Thick Translation Of The Travels Of Lao Ts'an: A Case Study Of Harold Shadick's English Version

Classical Chinese literary works are an important part of Chinese culture.In the translation of these works,how to restore the historical and linguistic contexts of source texts,convey rich cultural connotations,and encourage foreign readers to comprehend and respect Chinese culture,is a question that every translator has to consider.Taking Harold Shadick's The Travels of Lao Ts' an as research context,Kwame Appiah's thick translation as theoretical framework,and descriptive translation studies as methodology,this thesis tries to answer the following two questions:(1)What strategies of thick translation have been used in Shadick's version?(2)Is Shadick's version a good one from the angle of thick translation?It has been found that three forms of thick translation have been used,including introduction,illustrations and endnotes.Among these three forms,endnotes are the most detailed.By explaining proper nouns,historical background and culture-loaded words,they help retain language structure,convey meanings of original texts,and reduce difficulties of understanding.Thick translation is not only a method of translation,but also a means of assessment.Taking three critical elements of thick translation(contexts,subjective intentions and emotional expression)as analytical angles,the thesis tries to assess the quality of Shadick's translation.It has been found that thanks to the translator's rigorous scholarship and rich inquiries,the translation is loyal to the contents and style of original texts on most occasions,but there are still misunderstanding and mistranslation in the translation of contents with Chinese characteristics.As a relatively new translation method,thick translation,due to its respect for source culture and building of contexts,can serve as a tool to translate Chinese literature and promote the transmission of Chinese culture.