Variation Translation

On the basis of Huang Zhonglian's research and from a philosophical perspective of intersubjectivity, this thesis has made it its primary aim to do a follow-up study in variation translation of literary works in particular. According to Husserl, an eminent contemporary German philosopher, intersubjectivity refers to the nature of relations between different subjects (SUBJEKT). Chen Daliang (2005) also points out with a foresight that in translation studies, the theory of intersubjectivity can be plausibly expected to provide a methodology for all social sciences on a large scale, superior to the formally held metaphysical thought of dualism.Variation translation, however, has long been ignored in both China and other countries by the mainstream of translation theories, though dozens of studies have been carried out initially by others as well as by Huang Zhonglian (1999, 2001), a well-recognized pioneer of China in this field. It is still looked down upon, however, by the majority of scholars and has not yet received its due attention for studies. Huang has been focusing his studies of variation translation mainly on intelligence and oral translations from theory and practice.My study aims to verify the objective existence of variation translation and give it a methodological support. It focuses mainly on translation variation in two kinds. One kind is illustrated by Heinuyutianlu (HYL), a novel translated by Wei Yi and Lin Shu from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This most influential American literary work has no doubt incurred debates for its variation translation ever since its publication in the first half of the 20th century in China. The other kind is represented by several English versions of Hongloumeng, a renowned Chinese classic written by Cao Xueqin & Gao E in the Qing Dynasty. They include 2 full versions and 8 partial versions. This paper tries to analyze some outstanding characteristics of variation translation and other factors of intersubjectivity in the...