On Translation Variation In Lin Yutang's English Version Of Six Chapters Of A Floating Life: A Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Among classical Chinese novels,Six Chapters of a Floating Life,with its fine language,sincere passion and touching content,attracted Mr.Lin Yutang deeply.Lin once said that he liked Six Chapters of a Floating Life all along,and he took an oath to render this book into English.After revising the version by dozens of times,Lin Yutang finally translated this book into English in 1935.and it proved to be very popular among common British readers when it was first published.It is said that this version is probably the best example that can show the highest level of his translation skills.Many scholars inside and outside China have studied it from different perspectives,such as cultural differences,cultural hybridity,equivalent effect and post colonialism;these studies have focused on Lin Yutang's translation skills and strategies, and the gain and loss,the advantages and disadvantages,beauty in culture and so on.In Lin's version,there are many additions,deletions and adaptations.This can be labeled as "not being faithful" within the framework of traditional translation theories. However,it was very popular among common British readers and exerted great social impact at that time.The traditional translation theories cannot give a satisfactory explanation to this phenomenon,but Hans J.Vermeer's skopos theory offers a new perspective to probe into it.According to skopos theory,the prime principle determining any translation process is the purpose(Skopos)of the overall translational action.The top-ranking rule for any translation is thus the "Skopos rule".Different translation strategies should be used for different purposes or intended functions.Translation is not merely a transferring activity between two languages.It also includes all kinds of cultural factors.Therefore,it is of great importance to solve the problem of different cultures in the translating process.When translating Six Chapters of a Floating Life,Lin Yutang adopted such translation strategies as amplification,deletion,edition,narration, summarization,combination,and adaptation,which,according to Prof.Huang Zhonglian's definition,are translation variation strategies.Lin's practice not only suits the conventions of the English language,but also keeps the characteristics of Chinese culture.And according to the skopos theory,the author analyzes the examples chosen from the version and draws the conclusion that Lin Yutang adopted the specific translation variation strategies in translating Six Chapters of a Floating Life to fulfill his specific purpose,that is,to introduce Chinese culture to the westerners and he also set a good example of using translation variation strategies skillfully and sucessfully for us.