale to embody the developing process concisely and explicitly.As for the hundred years of poetry translation, it is divided into three major periods. In each period, a brief introduction is generalized, representative translators with their works and propositions are demonstrated and upon them the specific periodical features are consequent. By such analysis, the author has outlined the sequence of poetry translation events and the process of its theoriesand techniques development.With the minulc observation and analysis of poetry translation development, the author has finally presented a pithy summary and has researched her tentative conclusions that (1) poetry translation has gradually confirmed its independence as a literary branch in literature translation, (2) in the dynamic process of poetry translation development, there exists an intrinsic continuity, which is embodied in the assimilation and inheritance of different translation theories, propositions and translation techniques, and poetry translation becomes more systematic and scientific, (3) poetry translation has motivated the thriving of native poetry by supplying diverse samples of literary forms and creative inspirations.In the end, the author points out that poetry translation is a self-remolding and self-adapting system and that the study of its history is necessarily to be furthered and penetrated.