A Study On The Foreignizing Strategies In The English Translation Of Lu Ding Ji

This is a study on the foreignizing strategies in the translation of Lu Ding Ji, conducted mainly on the basis of Venuti’s theories on foreignizing translation. Previous researches on the translation of Louis Cha’s novels are mostly interested in locating the domesticating strategies used by the translator, which are then justified with the skopos theory or Lefevere’s writings on rewriting; few have given any thought to the foreignizing strategies possibly adopted by the translator. That is why this study is conducted. Then why is Venuti cited for this study? Foreignizing translation, as defined by Venuti, is intended to resist cultural hegemony by European and American countries. Given the marginal status China is condemned to in its cultural exchanges with the West, and the respectable artistry and distinctive Chinese characteristics of Cha’s novels, Venuti’s theories on foreignizing translation seem well justified for a study on the English translation of Lu Ding Ji.It’s note-worthy that foreignizing translation, as defined by Venuti, doesn’t merely refer to specific foreignizing strategies, such as an unusual way of discourse, but also to the choice of a marginal text to for translation. Besides, foreignizing translation doesn’t run counter to fluent translation. A foreignizing translation can also be presented in an endearingly fluent language. On the other hand, it is known that a translator chooses to foreignize either to preserve the national culture in the original text, or to imitate the unique writing style of the author. In light of this, foreignizing strategies will be examined from two aspects in this study:form and content. The former refers to distinctive styles of speech, while the latter refers to writings concerning the Chinese national culture. Louis Cha is famous for his creative use of the Chinese language, and his characters, too, are easily distinguished from each other with their distinctive ways of talking. On the other hand, Cha is reputed as an "encyclopedic writer". His novels are profuse with allusions to and descriptions of Chinese landscapes, history, customs, religions, etc. A comprehensive analysis from these aspects will hopefully produce a relatively objective result.It is found that John Minford, the translator, has made big efforts to foreignize in both of the above-mentioned aspects in order to give as true a picture as possible of the original. Literal translation is the main strategy the translator has employed to give a full representation of the cultural elements in the original and of Cha’s writing style. Meanwhile, to guard against excessive foreignizing, which might damp the interest of the reader, the translator has adopted some auxiliary strategies, like attachment of notes (including a glossary at the beginning of the translation, inter-text notes and over-translation) and selective foreignizing (by domesticating in places that are of less importance of simply leaving them out). Just as Venuti says, foreignizing translation doesn’t run counter to fluent translation. These auxiliary strategies have greatly added to the readability of the translation. In one word, these foreignizing efforts have played an important part in preserving the literary and cultural value of the original, and that is why The Deer and The Cauldron, the English version of Lu Ding Ji, is a great success compared with The Book and The Sword, the English rendition of another of Cha’s series. Instead of being reduced to a mere popular novel, as the latter is, it is held in high esteem among English scholars on the Chinese culture.After an examination of the problems arising from insufficient foreignizing strategies in the translation of Lu Ding Ji, the study, in light of Venuti’s writings on the "elite" readership, concludes with a tentative proposal:to promote foreignizing translation, or at least to encourage the coexistence of foreignizing and domesticating translations, one for the average reader and the other for the elite.