[[alternative]]On Chinese Translations of Walden and Their Developments

[[abstract]]This thesis is constructed upon “The Polysystem Theory” and “Translation Norms” from Descriptive Translation Studies and reviews the Chinese translations of the selection of prose-style works, Walden, by the American writer, Henry David Thoreau in the past fifty years. The research attempts to understand the translators’ translation tendencies and strategies in different periods. The research is based upon the changes of the positions of Chinese translated literature. Taking the translations of Walden for example, the thesis reviews its Chinese translation and developments in terms of “translation tendencies” and “translation strategies”. Speaking of the position of Chinese translated literature in the literary polysystem, it is in central position in Mainland China during the period from 1920s to 1940s; however, it moves to peripheral position in Taiwan during the period from 1950s to 1960s. In 1970s, translated literature is promoted to central position. Since 1980s, it has gradually gone toward peripheral position. With respect to translation tendency, the translations of Walden during the period from 1940s to the early 1980s show the tendency toward “adequacy”, adopting the word-for-word “literal translation” in which the syntax and word order follow the text. The translations of Walden since the middle of 1980s have shown the tendency toward “acceptability”, adopting more flexible “free translation” in which the syntax and word order meet Chinese expressions. In terms of translation strategies, the translations during the period from 1940s and 1980s adopt “full translation” or “excerpt translation”; however, the former is more common than the latter. The translation version in “full translation” is the dominant form of translated texts. Since 1990s, “excerpt translation” has gradually become the main translation strategy. The translation version in “excerpt translation” is also an important form of translated texts. In recent years, the translation version in “paraphrased translation”, containing translators’ personal writings with Chinese common terms, has been published.