| Since the 1960 s,great changes,which involve the research on the techniques of the translation between two languages from the general level to the in-depth research about translation behavior itself,have taken place in the Western translation theories.Some scholars have set their sights on the study of factors beyond the translation texts,namely,the study of paratexts.Since then,the paratext has become the new research field of translation researchers.The paratexts are the indispensable parts of translation and play an important role in the translation studies.They are also the platforms of the translator’s “visibility” that can directly reflect the translator’s translation motivations,strategies and ideologies.Meanwhile,paratexts offer a great many valuable clues to the production,acceptance and transmission mechanism of the translations in the cultural context of target language society.The research on paratexts brings a new perspective to the translation studies,expands the scope of translation studies,and deepens the understanding of complicated translation phenomena.Burton Watson is one of the representatives of 20 th century in the American sinology and translation fields.For the study of Watson’s sinology translations,researchers simply focus on the research of the translations,translation methods and skills,rarely on the materials which are beyond the translations.This thesis mainly takes the paratext theory put forward by the French literary critic Gérard Genette as the theoretical basis and the translations of ancient Chinese classics translated by Watson as research materials to study the types of paratext,i.e.cover,title and attached page,chronology,introduction,annotation and translator’s notes,and the macro-functions embodied in the translations,i.e.reflecting supplement and expansion of the originalwork,presenting the translator’s “visibility”,guiding target readers’ understanding and reception.As a field of study,paratexts can reveal the “hidden” traits of the translations so that the readers can get more hidden information as well as the explicit information within the translations.It can be seen from the research that the purpose of paratexts existed in translations is to serve other texts besides its own,especially the main body text.By utilizing the powerful tool paratexts,the translators can guide readers to understand and accept the translations in the way they are anticipated.Paratexts are the most direct ways to study the translator’s translation thoughts and behaviors and are the communication platforms between translators and readers.For the in-depth interpretation and understanding of the complicated and obscure literary works caused by cultural differences,especially the poetry,paratexts have the poetic value that cannot be ignored. |
