Auto-image and norms in source-initiated translation in China

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies

Publication Date

2015

Volume

2

Issue

2

First Page

96

Last Page

107

Keywords

auto-image, translation norm, source-initiated, Descriptive Translation Studies, polysystem theory

Abstract

This article explores an area that has so far been under-researched in polysystem studies – literary translation initiated by the source culture. The case studied is translation of Chinese literature into English planned by the government of the People’s Republic of China. It is found that in such translations, some Chinese weights and measures were converted into British ones in the 1950s but increasingly conserved since the 1970s. In the meantime, weights and measures tended to be conserved in English–Chinese translation but converted in Chinese–English translation initiated by the target culture. It can be seen that the norms governing translation initiated by the source culture are determined mainly by factors internal to that culture. A probable explanation is that norms governing source-oriented translation are correlated to the auto-image of the source culture, which has been on the rise in the case of China. It is hoped that the findings of this case study may contribute to the augmentation of polysystem theory and Descriptive Translation Studies.

DOI

10.1080/23306343.2015.1059588

Print ISSN

23306343

E-ISSN

23306351

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2015 Taylor & Francis.

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Chang, N. F. (2015). Auto-image and norms in source-initiated translation in China. Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies, 2(2), 96-107. doi: 10.1080/23306343.2015.1059588

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