A Study Of Lin Yutang’s Aesthetic Views On Translation

Lin Yutang was awarded as the Master of Chinese language. In his lifetime he created an abundance of literary works and translation works. He is one of few writers who compose in both Chinese and English language. A large number of literature works he wrote in English were deeply rooted in Chinese culture. He is figuratively described as the cultural ambassador who built up the bridge between the East and the West. Meanwhile with his fruitful results in translation theory and translation practice, Lin has also made tremendous contributions to Chinese translation study. However, due to the social and historical limitations, researches on Lin Yutang’s translation theory and practice have not reached to the same amount as researches on other great translator. This does not match with the status of Lin Yutang and his significant contributions to Chinese translation field. So the author believes it ought to conduct a deeper exploration of Lin’s translation theory and practice from wide perspectives and deeper meanings. Based on the inheritance and spreading of the traditional research methodology, the thesis unifies both micro and macro methods, both static and dynamic methods.Lin Yutang’s deep understanding of Chinese culture and western culture and his skillful use has laid a solid foundation for his accomplishment in translation. For the first time in history, he introduced the concept of "beauty" into translation theory. He advocated that translation is a kind of art in which a good translator should take the aesthetic quality into his translation process. His viewpoints have produced a tremendous and lasting influence in Chinese translation theory field. Based on the combination of traditional Chinese translation theories and predecessor’s researches on translation aesthetics, the author aims to make an exploration of Lin Yutang and his translation theory from the perspective of aesthetic object and aesthetic subject. Aesthetic subject refers to Lin Yutang himself and his aesthetic views on translation. Aesthetic object refers to Moment in Peking, a representative work by Lin Yutang. By analyzing the two perspectives, the thesis aims to present the aesthetic quality in his translation works. In terms of aesthetic subject, the thesis starts with a study of Lin Yutang’s translation practice from the perspective of "beauty". The author reviews the western aesthetic and Chinese translation aesthetic. The main purpose is to explore the factors that have produced influences on Lin Yutang’s translation aesthetics. Lin borrowed many elements from Chinese ancient cultures so it played an important role in forming his aesthetic views on translation. He put forward three criteria; these are "faithfulness""smoothness""aesthetic quality". The author places more emphasis on the third criteria "aesthetic quality" and draw a conclusion of the aesthetic characteristics of Lin’s translation theory. In terms of aesthetic object, the thesis focuses on the researches on Lin’s translation from the aesthetic perspective. The author takes Lin’s representative work Moment in Peking as the example of analysis and explores the methods Lin employed when he interpreted Chinese elements. By doing this the thesis aims to present the beauty in Lin’s translation practice. Moment in Peking is the very example to prove the aesthetic value in Lin Yutang’s translation theory and the representative work of his translation thoughts.Lin Yutang made outstanding achievements which can not be replaced by others. The author is intended to make some contributions in promoting study and researches on Lin Yutang nowadays.