Research On The English Translation Of Flowers In The Mirror From The Perspective Of Feminist Translation Theory

Flowers in the Mirror is an ancient Chinese masterpiece which advocates and praises feminist spirit. Thus only a small number of researches on the English version of Flowers in the Mirror have been found. The far complete English version was translated by Lin Tai-yi who did the work at the invitation of UNESCO. This thesis aims to make research on the English version of Flowers in the Mirror from the perspective of feminist translation theory. The thesis attributes its theoretical sources to the related thoughts of western feminist translation theorists, Sherry Simon, Luise Von Flotow and Barbara Godard. Feminist translation proceeds from the feminist standpoint, and fights for women’s equal rights with men, and speaks highly of women’s consciousness of independence. The translator makes use of interventionist translation strategies such as rewriting to stress the female translator’s subjectivity. The original writer advocates equality between women and men, and the work advocates and praises feminist spirit and lifts the status of women. In addition, female translator endeavors to emphasize the sense of self and make women visible in language. She would not like to be a humble invisible translator, who wants women’s voice to be heard and their image to be seen. The feminist translation strategy of rewriting highlights collaboration among the writer, the work and the translator. Therefore, feminist translation is faithful to the writing project, namely a feminist writing project, rather than just the source text and the writer. Feminist translation strategy stresses the identity of women and breaks the conventional gender discrimination. It demands that women become independent instead of being affiliated to men. Language as a translation medium plays the role of a cultural communication tool but traditionally it has served as a manipulative tool. The translator appeals for women’s power of discourse and is strongly against placing women and translation in the lower social position.The author of this thesis mainly makes the qualitative analysis and is assisted with some quantitative analysis to systematically analyze the feminist translation in the English version. Based on the feminist translation theory, the author makes further study on expressions of female awareness and phenomenon of women’s oppression and subjugation by men in the English version. The study shows that the work, the writer as well as the translator are all faithful to the writing project. The translator applies the interventionist translation strategy to underline her subjectivity and stress and strengthen the idea of the female’s equal position with men. She is devoted to constructing women’s power of discourse, praising women’s wisdom and talent as well as women’s independence and liberation consciousness.