Domestication And Foreignization

Translation is an activity involving usually two languages and two national cultures. Conditioned by the strikingly multiplied dimensions of the worldwide cultural exchanges in recent years, the focus of contemporary translation studies has gradually shifted to the culture-related contemplation upon translation practice. Domestication and foreignization, which are closely related to the linguistic and cultural factors in translation, have become one of the key topics of academic concerns in translation circles nowadays. From the perspective of the factors concerning the purposes of translating and the factors concerning the individualities of translators, this thesis applies the theory of "Skopostheorie" and the notion of translators' subjectivity to explore the choice from between domestication and foreignization in literary translation. It is organized in five parts.Introduction overviews the previous studies on domestication and foreignization, summarizing two points on which they were in common. One school of studies held that domestication and foreignization were so incompatible with each other that only one strategy was the better way of representation in the process of translation; the other school, contending that domestication and foreignization could be mutually complementary rather than mutually exclusive and that translators should try to seek a balance between them, focused its studies on the conditions of timing as to when to adopt the strategy of domestication and when to take the strategy of foreignization. Undoubtedly, the previous studies were prescriptive on the whole, the ultimate concern of which was to seek specific translation principles to guide the choice from between domestication and foreignization in the actual translation practice.Chapter One, "Fundamental Issues of Domestication and Foreignization", begins with the definition of culture and that of language, next explores the close relationship between culture, language and translation, then defines domestication and foreignization, and lastly expounds their two basic operation levels: linguistic level and cultural level.Chapter Two, "Factors Concerning the Purposes of Translating". Any translation is conducted with purposes, to which translators choose appropriate strategies accordingly to adjust. In this chapter, the author approaches the factors concerning thedifferent purposes of translating, such as attracting target readers, shouldering the responsibilities of translators, promoting cultural communication and seeking economic benefits to explore how these factors influence the choice from between domestication and foreignization in literary translation.Chapter Three, "Factors Concerning the Individualities of Translators". Translators carry a big weight in the process of translation and are the decisive factor in choosing translation strategies, so their individualities are bound to exert an influence on their choice of strategies. This chapter examines some specific factors concerning translators' individualities, such as cultural attitudes, preferential translation theories, favorite translation styles and literary accomplishments so as to discover how they influence translators' choice from between domestication and foreignization.What is summarized in Conclusion of this thesis is based on the above analysis that, although there have already been some recognized translation principles and rules concerning the choice from between domestication and foreignization, it does not mean that translators should remain hidebound in their presence. The author does not think the conclusions drawn by the previous studies are practical and proper in all respects or feasible a 11 the time. She holds that: First, both domestication and foreignization are two alternative and indispensable strategies in literary translation, the relationship between which is a complementary梤ather than incompatible梠ne. Both have the practicability, necessity and rationality to justify their feasibility in the process of translation; second...