1A Study of the English Version of To Live from perspective of Hybridity Theory

齐毅春

【Abstract】This text tends to explores English version of To Live in light of Hybridity Theory. Through the analysis， it can be found that there are lots of hybridity phenomena both in linguistic level and cultural level. By using domestication strategy， it helps reader understand Chinese novel well. Besides， by using foreignization， it provides readers a special exotic charming of Chinese literatures.

【Key words】hybridity; domestication; foreignization

1. Introduction

By translation， Yu Hua enjoys good reputation not only at home but also abroad and win many literature prizes. Obviously， the translation versions of these works contribute a lot to these awards. What strategies translators used is worthy of studying. When reading its English version， there are expressions， which is different from the source language. This paper intends to explore the translation strategies Michael Berry used on hybridity phenomena in the translation version of To Live. Chinese scholar Han （2002） holds that hybridity is a composite melting linguistic and cultural quality that comes from the communication and exchange between different languages and cultures. Besides， it possesses independent quality as well. It entails linguistic elements， cultural elements. Hybrid texts are produced by the translators choice of compromise between two languages. （Lu Hongmei， 2003）. Hybridity translation helps to solve the conflict between foreignization and domestication. And this paper explores the hybridity in language and culture in To Live.

2. Analysis of Hybridity in English version To Live

ST1： 玩麻將（Yuhua，2012： 14）

TT1： play mah-jong... （Berry， 2003： 18）

ST2： 跪下来给连长叩头….（2012： 51）

TT2I： …kneel down and kowtow to the commander （2012：61）

ST3： 爹像是吹唢呐般地哭上了。（2010： 23）

TT3： woodwind-like sound of my father weeping.（2003： 30）

The first two examples embodies lexical hybridity by transliteration， which transliterated words like mah-jongg， kowtow is used in the target text. As we all know， mah-jongg is a Chinese game which is made of small pieces of wood or bone. As for kowtow， it is a former Chinese custom that lower status people kneel down with his forehead touching the ground， which is a sign of respect to upper class. Whether mah-jongg or kowtow， they all derive from Chinese pronunciation. Transliteration is one of good ways to show the respect to the source text. Though it is a little hard to understand for foreign readers， it remains unique language feature of original text and bring exotic charming. As for “唢呐”， one of the traditional Chinese musical instruments， it functions as adverb which describes the crying of Fu Guis father. Berry didnt use suona but use word woodwind-like. It is a more general word which avoid the complex explanation of suona and annotation.Thus Berry remains some original simile and feature of source text.

ST4： 千万不要忘记阶级斗争。（2012： 150）

TT4： Never forget Class Struggle. （2003： 149）

TT5： 麻袋上都是死结，到了阴间解不开。（2012： 115）

ST5： I wont be able to undo it when I get to the other world. （2003： 148）

In this English version， hybridity in culture can be found in specific political environment and religion. The example 4 reflects Cultural Revolution- a period of dark hour in Chinese history. Berry remains its Chinese flavor in the process of translation. In the example5， the word “陰间” is translated to the other world， which may easy for target readers to understand. Its connotation meaning gives them a sign for Chinese Taoism. Hybridity in culture level is achieved in various strategies among different situations. There are both source language culture and target language culture in this English version.

3. Conclusion

From the above analysis， English version of To Live is a hybrid text. By means of omission， addition and annotation， Berry ensures target reader understand the text well. At the same time， Berry adopts transliteration， free translation and annotation to remain the Chinese flavor of source text. It is actually the process of the application of foreignization. The match between source text and target text is like max boxing match. Both sides turn into a fight and have won and lost. The perfect translation version is produced in this process. Hybrid text undoubtedly reflects this point of view. It preserves the exotic charming of source text well and helps to disseminate Chinese literature overseas.

References：

[1]Berry， M. To Live[M]. New York： Random House，2003.

[2]韩子满.文学翻译杂合研究[M].上海：上海译文出版社，2005：15.