A Research On Lin Yutang’s Self-translation From The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Lin Yutang is an outstanding writer and a successful translator who has masteredeastern and western learning. In addition, he is also a self-translator who is both theauthor and translator of his works. He has translated a lot of Chinese and westernclassical works in his life, which promotes communications between oriental andoccidental cultures. At present, the domestic studies on Lin Yutang are focused on histheories and his traditional translation practice while a rare attention is paid to hisself-translation. As a particular sort of translation, self-translation has always been onthe periphery of the translation studies. On the basis of Lin Yutang s self-translated textBetween Tears and Laughter, this thesis adopts the qualitative research method and isaimed at making a profound analysis of his self-translation activities from theperspective of skopos theory.As the core of German functionalist translation theory, skopos theory isskopos-oriented and focuses on the situation and readers of the target language. Thistheory breaks the linguistic paradigm of the traditional mode of translation studies,shakes the paramount position of the original text and turns the translator s subjectivityto advantage to realize the intended functions. Based on the theoretical framework ofskopos theory, this thesis is intended to conduct a case study of Lin Yutang sself-translation of Between Tears and Laughter. The author briefly introduces LinYutang s living conditions and education background, summarizes the contents on thebasis of the background information of Between Tears and Laughter and makes adetailed analysis of the translation brief for Between Tears and Laughter: the purpose,addressees, time and place of reception, medium and intended functions. Afterwards,the author makes a comparative study of the original and self-translation from theperspective of skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule, sorting out the translationstrategies and methods adopted by Lin.The findings of this research are as follows: in the process of self-translation, LinYutang succeeds in grasping the exact meaning of the original and taking advantage ofhis identity of a self-translator, flexibly adopting various translation strategies and methods, and finally realizing his skopos. To be specific, Lin Yutang obeys thecoherence rule and domesticating translation strategy to meet target readers readinghabit and make the translation meaningful. Accordingly, he adopts translation methodslike substitution, addition, omission, conversion and back-translation. Lin also followsthe fidelity rule and foreignizing translation strategy to satisfy the target readersreading interest and maintain the exotic flavor of the original. Meanwhile, he adoptstranslation methods like transliteration plus explanatory words and literal translationplus explanatory words.Skopos theory offers a new perspective to study Lin Yutang s self-translation. Itproves that Lin s adoptions of various translation strategies and methods in hisself-translation are based on his skopos and they are not only reasonable, but alsobeneficial for an adequate and ideal translation. This research broadens the views onLin Yutang s self-translation, and helps encourage bilingual writers to self-translatetheir own works for better communications between the oriental and occidental culturesand thoughts.The first chapter of this thesis is about an introduction of its research background,questions, significance and adopted approaches. The second chapter is in retrospect andcombs the contemporary research on self-translation at home and abroad, as well assome comments on Lin Yutang s translation and his self-translation. The third chapteris a brief introduction of the development of skopos theory, and demonstration oftranslation brief and the basic rules. In chapter four, the author gives a detailed analysisof Lin Yutang s self-translation Between Tears and Laughter from the perspective ofskopos theory. Finally, in chapter five, the author makes a summary of this thesis andpoints out the theoretical and practical significance, and the limitations in the researchas well.