Lin Yutang's Translation Strategies In His Adapted Works

As one type of translation variations, adaptation is viewed as a procedure employed to achieve an equivalence of situations wherever cultural mismatches are encountered. As a famous and profitable writer and translator in Chinese modern literary history, LinYutang contributed a lot to introduce some important Chinese ancient classics to the Westerners by way of adaptation. But up to now, the research about Lin Yutang's translations since 1990s is mainly concentrated on the basic discussion on Lin's translation theory, the outline of Lin's translation activities, and the analysis of Lin's translated versions of some specific Chinese ancient classics, such as Six Chapters of a Floating Life. His adapted works do not attract the researchers'attention, which motivates this thesis to try to fill the blank from the perspective of the functionalist theory.The functionalist theory put forward by some German scholars in the 1970s is a very influecial translational school in the West. Unlike traditional translation theories, the functionalist theory only regards the source text as an information provider. In translating, the translator selects the information for translation to fulfill the translation purpose and meet the target readers'needs in accordance with the commissioners'requirements. Hence, it has opened a new perspective to E-C and C-E translation studies and practice.Based on functionalist translation theory, this thesis tries to explore the major factors influencing Lin Yutang's text selection and to analyze his translation methods. It thinks the commissioner/initiator, the translator, and the TT receiver has played an important role in his text selection. It analyzes the translator from three aspects: Lin Yutang's translation theory, his translation Skopos and his aesthetic pursuit. Concerning about the initiator and commissioner, Pearl S. Buck and her Husband Richard J. Walsh are key persons to analyze. Finally, this thesis uses examples from Lin Yutang's adapted works to prove that his application of documentary translation and instrumental translation are successful in making the Western readers understand the Chinese ancient classics because they help keep the original character of the source texts. In this way, it can be inferred from the great impact of Lin Yutang's adapted works on the Western world that his adapted works have strengthened the understanding and communication between the West and China.