An Analysis of the Three Translated Versions of Youth from the Perspective of Dynamic Equivalence

Abstract：Inspired by Eugene Nida's dynamic equivalence theory，this thesis takes the translation of Samul Ullman's work Youth as a case study.It explores the three translated versions of Mrs.Zhang Aiqing，Mr.Huang Ren and Mr.Xu Hanlin respectively.These versions are analyzed at the levels of lexicology，syntax，rhetoric，semasiology and style.Then it points out that the same effect on the target language readers are as the original text has done on the source language readers，in other words，it proves the efficiency of dynamic equivalence in the translation of Youth.

Key words：Youth；Dynamic Equivalence；Stylistic Equivalence

中圖分類號：G642 文獻標志碼：A 文章編號：1674-9324（2013）04-0199-03

ⅠIntroduction

Recently，great concerns about text analysis triggers placing emphasis on comparison between different versions to select the relatively best one under the guidance of certain translation theory.This thesis centers on applying Nida's dynamic equivalence to analyze the translation style of Samuel Ulman's work Youth，by comparing the three translated versions.According to the analyzed and compared examples among the three translated versions，one can easily make a conclusion that style translation is possible and feasible.

ⅡDynamic Equivalence

In Nida's theory，dynamic equivalence is defined with receptors'response as its nature.In his attempt to define translating，Nida writes：“Translating consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalence of the source-language message，firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style”.（Nida，1969）Hence，the importance of receptors'role in translating is emphasized，which is reader-oriented.

ⅢResearch Questions

The following two research questions should attach great importance to the in-depth study analyzing how the three Chinese versions of Youth adapted to the linguistic structures and the contexts：

（1）How to exercise the dynamic equivalence in analyzing different translated versions？

（2）What effect can be achieved by applying this principle？

Ⅳ Analysis of the Three Translated Versions of Youth

1.At the lexical level

Diction plays a significant role in transferring the spirit of literary works. In order to achieve it，the writer usually selects the most appropriate words to express his meaning. The following example illustrates how the translators successfully convey the spirit of the words with aesthetic effects via the analysis of the three versions by Zhang Aiqing （ZCV）， Huang Ren （HCV）and Xu Hanlin （XCV）respectively：

Source Text：Youth is not a time of life；it is a state of mind.

ZCV：青春不完全是生命的一段歷程；它是一種心境。

HCV：青春不全是生命的一段時光，而是一種心境。

XCV：青春不是年華，而是心境。

In a word，they are concise in words but comprehensive in meaning，so are expressive enough to manifest a rich content，complex idea，vivid image，and so on.Then，XCV wins at the first round，conveying a magnificent message succinctly.

2.At the syntactic level

In linguistics，syntax refers to rules for the arrangement of words into sentences.Compared with the above-mentioned lexical level，syntax is of higher level，which helps a writer forms the general style of his work.Syntactic patterns are like the bones which shape the constitution of people's bodies and support the weight.Source Text：Years may wrinkle the skin， but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

ZCV：歲月能摧皺皮膚，但放棄熱忱卻使心靈萎縮。

HCV：歲月可能會使皮膚泛起皺紋，但放棄對事物的熱愛卻會使靈魂萎縮。

XCV：歲月悠悠，衰微只及肌膚；熱忱拋卻，頹廢必致靈魂。

Translation involves the conversion between two different languages，so the distinctions between these two languages should be first studied. According to the researchers of comparative linguistics puts forward that，“one of the most significant features distinguishing Chinese from English is that Chinese emphasizes parataxis in syntax，while English，hypostasis.”（2006：164）In his translation，HCV uses four-character for a time，which is pleasant to the ears but not faithful to the original test，especially the four-character “摧皺皮膚” is strange to Chinese people，only considering from the literal lever；translating “wrinkle the skin”word for word to “摧皺皮膚”takes no account of the distinction between Chinese and English both culturally and historically.Therefore，XCV is perfectly faithful to the original text and produces its unique styles of elegant expression in four-character phrases one after another.

3.At the rhetorical level

Pun，Parallelism and Comparison example：

When the aerials are down①，and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism②and the ice of pessimism②，then you are grown old，even at 20；but as long as your aerials are up①，to catch waves of optimism②，there is hope you may die young at 80.

ZCV：當這些電線已然斷訊，而你心靈深處由被悲觀以及憤世嫉俗的冰雪覆蓋，這是，也唯有這時，你就真的變老了，否則，你也可以永葆年輕。

XCV：一旦天線倒塌，銳氣便被冰雪覆蓋，玩世不恭，自暴自棄油然而生，幾時年方二十，實已垂垂老矣；然則只要豎起天線，捕抓樂觀信號，你就有望在八十高齡告別塵寰時仍覺年輕。

This paragraph expresses the rich meaning in various rhetoric ways.To begin with，“aerials”hint the application of pun，on one hand，the practical aerial in our daily life，on the other hand，the attitude of us towards ups and downs under any circumstance.Secondly，the sentence structure is highly recommended in this passage，which belongs to parallel structure to beautify the whole passage.In the end，it should be highlined the importance of comparison，in italic form and its corresponding number to indicate the two pairs of sharp contrast.

4.At the semantic level

The semantic level equals to contextual meaning. That's presentation of ideas in a given context refers not only to the organization methods for a passage but also to presentation of thoughts，ideas and concepts.To grasp the textual meaning is a key tool in analyzing the style of a given work for they can provide us an angle of the whole work.

ZCV：無論是六十歲還是十六歲，每個人心中都喜愛新鮮事物，對未來事物具有稚童般的無窮好奇，以及享受生活游戲的樂趣。

HCV：無論是六十歲還是十六歲，在每個人都心中都有對新奇事物的愛好，有孩童般不泯滅的天真向往以及對生活樂趣的無限追求。

XCV：無論年屆花甲，抑或二八芳齡，心中皆有生命之歡樂，奇跡之誘惑，孩童般天真久盛不衰。

Only XCV applies dynamic equivalence among these three versions in both meaning and style，for the simple reason that “Whether 60 or 16”，here does not mean the concrete age of humans，but the specific time concerning on the young hood and the old times，unfortunately both ZCV and HCV misunderstood it unconsciously. Similarly，“the joy of the game of living”does not signify the game indeed；nevertheless，ZCV once again fell into error that translated into the real game finally.Carefully weighing in mind，I recognize only XCV ranks higher translating level over the rest two translated versions.The truth lies in that he forms his own special style，which is in line with the contextual meaning in concise but rich expression.

5.At the stylistic level

Recasting is to recreate the significance of styles，which belongs to the highest-level style translation. As far as we have discussed transference of aesthetic values in terms of context and semantic adjustment.An adorable translation should also be based on a full comprehension of context. Source Text：It is the freshness of the deep spring of life.

ZCV：它是生命深處源泉的生機。

HCV：青春是生命清新的源泉。

XCV：青春是生命的深泉在涌流。

Essentially，the study of language can't be separate from its context. As Robert J. Waller （2004：92）in his The Bridge of Madison County says，“Analysis destroys wholes. Some magic things are meant to stay whole.If you look at their pieces，they go away”.His assertion shows that it is of great importance to appreciate the beauty of a literary work as a whole adhering to its context.Take，ZCV，as an example，'freshness' is rendered as“生機”，here it is quite inflexible and awkward for transferring like that，kind of word for word. However，the second one is much better and within our acceptance.Attention should be paid to master XCV，indeed a natural version.

6.Comparison of the versions at different equivalence levels

（1）Formal equivalence：ZCV

A close scrutiny of ZCV reveals how form-based the translation is，which is based on the level of surface structures constituting the form of the text.On the whole，it is faithful to the original source，yet it can't convey the beauty of meaning and style.For instance，some words chosen in ZCV are kind of redundant and inconsiderate，which should be more concise as well as contextual in both closeness and naturalness.

（2）Semantic equivalence：HCV

Turning to HCV，it is almost the same as the previous one.Relatively，more progress it has been made at the contextual level，for its meaning is closer to the original version with accurate and brief expression.

（3）Stylistic equivalence：XCV

According to Larson（2007：62），what the translator should convey was the deep structure，the meaning，for“it is this meaning that serves as the base for translation into another language.”Upon reading Youth at the very first time，as a reader，I'm touched by its predominated tone of encouragement and splendid inspiration attitude towards life which leaves me a great impression lingering in my mind.XCV first and foremost conveys the meaning of the original to the receptor in the target language，and then produce a similar response upon the target language，giving priority to “meaning-oriented translation” instead of “form-based literal translation”. Consequently，the best selected version from Mr. Xu stands solid both in meaning and style discarding its dross from absorbing its essence.

Ⅵ Conclusion

As for translators，the text analysis inspires them to do the best choice.Thus，appropriate translation，which is impressive and attractive，is essential. To create a well-rendered version，translator should keep the principles of dynamic equivalence in mind so as to make the translation most effective.The answers of each research questions go to：①Consideration should be given to such factors such as language，history，culture and receiver's attitude，etc. of the designated original version in the three-step translation process.②If translated properly，the original style can be perfectly reproduced in the target language so that the readers may be inspired，moved and aesthetically entertained in the same way as those who read the original. Since the established research questions are correctly tackled，and the situation has improved in applying the principle，so it proves the efficiency in the translation of Youth.

References：

[1]Basil Hatim.Teaching and Researching Translation. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press ，2005.

[2]Mark，Shuttle Worth. and Cowie，Moira. Dictionary of Translation Studies.Shanghai Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press ，2004.

[3]Nida，Eugene A.Taber Charles R.The theory and Practice of Translation. [M] Leiden：United Bible Societies，1969.

[4]Nida，Eugene A.Approaches to Translating in the Western Word. [M]. Shanghai：Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press，1989.