Translations Of Foreign Novels In China From 1898 To 1919: A Survey

Translated works serve as a best window open to the other nations. They can have long-term effects on whole languages and cultures. Translation history study not only narrates the development, but also attempts to analyze the micro (i.e. textual) and macro (i.e. social/historical/intercultural) aspects of the translations. In this research, Causal Model proposed by Williams & Chesterman (2004) will be applied, i.e. translations themselves are both effects (of various causes) and causes (of various effects).The present study conducts a comprehensive survey of foreign translated novels published in China from 1898 to 1919, examining the translators, press approaches and the numbers of translations. Furthermore, based on the results of the survey, the dissertation explains the reasons for the boom of novel translation at such a particular historic time and the translating methods the translators adopting, analyses the characteristics manifested in these translations, and summarizes the social- cultural influences brought by these translations. The results of the research will shed light on our understanding of the translations in China at the end of the 19~th century and the beginning of the 20~th century and translation itself.This thesis analyzes the reasons for translation boom from following aspects: historical factor, novel status, advanced technology, newspapers and magazines, remuneration and readers. The author attaches the importance to the influences. The translations introduce the new western ideas and narrative methods into China. As Lin Shu is the only outstanding literary translators of the late Qing period, the author clearly generalizes his contributions in three aspects: on the novel status; on the writers and novels of May Fourth period; on the ancient Chinese prose. And the difference between his translations and the Zhou Brothers is carefully compared.Although the quality of translated novels or created novels as a whole is constantly low commented by many critics, they make great contributions towards the development of Chinese literary history. The development of modern Chinese novels as a unity is a very important stage: it inherits the achievement of the traditional novels while it inspires the later new literary pattern of 20~th century.In summary, translations are always matching with the needs of the society and culture. On the other hand, they promote the mutual development of translation and culture.