A Study Of Two Chinese Versions Of Sherlock Holmes Series From The Perspective Of Rewriting Theory

Sherlock Holmes Series has a translation history for over one hundred years with over 100 versions. It is still the most popular detective stories among readers. However, detective stories belong to non-mainstream literature and occupy a marginal position in literature system. Hence, the translation studies of detective stories also takes a marginal position in translation studies. With an view to improve the status of translated detective stories, this thesis attempts to make an in-depth study of the two versions from Andre Lefevere's rewriting theory and observe how ideology, poetics and patronage manipulate the two versions. Based on Even Zohar's polysystem theory, Andre Lefevere put forward rewriting theory, holding that any translation is a rewriting of the original and it is manipulated mainly by three factors; ideology, poetics and patronage. It is a source text focused descriptive translation study. It attempts to carry on translation studies at macroscopic level, which is practical in analyzing the influence of different extra-textual factors in the two versions.This thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 is background introduction, including purpose and significance of the study, present study at home and abroad, methodology of the thesis and structure of the thesis. Chapter 2 is literature review on previous translation studies on Sherlock Holmes Series. Chapter 3 introduces theoretical framework with two parts, the cultural turn in the translation studies and rewriting theory. Chapter 4 discusses Sherlock Holmes Series and its Chinese version. Version of Mass Press and Baijia Press are especially discussed to provide background information for the following analysis. Chapter 5 is the body of the thesis. With rewriting theory as theoretical foundation, versions of Mass Press in 1981 and Baijia Press in 2007 are carefully analyzed with examples. The differences in ideology, poetics and patronage is discussed with an view to observe how these factors manipulate the two version. The last part of the thesis concludes the findings of the study. The study finds:firstly, in terms of ideology, the government advocated reform and opening-up in economy after the Cultural Revolution,, many western literary classics were introduced to enrich domestic literature.The Mass Press version is the outcome of literary emancipation. In the 21st century, economical globalization stimulates literary creation and literary translation continues to prosper. Sherlock Holmes Series is re-translated and re-edited for many times in this period. In terms of poetics, Different poetic system affects detailed translation strategies. In the 1980s, the dominant poetics still lays great emphasis on reader's acceptance. Four-character phrases, sayings, idioms and run-on sentences are favored by translator to meet the reader's reading habits. Some paragraphs are combined into one to make a terse text. In the Baijia Press version, since the translator Wang Zhiyi is from Taiwan district, new words and expressions, together with new collocations from Chinese in Taiwan district appears. In terms of patronage, the Ministry of Public Security and Mass Press take legal education and references for officers as their goal. Extensive terms on law and crime are used to spread legal knowledge. Baijia Press aims to present the most faithful translation of the original. Many errors in the previous versions are corrected and much missed information is added.many explanatory note are added to convey cultural information. Besides, different ideologies, poetics and patronage result in different translation. Ideology determines which source text can be selected. Poetics affects the detailed translation strategy and the main linguistic features of a translation. Patronage with different translation purposes also manipulate translation. Lastly, in terms of study on translation history, the translation of Sherlock Holmes Series goes through a process from less to more, incomplete and complete, inaccurate to faithful, which proves that the status of translated detective stories within translated literature has been improved.