A Translation Field in the Taiwanese Book Market

Abstract

In Chapter 2, it is assumed that computer games from the United States, console games from Japan, manga and animation from Japan are not only forms of popular culture prevalent in Taiwan, but some of the major sources shaping Taiwanese young people’s perception about fantasy. These sources have helped to form the ‘core fantasy fans’ since the 1990s and their reception of fantasy works is hence under the huge influence of these media. Although these media are usually graphic rather than written, there is a habitual way of translating given terminologies in these media, which creates a unique style different from a general literary text. Because translated fantasy books came into Taiwan later than these media which first disseminated and formulated the concept of fantasy for the Taiwanese, especially for the core fantasy fans, they assumed that fantasy works should read like their familiar games products. This is different from local publishers’ assumptions about fantasy works: literary works such as children’s literature, Wu Xia literature or classical works. For instance, reviewers treated The Lord of the Rings as a classic and expected literary language and style to be used in its translation. The disparity of the perceptions about fantasy works and fantasy translations created controversy and constituted a battlefield where different forces competed for resources and power.