The Current Situation and Prospect of English Translation of Wuxia Novels from the Perspective of the Polysystem Theory

【Abstract】Inspired by Moks discussion about the English translation of wuxia novels based on the polysystem theory and the lack of studies focusing on wuxia novels transaltion， this paper explores the current situation and prospect of English translation of wuxia novels with Holmwoods A Hero Born serving as an example.

【Key words】English translation of wuxia novels; the polysystem theory; A Hero Born

【作者簡介】孔悅（1995-），女，漢族，山西呂梁人，西安外國語大學2017級在讀研究生，研究方向：翻譯理論與實踐研究。

1. Introduction

The year of 2018 has seen Chinese readers great passion for Louis Chas wuxia novels as Cha passed away on 30th October. At the same time， Anna Holmwoods A Hero Born ， the first volume of English translation of Chas Shediao Yingxiong Zhuan has been intriguing English readers. As for the perspective from which the research about translation of wuxia novels can be done， Mok （2001） adopts the polysystem theory to “add to the limited inventory of case studies （Mok， 2001： 82-83）.”This paper will explore the current situation of the translation of wuxia novels and its prospect with Holmwoods A Hero Born as a case study from the perspective of the polysystem theory.

2. Theoretical Framework

According to Zohar， “when translated literature occupies a peripheral position， it constitutes a peripheral system within the polysystem. In such a situation it is modelled according to norms already conventionally established in the target literature. ” Zohar also mentioned that when a translated work “takes a central position” and it brings some “foreign and revolutionary norms” which are then proved to be “victorious” into the target literature system， “the repertoire of translated literature may be enriched and become more flexible（Even-Zohar， 1990： 50-51）.”

3. The Influence of Chivalry on Holmwoods Reconstruction of “yi” in A Hero Born Based on the Polysystem Theory

English translations of wuxia novels are “relegated to an peripheral position” （Mok， 2001： 81） in English literature polysystem. Wuxia novels thus should be “modelled according to norms already established in the target literature. ” A Hero Born is influenced by norms in English literature polysystem in many respects， the most prominent one of which is Holmwoods reconstruction of the notion of yi （義）. In Shediao Yingxiong Zhuan， there are 147 phrases containing the Chinese character “義” in total. Phrases relating to yis meaning of becoming friends or families account for 63% and there are also many phrases relating to yis meanings in various dimensions （35%）. As for Holmwoods reconstruction of yi in A Hero Born， most phrases relating to yis meaning of becoming friends or families have been simplified as “friend” or deleted. Among the 52 phrases relating to yis meanings in various dimensions， 16 were deleted. The remaining 36 phrases and their translations are transformed into text form and a WordList was made using WordSmith5.0. The results indicate that six words， that is， justice， righteous， generous， honor， loyal and patriots appear frequently in Holmwoods translation. That is to say， Holmwood? tended to interpret yi as above words. A deeper analysis shows that Holmwoods reconstruction of yi may have been affected by chivalry in English literary polysystem. According to Kaeuper （1999）， in English literary polysystem knights are described as men with justice， loyalty， humility， long-suffering and charity， most of which are used by Holmwood to reconstruct yi.

4. Conclusion

The above analysis indicate that chivalry in English literary system was borrowed by Holmwood in her translation. As wuxia novels are taking a peripheral position， the translations may be modelled according to norms established by a dominant type in the target literature to make sure that they can be better accepted by English readers. However， this doesnt mean that it will always take a peripheral position in English literature polysystem. According to the polysystem theory， when it one day “takes a central position” and brings some “foreign norms” which are then proved to be “victorious” into the target literature system， the repertoire of translated literature （the English literature polysystem here） may be enriched and become more flexible. Nevertheless， it takes time and as Holmwood once said， “not to translate these works is the biggest loss.”

References：

[1]Even-Zohar. I.. The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem[J]. Poetics Today，1990，1：45-51.