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New Cosmopolitanism as a Way out of Ethical Dilemma in Foreignization: A Comparison of Ezra Pound’s and Yuanchong Xu’s Classical Chinese Poetry Translation
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
1-11
Received:
16 January 2020
Accepted:
12 February 2020
Published:
21 February 2020
Abstract: Foreignization helps to inspire investigations into the translator’s invisibility, cultural hegemony in translation, and translation ethics on the one hand. On the other hand, it shows an ethical dilemma in translation that has already attracted a lot of attention throughout the world. And although existing studies have already uncovered some reasons of the ethical dilemma and put forward some solutions, the question has not been fully addressed especially when translation direction, which is an important but largely ignored factor in translation, is taken into consideration. Developments in contemporary Cosmopolitanism make new interpretation of Cosmopolitanism ethics possible and thus provide a useful theoretical tool. From a new Cosmopolitanism perspective, a Cosmopolitanism translation ethics and a strategy of negotiation, which take the self and the other in translation as equal and enable them negotiate about their difference more effectively, are then proposed to examine foreignization and ethics of difference through a comparative study of Ezra Pound’s and Yuanchong Xu’s classical Chinese poetry translation. The findings indicate that although foreignization morally treats the self and the other in translation as equal, it has the defect of valuing the self’s values above that of the other. A new Cosmopolitanism translation ethics and a strategy of negotiation, however, can overcome the defect, therefore provide a way out of the ethical dilemma in foreignization and ethics of difference.
Abstract: Foreignization helps to inspire investigations into the translator’s invisibility, cultural hegemony in translation, and translation ethics on the one hand. On the other hand, it shows an ethical dilemma in translation that has already attracted a lot of attention throughout the world. And although existing studies have already uncovered some reaso...
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An Action Research on Applying the ARCS Model and Stratified Teaching in an English Reading Class in a Chinese Elementary School
Gengchun Li,
Huihui Yang,
Jing Zhang
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
12-19
Received:
21 January 2020
Accepted:
14 February 2020
Published:
24 February 2020
Abstract: In a traditional English reading class, the process of imparting knowledge is insipid and learners’ individual differences cannot be fully considered. It largely focuses on knowledge inculcation and teaching efficiency but widens the gaps of achievement among students of different levels to a certain extent. The ARCS model is comprised of attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction, which works concertedly to improve students’ interest and confidence in learning English, and stimulate and maintain students’ intrinsic motivation. The Stratified Teaching Method can adapt to students’ individual differences, through which individualized teaching can help students improve their reading abilities. In consideration of the respective advantages of the ARCS model and stratified teaching, this paper tries to put them into practice by integrating them into an English reading class. In the present study, the research methods of questionnaire survey, interview and case analysis are employed, and it is found that most of the respondents in the survey take a liking to learning English, but about half of them are driven by some kind of external motivation and lack confidence in learning English well. However, it is also found that most of them would harvest greater confidence after answering teacher’s questions correctly, or performing well in class, or accomplishing their homework satisfactorily after class. It is therefore both necessary and important for teachers to implement the ARCS model of motivation and the Stratified Teaching Method in instructional design in order to enhance students’ confidence and motivation in learning to read and allow every and each of them benefit from the reading class. This paper concludes with a specific example of a teaching plan based on the ARCS Model and Stratified Teaching Method.
Abstract: In a traditional English reading class, the process of imparting knowledge is insipid and learners’ individual differences cannot be fully considered. It largely focuses on knowledge inculcation and teaching efficiency but widens the gaps of achievement among students of different levels to a certain extent. The ARCS model is comprised of attention...
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A Study of the English Version of The Last Quarter of the Moon from the Perspective of Eco-Translatology
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
20-23
Received:
14 February 2020
Accepted:
26 February 2020
Published:
6 March 2020
Abstract: The Last Quarter of the Moon is the first novel to describe the living conditions of the Ewenki people in Northeast China. It was translated into English by the American sinologist Bruce Humes and received high praise. Based on Eco-translatology proposed by Professor Hu Gengshen, this article analyzes the adaptations and selections made by translators in the translation ecological environment by text reading and comparative analysis from “three dimensions”, that is, the linguistic dimension, cultural dimension, and communicative dimension. It is concluded that: for the translation of minority literature, in terms of language pronunciation, the translation should follow the characteristics of minority pronunciation as much as possible to retain the ethnic characteristics. The syntax translation should take into account the differences between English and Chinese and adapt to the target language habits appropriately. On the cultural dimension, the vacancy of cultural phenomena is mostly transliterated with annotation. On the communication dimension, translators should consider the stylistic characteristics, narrative style, character characteristics, and functions of the translation.
Abstract: The Last Quarter of the Moon is the first novel to describe the living conditions of the Ewenki people in Northeast China. It was translated into English by the American sinologist Bruce Humes and received high praise. Based on Eco-translatology proposed by Professor Hu Gengshen, this article analyzes the adaptations and selections made by translat...
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Translator Behavior Criticism---Ten Years in China
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
24-28
Received:
12 February 2020
Accepted:
27 February 2020
Published:
10 March 2020
Abstract: Translator behavior criticism theory is regarded as one of the main current translation studies theory in China. It is proposed by Professor Zhou Lingshun in 2010 and now it has been for 10 years. In 2014, he made his proposals clearly in two of his influential books. After that, this theory has drawn a lot of attention from the academic circle and the number of related articles on it is increasing year by year. This article starts from changes of the role of translator and translator’s position as the center, which provides the background for this theory. Then it moves on to make clear the main proposals and practice of this theory, especially his “truth-seeking and utility attaining” continuum mode of evaluation. Through this continuum mode, one can measure the degree of rationality of a translator’s behavior by taking various factors into consideration, and then the evaluation of the translated version. This theory provides a new perspective on translation by combining translator’s behavior with translation. But in practice, some scholars also questioned the manipulability of his continuum mode. So in the end, this article talks about the significance and limitations of this theory. His theory is a breakthrough in translation studies, but still needs to be further polished.
Abstract: Translator behavior criticism theory is regarded as one of the main current translation studies theory in China. It is proposed by Professor Zhou Lingshun in 2010 and now it has been for 10 years. In 2014, he made his proposals clearly in two of his influential books. After that, this theory has drawn a lot of attention from the academic circle and...
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Error Analyses on English-language Public Signs in Shanghai Shopping Malls
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2020
Pages:
29-41
Received:
14 February 2020
Accepted:
10 March 2020
Published:
24 March 2020
Abstract: Shanghai has recently undergone unprecedented transformation. With this level of international activity, the world expects Shanghai to be a model of standardized English-language public signs in China, and one would expect the city to apply a high standard to meet this expectation. However, this is not the case. English signs have the role of providing proper guidance for the international visiting public, but mistakes in usage defeat that purpose. This thesis focuses primarily on an error analysis of the English-language public signs in the most bustling and hustling commercial areas in Shanghai: Xujiahui, Huaihai Rd., Lujiazui, and West Nanjing Road. In addition to offering a collection of English-language translation errors from the major shopping malls of Shanghai, this thesis also investigates some of the errors in previous publications on English-language public-sign translation, which to a degree have misled the public for a long tisme. However, this thesis is not confined to error analyses using Nida’s functional equivalence theory as a foundation; this thesis also proposes constructive strategies for avoiding future errors. The point of this thesis is to determine why translators make mistakes, and how they can avoid these mistakes. As such, this is a significant research with academic merit.
Abstract: Shanghai has recently undergone unprecedented transformation. With this level of international activity, the world expects Shanghai to be a model of standardized English-language public signs in China, and one would expect the city to apply a high standard to meet this expectation. However, this is not the case. English signs have the role of provi...
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