On Lin Shu's Creative Treason In Translating Uncle Tom's Cabin-A Perspective Of Skopos Theory

The present study of literary translation is no longer constrained by traditional equivalence-oriented translation theories. It takes more extra-textual factors into consideration. The once prevailing translation criterion—"faithfulness" was considered as the only standard for a good translation. However, as the study on translator's subjectivity goes further and further, "creative treason" as an important and typical feature of literary translation wins more attention. Traditional translation theories hold that a translator should minimize his creativeness in translation process, while comparative literature encourages its full play in literary translation and holds that creative treason in literary translation is unavoidable. Creative treason as translator's purposeful efforts for better translation is doubtlessly a purposeful activity. Skopos theory, developed from German Functionalist Approaches, holds that translation is a form of translational action based on a source text and the prime principle determining any translation process is the purpose (Skopos) of the overall translational action. As a break from the traditional equivalence-oriented linguistic translation theory, Skopos theory can offer a dynamic and multi-dimensional perspective for the study of translator's creative treason in literary translation.Firstly, the author expatiates on the development and some basic concepts of Skopos theory as well as a brief interpretation of creative treason in literary translation. Then, within the framework of Skopos theory, the author takes Lin Shu's translation of Uncle Tom's Cabin as a case study, and probes into the necessity and significance of his creative treason in translation. Lin Shu was a debatable translator in late Qing period. His translations were appreciated as well as criticized. Traditional equivalence-oriented theorists hold that Lin Shu's translations cannot be recognized as "translation" because the structures as well as the contents of the originals were destroyed. Although they were unfaithful to the originals, yet Lin Shu's translations were warmly welcomed by the readers in his time and had great social effects. Consequently, we should not totally deny them just because they were not quite equivalent to the originals.