On Translation Of Children's Literature From The Perspective Of Manipulation Theory

From the perspective of manipulation theory by Andre Lefevere, an American translation theorist, we probe into the manipulation in translation of children's literature, indicating that extra-literary factors, ideology in particular, have tremendous influence on translation practice. Zhao Yuanren's translation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will be analyzed as a reference to illustrate ideological manipulation in translation of children's literature.As a representative of the Manipulation School, Lefevere declares literary translations are not merely lexical shifts, nor introduction of new literary forms. We should also take into consideration the ideological influence on the translator and his implementation of translation strategy. The relationship between ideology and translation is multifarious. Every step in the translation process, that is, from the choice of texts to be translated to the implementation of translating strategy till the acceptance of the translation is influenced by ideologies held either by translators, patrons or readers. Ideology also exerts its influence on individual translators, including passive manipulation and active manipulation: the former results from the translator's social identity and the latter links with the translator's individuality.The uniqueness of children's literature lies in that its producers (writer, editor, publisher and reviewer) are adults, while its readers are children. When the adult translators render for children, they bring to translation the socially prevalent and their own views on children and views on children's literature. We take Zhao Yuanren and his translation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a case study to testify our views. First, we analyze macro ideological climate in the May 4^th period, indicating ideological factors, such as views on children, views on language reform and unification as well as other factors have tremendous influence on children's literature translation. Then, we focus on Zhao Yuanren's ideological agenda. On the one hand, as an advocator of the Movement of New Literature, his translating practice is influenced by his view on language reform and unification; on the other hand, his translating practice is guided by his view on children and their literature.In light of Lefevere's manipulation theory, we hold that translation of children's literature, like translation of adults' literature, is manipulated by ideologies which manifested mainly through views on children and their literature. In introducing this cultural perspective to study translation of children's literature, we hope to arouse more academic interest from other researchers to this special literary genre.