On The Creative Treason Of Translation In The Study Of Comparative Literature

Translation study in the field of comparative literature is on the upswing. Due to its cross-cultural nature, translation study has become one of the most popular fields of research in comparative literature. And it has developed into a systematic branch of learning: Medio-Translatology. If we say comparative literature is a discipline of attention in the present international scholarly pursuits, then, translation study is the highlight of the discipline.The creative treason of translation is especially a research topic with unique value in the study of comparative literature, as it distinctively reflects the phenomena of Impact, reform, and distortion between literatures of different cultural backgrounds. Starting with the study of the creative treason of translation, we are most likely to deepen our study on translation and comparative literature from the perspective of comparative culture. The creative treason of translation results from cultural differences and its most striking characteristics is introducing the original text to an environment that the original author had never expected, and furthermore, it has changed the genre of the original created by the author. In the horizons of comparative literature, the creative treason of translation is hi essence a cultural phenomenon.This paper focuses on the discussion of the manifestations and causes of the creative treason of literary translation. By analyzing the typical manifestations of the creative treason, the author first elaborates its literary and cultural significance and then proceeds to point out that cultural differences and conditions of host culture are two main factors causing its occurrence. Against the background of the cultural turn in the study of comparative literature, the author intends to make the study on the creative treason of literary translation a penetrating point into the cultural aspect of comparative literature, revealing its unique value as cultural study.This paper consists of three parts. The first part discusses the definition, characteristics, significance and typical manifestations of the creative treason of literary translation, pointing out its functions in literature acceptance and spread and its value in literary study and cultural study. The second part tries to explore causes in cultural differences, pointing out that cultural differences and difficulties in language transformation a translator encounters in translation determines that literarytranslation is a cross-cultural creative treason. On the one hand, the creative treason can result in a value-added translation, and at the same time, reactions of readers to a translated text are decisive factors. On the other hand, the creative treason of translation may lead to the loss of cultural messages of the original text, and this kind of loss often possesses great value in literary and cultural studies. The third part tries to probe into causes of the creative treason of translation in conditions of host culture. In this part, emphasis is laid on discussing how, in the different periods of Chinese translation history, the host culture selectively brought foreign cultures into its own orbit of development. The author points out that only translators who consciously meet with the standard of the host culture and adapt themselves to host culture conditions can make their translated texts produce profound influences. Translated literature reformed by the traditional style and language of Chinese literature would make it easier to blend with Chinese literature and thus becomes a component part.The concluding remarks are inspirations drawn from the above discussions and study, intending to bring out further its cultural significance and value of the creative treason of translation. The author points out that such a study enables us to explore intensively the ways and limitations of influence between literatures of different cultural backgrounds. Literary translation in China needs to take advantage of its traditional culture and translators should be re...