TheGainandLossinLiteraryTranslation

【Abstract】Poetry is the oldest form of literature. Poetry translation is an important part of literary translation. Li Bai is a famous poet. There are many translation versions about his poetry. However， the same poem has different translation versions. Translating means keeping balance between the gain and loss.

【Key words】poetry translation； Li Bais poetry； gain and loss

Chapter One Introduction

Poetry is the best form to satisfy human imagination. No one denies the difficulties of translating poetry.

There are many English versions about Li Bais poems. Some think that poetry is translatable. Others believe that poetry is untranslatable.

Translating means keeping balance between the gain and loss. Poetry translation remains to be a hot topic.

Chapter Two Poetry and Its Translation

2.1 The Goal of Poetry

Poetry is a art of language. Chinese believe that poetry helps to express their mind. （Zhu Guangqian：1987） They try to convey their happiness and sorrow.

2.2 The Criteria of Poetry Translation

Some complained：“Translation has three difficulties： faithfulness， expressiveness and elegance.”Guo Zhuzhang said：“…except faithfulness and expressiveness， elegance is a must.”（ 2003： 17）

Chapter Three Gain in Poetry Translation

3.1 The Enrichment of Poetry Translation

It is a tradition that English poetry is likely to “wrest nutrition” from other cultures. So， the English version of the poetry is very important.

抽刀斷水水更流

Drawing sword， cut into water， water again flows. （Pond）

The structure is not only changed， but also lacks some necessary words. Poud advocates creative translation. He uses new structures to translate Li Bais poetry.

3.2 The Spreading of Poetry Translation

China has culture and civilization of thousands of years. Translation enriches languages of literature and transmits cultures of different countries.

孤帆遠影碧空盡

The smoke-flowers are blured over the river，

His lone sail blots the far sky. （Pond）

The poem is translated into Pond English version. Although Pond does not follow the structure of the original poem， he seems to understand the original poem. The words “smoke-flowers” “lone sail” and “the far sky” not only show the image and meaning， but also spread its culture.

Chapter Four Loss in Poetry Translation

4.1 Loss of Image

As the rhyme pattern of Chinese differs from that of English， it is difficult to transfer the original rhythm into the English version.

白水繞東城

浮云游子意

White river winding about them；

Mind like a floating wide cloud，（Poud）

Although the version expresses the meaning of original poem， some images have lost in it. “東城” is translated into “them”， which has not show the vivid picture. Besides， “游子” is translated into “Mind”， which does not expresses lonely feeling.

4.2 Loss of Figures of Speech

As we all know， the translation is impossible for many discrepancies between structures and meanings of different languages.

白發三千丈

My whitening hair would make a long rope （Giles）

“三千丈” is translated into the word “make a long rope”. Li Bai uses the figures of speech “exaggeration” to express the number of whitening hair， but Giles ignores it.

Chapter Five Conclusion

Poetry is an art of language. It is an indispensable literary heritage， which is not only for Chinese， but also for other countries.

The translation of Li Bai ‘s poetry remains to be a hot topic. Some of these articles focus on one aspect of poetry translation， and some compare different versions of a certain poem. Besides， some articles focus on the purely linguistic level， such as words and expressions.

This paper focuses on the analysis of the gain and loss of his poetry. The conclusions can be drawn that： （1） the loss and gain in poetry translation.； （2） to reproduce the poetic qualities； （3） the compensation for the loss of poetry translation.

References：

[1]Nida，E.，The Theory and Practice of Translation.Shanghai：Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press，2001.

[2]Newmark，P.，Approaches to Translation.Shanghai：Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press，2001.

[3]朱光潛.朱光潛全集（第三卷）[M].安徽：安徽教育出版社，1987.

作者簡介：胡江南，女，漢族，四川人，碩士研究生，翻譯。