A Study On The English Translation Of Lie Yuan From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

Lie Yuan,an outstanding novel describing the real-life scenes of Liangzhou people in Hexi Corridors,is one of the representative works attributed to Xuemo who is from Gansu Province in Northwest China.The English version Desert Hunters,translated by Howard Goldblatt and his wife Sylvia Li-chun Lin,was published in 2018.Through the translation,the Goldblatts intend to help English readers experience the flavor of western China’s wildness and the local conditions and customs.Since Lie Yuan is typical of contemporary China’s western literature,its English translation definitely prompts Chinese literature to go abroad.It has played a positive role in promoting the dissemination of western literature of China in the English-speaking world and therefore is of great significance.Understanding Pragmatics,the research achievement of pragmatist Verschueren of Belgium,explains the use of language from the cognitive,social,and cultural perspectives.Adaptation theory is the core of his pragmatics.This thesis adopts adaptation theory as the theoretical framework to analyze the phenomena of adaptation in Desert Hunters.According to this theory,language use is a continuous process of choices and adaptations,which can be explained from four angles,namely,contextual correlates of adaptability,structural objects of adaptability,dynamics of adaptability,and salience of adaptation processes.In the same token,translation is also a process of making continuous selections and adaptations,which can also be explored from the four angles.Therefore,adaptation theory provides a new perspective for the study of Desert Hunters.The descriptive method is adopted to analyze and discuss the adaptations made by the Goldblatts,translation methods and techniques as well as the reasons that influence their adaptations in the process of translation of Lie Yuan.Based on a series of analyses,some conclusions can be drawn as follows: first of all,the translators have made certain adaptations and choices during their translation.The process of the English translation of Lie Yuan is the process of dynamic adaptation to contextual correlates,linguistic structure,and cognitive environment.In this process,the translators’ roles are elevated step by step,and their degree of consciousness is constantly highlighted.Secondly,based on a full understanding of the original,the translators flexibly adopted various translation methods and techniques to ensure the smoothness and readability of the translation,so that the dynamic balance between Lie Yuan and Desert Hunters can be achieved.The translation broadens the way for overseas readers to understand the local customs of Western China.Finally,the translation not only vividly reproduces the plain language features but also conforms to the language habits and reading expectations of the target readers.The translators in effect serve as a bridge between the original author and the target readers.In other words,adaptations made by them during the translation are to help the target readers adequately understand the original text and perceive the love,life and death as experienced by the farmers in Northwest China and their optimistic and open-minded mental outlook.This thesis is intended to deepen the understanding of the Goldblatts’ translation process,and contributes to the study of translation literature in Western China,thus enriching the dimension of literary translation studies.