Review on Domestic Lin Shu’s Translation Studies in the First Decade of New Century

Ning Li

doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20200603.15

Abstract

As one of the most representative translators on foreign literature in late Qing China, Lin Shu and his foreign novel translations have attracted much attention in the academic field even in nowadays. With the special social background in the late Qing, Lin Shu gradually shifted his focus from western political and historical works to novels in order to express his opinions better. In this study, it will be generalized the domestic research on Lin’s translation activity in the first decade of 21thcentury, which research can be divided into at least four categories, such as the study of Lin’s translation ontology problem, discussion of cultural factors of his translations, influential phenomenon of his novel translations and the comparative study on Lin’s foreign literature translations. Therefore, the typical case study which points out the various research paradigms as while as further possible avenues of researchon domestic Lin Shu’s translation studies in the future.

Highlights

Lin Shu and his foreign literature translations can be treated as one of the highest wonderful works in the translation history of modern Chinese literature
Most of Lin’s translated works were adopted by the method of “rewriting”, such as free translation. He completed the task of introducing more than 180 foreign literary works into Chinese society, which is obviously made an irreplaceable influence on the development of modern Chinese literature and the improvement of Chinese culture
In the majority of domestic Lin Shu’s novel translations studies, the quantity of this aspect is not dominantly, on the contrary, several scattered discourse patterns are in the basic similarity, which needs to be further explored for in-depth analysis of historical materials

Summary

Introduction

Lin Shu and his foreign literature translations can be treated as one of the highest wonderful works in the translation history of modern Chinese literature. He himself did not know any of the foreign language at all. There are more methodologies put into effect into Lin Shu’s translation studies, such as the analytical discussions on his foreign novel translations, research on his translation activities in the late Qing China, exploring the unique cultural phenomenon of his translated works, analyzing the historical background of Lin’s translations, combining modern translation theories with his translation and comparing with. It will try to summarize the perspective into following aspects, respectively are research on the ontology of Lin Shu’s translation, the discussion on the cultural issues behind his translation activity, the analysis on the phenomenon of Lin’s translation and the comparative research of the contemporary translation phenomena in late Qing China

Study on Ontology of Lin Shu’s Translation

Study on the Cultural Issues Behind Lin Shu’s Translation

Study on the Cultural Phenomenon of Lin Shu’s Translation

Comparative Study Between Lin Shu’s Translation and Others

Conclusion