A Comparative Study of Two Translations of Tess of the D’Urbervilles Based on Domestication vsForeignization

李元杰

Abstract：Translation theory plays an important role in translating for translator. But for a long time， the choice of domestication and foreignization is a controversial topic in literature translation. This study first introduces and compares two translation strategies of translation in theory， and the study of Tess of the D’Urbervilles at home and abroad. Then in the translation strategies of domestication and foreignization， compare two Chinese translations of Mr.Zhang Guruo and Mr.Sun Fali of Tess of the D’Urbervilles and analyze their translation strategies and merits and drawbacks from aspects of proper noun， sentence， dialects in dialogue and style of writing. Finally， the study found， the two translations emphasize different translation strategies in language and culture. Overall， Mr.Zhang’s translation concentrates on domestication while Mr.Sun’s translation puts particular emphasis on foreignization.

Key words：Tess of the D’Urbervilles， literature translation， comparison， analysis

1 A comparative analysis of the two versions of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

1.1 Proper noun

Example 1：

Person： ? ? ? Zhang ? ? ? ?Sun

Joan ? ? ? ? ?昭安 ? ? ? ? 瓊

Fred ? ? ? ? ?傅賴 ? ? ? ? 佛萊德

Places： ? ? ? ?Zhang ? ? ? ?Sun

Shaston ? ? ? ?沙氏屯 ? ? ? 沙斯頓

Sherton ? ? ? ?謝屯 ? ? ? ? 舍頓

Other： ? ? ? ? Zhang ? ? ? ? Sun

Battle Abby Roll 《紀功寺譜》 ?《巴托修道院文卷》

Lamb’s fry ? ? ?羊雜碎 ? ? ? ?油炸羊腎

Mr.Sun uses the strategy of foreignization to remain the flavor of the original text while the contemporary readers tended to accept Mr.Sun’s translation. So in our modern translation， the translators should try their best to foreignize these cultural elements and adopts foreignizing translation in these names of people and places.

1.2 Sentence

Example 2

Original： “His present aspect， coupled with the lack of all human forms in the scene， explained the old-time heliolatries in a moment.”

Zhang： 他現在的面目既是那樣， 再加上一片大地上，連一個人影兒都沒有， 這就立刻叫我們明白了古代崇拜太陽的原故。

Sun： 太陽現在這樣子跟其中全無人類形象的景物配合在一起，立即為古代的太陽崇拜辯明了理由。

Analysis： first of all， from the form， we can find Mr.Zhang’s sentences are fond of short sentences， the subject is unknown， which is Chinese writing style that subject in every sentence may not essential. But for Mr.Sun’s translation， the form of punctuation is exactly the same as original text， he’s purpose is to minimize the loss of original text’s form. Compare the two translations of "the lack of all human forms in the scene". For Mr.Zhang， “coupled with” is translated into “再加上” ， however， for making a better understanding， he add a sentence “一片大地上” which is not existed in original text . For Mr.Sun， “跟其中全無人類形象的景物配合在一起”， conversely， he did not translate the original sentence into conventional Chinese sentence. Instead， He rigorously translate the original text word by word， add or lose nothing， which is the typical foreignization method.

1.3 Dialects in dialogues

Example 3

Original： “Mrs.D’Urbervilles was not the first mother compelled to love her offspring resentfully， and to be bitterly fond.”

Zhang： “天下當母親的，迫于無奈，氣兒子又疼兒子，恨兒子又愛兒子的，可就多著呢，德伯太太并不是頭一個。”

Sun： “杜伯菲爾德太太并非是頭一個懷著怨恨愛自己的后代，而且愛得很苦很深的婦女。”

Analysis： In this example， the original text seems a little plain. But how to translate “compelled to love her offspring resentfully and to be bitterly fond.”. It’s a little difficult for the translator to express the flavor of the source language. Zhang is a very experienced translator. He tried his best to express angry， hatred and love of Mrs D’Urbervilles. His translation is very fluent and natural. But in Sun’s version， he omits “compelled to”， “愛得很苦很深” is not very suitable to this place. So in this example， Zhang’s domesticating method is better.

4 Conclusion

The study of the two versions provides us a reference for literature translation in the future. Meanwhile，I found that， Mr.Zhang and Mr.Sun， as distinguished experts of literature translation， their translations can not be flawless. So I think when we are translating a literature later， it’s impossible that our work satisfy readers from all walks of life. But the function of translation is to bring a exotic culture into another. If only we can achieve this goal， the process is not limited. To sum up， as two primary translation strategies， domestication and foreignization have their unique merits and drawbacks. So translating literature works should never abandon or accept one of them purely but take the essence and discard the dregs of two translation strategies， combine both of them with translator’s understanding but within the frame of writer’s original meaning.