Translation Strategies Selection in the Perspective of Translator Behavior Criticism: A Case Study of the Chinese Translation of The Joy Luck Club

Wenxin Gong

doi:10.54691/py0wzs57

Authors

Wenxin Gong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/py0wzs57

Keywords:

Translator's behavior criticism; Asian American literature; Translation strategies; The Joy Luck Club.

Abstract

The Joy Luck Club, written by the American-born Chinese author Amy Tan, is her breakout novel that garnered attention from both general readers and scholars upon its publication. In terms of Chinese translation, there have been seven versions so far, and various scholars have used multiple theories to compare and analyze the translations of different translators. However, studies that analyze the translation strategies of the earliest translation version (translated by Cheng Naishan) and the latest translation version (translated by Li Jun and Zhang Li) from the perspective of translator behavior criticism are rare. This paper finds that Cheng Naishan tends to use domestication strategies, while Li Jun and Zhang Li adopt a combination of foreignization and domestication strategies in their translation. This is reflected in their actual actions within the "truth-seeking-pragmatism" translator behavior continuum. Li Jun and Zhang Li's translator behavior is higher in both truth-seeking and pragmatism than Cheng Naishan's, showing greater rationality.

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