A Study of Untranslatability and Strategies in English-American Literary Translation under Bassnett’s Theory of Cultural Translation

Research Article
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A Study of Untranslatability and Strategies in English-American Literary Translation under Bassnett’s Theory of Cultural Translation

Xinyue Zhu 1*
  • 1 The School of Humanities and New Media, Yangtze University, 1 Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province    
  • *corresponding author xb@yangtzeu.edu.cn
CHR Vol.3
ISSN (Print): 2753-7072
ISSN (Online): 2753-7064
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-29-4
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-30-0

Abstract

Literary works are the carrier of a nation’s history and culture and the embodiment of a nation’s cultural image. There are significant differences between English and Chinese cultures. In the context of cross-cultural communication, good translation of British and American literary works is helpful to promote cultural exchanges. At present, there have been many academic achievements in the study of English and American literature translation, and some of them have paid attention to differences in cultural backgrounds, but few studies combine with foreign translation theories. On the basis of previous translation research results, this paper will use Bassnett’s theory of cultural translation to assess and analyze the translation methods of English and American literature. This article analyzes the importance of translation based on cultural differences in the process of English-American literature to Chinese versions translation and the untranslatability caused by cultural differences. In addition, British and American literature are analyzed from various angles, like mythological and religious vocabulary, living customs and living environment, and differences in thinking by using many practical examples.

Keywords:

British and American literature translation, cross-culture perspective, Susan Bassnett, cultural translation

Zhu,X. (2023). A Study of Untranslatability and Strategies in English-American Literary Translation under Bassnett’s Theory of Cultural Translation. Communications in Humanities Research,3,720-726.
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References

[1]. Guo, M.R., Cao, J.H., Gu, X.F. etc. (1984) Essays in Translation Studies(1949-1983), Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 21-24, 172-178, 583-587.

[2]. Bassnett, S. (2014) Translation Studies, fourth edition, Routledge, 11, 89.

[3]. Lefevere, A. (2010) Translation /History /Culture, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 14-18.

[4]. Bassnett, S., Lefevere, A. (2001) Constructing Cultures: Essays on Literary Translation, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 123.

[5]. Melville, H. (2009) Moby Dick, Penguin Books, 415.

[6]. Whitman, W. (1961) Leaves of Grass, Penguin Books, 67.

[7]. Ba, D.Q. (2020) The image difference of “West Wind” in the Eastern and Western contexts from the perspective of the cultural color of vocabulary -- taking Ma Zhiyuan’s Tian Jing Sha · Qiu Si and Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind as examples. Modern and ancient literary creation.

[8]. Hou, N.M. (2020) Theory of “fenghuang” and “phoenix” culture. Journal of guo moruo, 04, 48-52.

[9]. Shi, Z.Y. (2022) The Comparison and translation of English and Chinese metaphors from animal idioms, English square (18), 7-10.

[10]. Bassnett, S. (2019) Translation and World Literature, Routledge, 44.

[11]. Ye, Z.N. (2020) Advanced Course in English-Chinese Translation (fourth edition), 151.

[12]. Li, L.J. (2015) Study of the Translation of Selected Short Stories of O’Henry with the Theory of Susan Bassnett’s Cultural Translation, Beijing Foreign Studies University.

[13]. Hemingway, E. M. (2013) The Old Man and the Sea, Tianjin People’s Publishing House, 61-68.

Cite this article

Zhu,X. (2023). A Study of Untranslatability and Strategies in English-American Literary Translation under Bassnett’s Theory of Cultural Translation. Communications in Humanities Research,3,720-726.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies (ICIHCS 2022), Part 1

ISBN：978-1-915371-29-4(Print) / 978-1-915371-30-0(Online)
Editor：Faraz Ali Bughio, David T. Mitchell
Conference website: https://www.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 18 December 2022
Series: Communications in Humanities Research
Volume number: Vol.3
ISSN：2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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References

[1]. Guo, M.R., Cao, J.H., Gu, X.F. etc. (1984) Essays in Translation Studies(1949-1983), Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 21-24, 172-178, 583-587.

[2]. Bassnett, S. (2014) Translation Studies, fourth edition, Routledge, 11, 89.

[3]. Lefevere, A. (2010) Translation /History /Culture, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 14-18.

[4]. Bassnett, S., Lefevere, A. (2001) Constructing Cultures: Essays on Literary Translation, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 123.

[5]. Melville, H. (2009) Moby Dick, Penguin Books, 415.

[6]. Whitman, W. (1961) Leaves of Grass, Penguin Books, 67.

[7]. Ba, D.Q. (2020) The image difference of “West Wind” in the Eastern and Western contexts from the perspective of the cultural color of vocabulary -- taking Ma Zhiyuan’s Tian Jing Sha · Qiu Si and Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind as examples. Modern and ancient literary creation.

[8]. Hou, N.M. (2020) Theory of “fenghuang” and “phoenix” culture. Journal of guo moruo, 04, 48-52.

[9]. Shi, Z.Y. (2022) The Comparison and translation of English and Chinese metaphors from animal idioms, English square (18), 7-10.

[10]. Bassnett, S. (2019) Translation and World Literature, Routledge, 44.

[11]. Ye, Z.N. (2020) Advanced Course in English-Chinese Translation (fourth edition), 151.

[12]. Li, L.J. (2015) Study of the Translation of Selected Short Stories of O’Henry with the Theory of Susan Bassnett’s Cultural Translation, Beijing Foreign Studies University.

[13]. Hemingway, E. M. (2013) The Old Man and the Sea, Tianjin People’s Publishing House, 61-68.

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