On The Translational Action Of Sidney Shapiro In Light Of Ideology And Translational Action

The advent of “cultural turn”, since the 1970 s, has offered a brand-new view for scholars who devote to translation studies wholeheartedly, which, in the meantime, brings along an expansion in the scope of translation studies. André Lefevere, as the pioneering figure among the Cultural School, systematically studied the manipulation of “three factors” of rewriting theory over translation activity and reviewed the interrelationship among poetics, ideology and translation. The manipulation of ideology over translation activities mainly embodies in the following aspects such as the selection of source texts, translation purposes and translation strategy, etc. In the meanwhile, the German Functionalist Approaches also steps into the vision of scholars who are engaged in translation studies since the 1970 s. Among them, the Theory of Translational Action proposed by Justa Holz Manttari laid great emphasis on the following three aspects: the actional aspects of translation process, the role of participants and the environment translation taking place.The outward translation of Chinese literary works in New China(1949-1966) initiated the outward translation model conducted by press under politics-oriented translation policy. The full-length “Red” novel Xin Er Nv Ying Xiong Zhuan translated by Sidney Shapiro, the American-Chinese translator, not only is fulfilled with revolutionary spirit and heroism, but also makes irreplaceable contribution to the establishment of New Chia’s positive image. At first, the translation of Daughters and Sons was published on the first issue of Chinese Literature, the only official magazine introducing contemporary Chinese literary works into western countries, on October, 1951. Subsequently, this translation entered the US market and published by Progressive Book Club in Canada in 1951, which was well received by foreign readers. The year of 1958 witnessed its single version published by the Foreign Language Press, which is credited with not only the first “Red” novel translated by Sidney Shapiro, but also the first “Red” novel introducing to the western world. Little attention, however, has been paid to the translation of Daughters and Sons although a profusion of scholars has researched translated works of Sidney Shapiro.Under the guidance of Theory of Translational Action, this thesis has manifested how ideology as a manipulating factor affects Sidney Shapiro’s translational action and the translation result, which mainly reflects on the manipulation of Shapiro’s translation purpose, translation strategy, translation methods and translation techniques. It can finally be drawn from this thesis by analyzing the manipulation of ideology over translation: at the beginning of founding of New China, driven by ideology and translation purposes, Sidney Shapiro applies proper translation strategy, translation methods and translation techniques. He not only successfully deals with the relationship between the source text and the translation of Daughters and Sons, but also takes the relationship among this translation, the target society and target reader into consideration, succeeding in achieving translation purpose and making Shapiro dominate the central position in the whole translating process, in an attempt to foster and and deliver a positive image of New China for foreign readers. What Shapiro has conducted in the translation of Daughters and Sons promotes the functional communication between different cultures.