Approaching The Prototype Of Translation With Properties Of The Third Form

As a new research perspective with interdisciplinary features of translation studies and cognitive science,the prototype of translation effectively contributes to the categorization analysis of translations on the basis of Family Resemblance.Different from the traditional category theory emphasizing binary oppositions,the prototype theory proposed by modern cognitive psychologists focuses on following points:a category is centered on a prototype and composed of members with enough family resemblance;members in the same category have different positions;the boundaries of a category are indistinct and open.In the interdisciplinary research background,the prototype of translation showcases its flexibility,stability and openness to provide a more persuasive way for people to understand translation.The "Third Form" refers to a form of translation produced between cultures of the target language(TL)and the source language(SL).Such a translation shows the combination of TL and SL at both language and cultural levels,and it represents a relatively independent form between the original and the "absolute translation".The properties of the Third Form make each version gain its distinct cultural identity,instead of becoming a by-product attached to the source or the target text in traditional views.In addition,when a translation is closest to the original text in functions,content and form while meeting the TL norms and audience expectations,people can get a somewhat idealized translation,namely,the prototype.In this regard,the prototype of translation in this research only means a version with cognitive priority and good identification of target audiences in a narrow sense,that is,an optimum case of the idealized text.Written by W.M.Thackeray,Vanity Fair,an eternal classic in the West,is known for its satirical style of writing as well as trenchant criticism and regarded as a panoramic portrait of British society in the early 19th century.In this thesis,efforts are made to analyze the prototype of translation represented by Yang Bi’s in comparison with other Chinese versions of Vanity Fair.We can find that the translation of-Yang Bi produces the prototypical effect by taking into consideration the original content and form as well as the target language and cultural norms and the audience’s identification through excellent management of symbolic resources.In brief,this thesis starts with translation properties of the Third Form,takes the "Fidelity Perspective" and the "Rhetorical Perspective" of translation as constitutive principles of translational norms and approaches the significance of the prototype through a comparative analysis of seven versions.It aims at revealing why Yang Bi’s version,highly appreciated by scholars and target audiences,could become the prototype among existing translations.