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The state of translation

Dellien, Arvid LU (2010) KINM11 20091
Chinese Studies
Abstract
This thesis investigates the translations of seven contemporary western works of literature into Chinese. The translations are analysed using the translation analysis method used by David van der Peet in his analysis of the translation of The Lord of The Rings into Chinese applying concepts and criteria formulated by the translation theorists Walter Benjamin, Eugene Nida and Paolo Bartolini. This thesis argues that both the concepts of Walter Benjamin and Eugene Nida are practically applicable. None of the works analysed seem to be untranslatable as this concept is defined by Walter Benjamin. Instead, inferior translations are the result of simple mistakes by the translators or that the translators were unable to understand the original.... (More)
This thesis investigates the translations of seven contemporary western works of literature into Chinese. The translations are analysed using the translation analysis method used by David van der Peet in his analysis of the translation of The Lord of The Rings into Chinese applying concepts and criteria formulated by the translation theorists Walter Benjamin, Eugene Nida and Paolo Bartolini. This thesis argues that both the concepts of Walter Benjamin and Eugene Nida are practically applicable. None of the works analysed seem to be untranslatable as this concept is defined by Walter Benjamin. Instead, inferior translations are the result of simple mistakes by the translators or that the translators were unable to understand the original. Some of the translations analysed are of a very high quality. In this study the application of Nida’s and Benjamin’s criteria leads to identical conclusions regarding the quality of the translations although some of Nida’s criteria and statements regarding translation analysis seem questionable. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dellien, Arvid LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Contemporary western literature in Chinese translation
course
KINM11 20091
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Da Vinci Code, translation analysis, Benjamin, Nida, Potter, Tolkien, Chinese, Translation, Lord of the Rings, western literature
language
English
id
1689566
date added to LUP
2010-10-29 11:29:00
date last changed
2010-10-29 11:29:00
@misc{1689566,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the translations of seven contemporary western works of literature into Chinese.  The translations are analysed using the translation analysis method used by David van der Peet in his analysis of the translation of The Lord of The Rings into Chinese applying concepts and criteria formulated by the translation theorists Walter Benjamin, Eugene Nida and Paolo Bartolini. This thesis argues that both the concepts of Walter Benjamin and Eugene Nida are practically applicable. None of the works analysed seem to be untranslatable as this concept is defined by Walter Benjamin. Instead, inferior translations are the result of simple mistakes by the translators or that the translators were unable to understand the original. Some of the translations analysed are of a very high quality. In this study the application of Nida’s and Benjamin’s criteria leads to identical conclusions regarding the quality of the translations although some of Nida’s criteria and statements regarding translation analysis seem questionable.}},
  author       = {{Dellien, Arvid}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The state of translation}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}