On Child-Orientation As A Principle In The English-Chinese Translation Of Fairy Tales-An Analysis With Reference To Alice In Wonderland

As a bright pearl in children's literature, the fairy tale (FT) can specially benefit the cultivation of children's imagination. Due to the unique characteristics of children, the main readers of FT, writers tend to follow the principle of child-orientation in their writing. The author holds that the principle should also be followed in English-Chinese FT translation. In fact, the paper is an attempt at testifying the assumption.Child-orientation is the principle of FT, revealed in Chinese history of FT translation and the principle's prominence in children's literature. The analysis of several translated versions of Alice in Wonderland shows that child-orientation is the principle in FT complete translation, including the choice of words or sentences, the representation of rhetorical expressions and the conveyance of cultural differences. The leading position of translation variation in FT translation market displays that child-orientation stays to be the principle in this translation style and to a large extent decides what actual translation strategies translators have to choose. In all, child-orientation is the principle in the English-Chinese translation of the fairy tale.The paper consists of six parts. Part one is the introduction to the topic and the construction of the thesis. Part two gives a brief introduction to Chinese FT translation history, the influence of child-orientation reflected in the process, present studies related to FT translation, and the significance of FT study on future FT development. Part three makes an exploration to the birth, advancement and establishment of child-orientation in FT as well as FT characteristics due to child-orientation and draws a conclusion on today's meaning of child-orientation. Part four makes a tentative analysis of several translated versions of Alice in Wonderland from the angles of words, sentences, rhetorical devices, cultural differences and comments that good FT translation usually follows the principle of child-orientation. Part five is a discussion on the popularity of translation variation, comparison of complete translation and translation variation, and child-orientation's directing role in translation variation. Part six is the conclusion of the paper.