On Translation Of Children's Literature With Reception Theory

Translators and target readers of children's literature are in different groups at the most occasions, their respective literary competences are quite different. For a long period, most translators have not paid serious attention to children's literary competence in translating practice, which causes many translated versions not to be suitable for children to read. That is because theoretical studies on translation of children's literature are far from being all-sided and systematic, and can not provide effective guidance for translating practice. Hereby, it is necessary and even exigent to seek the theoretical support and guidance through the further study on translation of children's literature.Reception Theory establishes the centric status of the reader, and considers that the reader's reading and reception plays decisive roles in the realization of the literary work's meaning. Applying Reception Theory to translation of children's literature can instruct translators especially the adult ones, when they are actively participating in comprehending and creating, pay more attention to children's literary competence, horizon of expectations and children's centric status in the process of reception. To the effect that the acceptability of the translated works of children's literature can be improved.The thesis firstly looks back the current situations and theoretical as well as practical developments of translation of children's literature; secondly, according to children's literary competence and characteristics of children's literature, the author points out the existent problems and deficiencies; thirdly, based on Reception Theory , the thesis makes comparisons between Chinese translated versions of Charlotte's Web respectively translated by adult translators and one child translator, and analyzes the differences and causes from perspectives of diction choice, meaning conversion, cultural transfer and aesthetic recreation. At last, the author tries to put forward suggestions on guidelines and strategies for the translation of children's literature.