论文总字数：28738字

摘 要

随着社会和技术的不断发展,各国之间的交流与合作日益频繁。实际上, 在这个过程中翻译扮演着一个重要的角色,而名著的翻译就是其中的一个支流,例如中国古代小说中四大之一的《红楼梦》。由于文化差异的存在（历史背景、生活经历等）,名著的翻译可能在语言和审美上存在不同。因此,比较不同版本的名著译文之前,我们应该对源语言和目标语言之间的文化差异有一个好的理解。只有这样我们才能找出不同版本译文之间异同的原因。

基于上述理论,本文将着重于《红楼梦》中《葬花吟》的两个版本译文。众所周知，大卫·霍克斯和杨宪益的译文,是最具代表性的两个。本文将主要分析两个版本译文之间的差异,如译者的历史背景、个人经历和对翻译的安排。另外，该论文的研究还将给诗歌和经典作品的翻译一些启示。

关键词: 葬花吟，翻译，大卫•霍克斯，杨宪益

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

3. Introduction of Zang Hua Yin and Its English Versions 2

3.1 Cao Xueqin and Zang Hua Yin 2

3.1.1 Cao Xueqin 2

3.1.2 Zang Hua Yin and Its Characteristics 3

3.2 Two English Versions of Zang Hua Yin 4

3.2.1 Yang Xianyi’s Translation 4

3.2.2 Hawkes’s Translation 5

4. Comparison of the Two English Versions 7

4.1 Differences Between Two Translators 7

4.1.1 Historical Background 7

4.1.2 Personal Experiences 9

4.2 Differences Between Translation Management 11

4.2.1 Foreignization and Domestication 11

4.2.2 Literal Translation and Free translation 12

5. Conclusion 14

Works Cited 15

Introduction

Nowadays, with the increasing focus on the cross-cultural communication, more and more attention is paid to translation. And the translation of famous works attracts people’s eyes rapidly. So we can find many different versions of the same famous work. But as a social activity, translation is something concerned with cultural background and social environment. And of course it is also related to life experiences of translators. Therefore, cultural differences and translators’ life experiences should be taken into consideration when we are comparing different versions of the same famous work.

We all know that Hong Lou Meng is one of the four greatest ancient Chinese novels, and zang hua yin is one important part in it. Many people in China and other countries have translated it into English, and the most representative two are Yang Xianyi and David Hawkes. It is necessary for us to have a good understanding of both author’s and translators’ cultural differences and life experiences if we want to compare the two versions of zang hua yin correctly. In order to guarantee the quality of comparison, we should also compare the translation strategies and methods they use. For the sake of readers’ good understanding, examples and contrasts are conducted in my paper.

Literature Review

Until now, there exist at least eight English versions of zang hua yin, and the comparative study of these versions becomes popular. People in China and other countries show their interest in the comparison of different versions from different perspectives. Here come some examples. Culture-Oriented Perspective and Translation Strategy Studies on Hongloumeng Translation, written by Qiu Jin and Zhou Hongliang, compares Yangs’ version to Hawkes’ version from the cultural perspective. Contrastive Study on the Translation of Song of the Burial of Flowers from the Perspective of Eco-translatology, written by Huang Yuanjun, focuses on the differences between Yangs’ and Hawkes’ versions from the perspective of eco-translatology. And Study on Construction of Beauty of Poem in Poetry Translation, written by Fan Min, pays attention to the differences from the perspective of poetry translation. Besides, Translation Art of Hongloumeng and Translators’ Styles, offered by Professor Feng Qinghua, attracts readers’ eyes on the translators’ styles. Many others compare them from other perspectives.

From their studies, I am aware of that versions have something to do with translators’ historical background and life experiences. What’s more, the versions are also related to translation strategies and methods the translators use. Therefore, my paper will pay more attention to translators’ historical background, experiences and translation management. Of course, the author of the original is also very important, including his living environment and social background. So, it will be also mentioned in my paper.

Introduction of Zang Hua Yin and Its English Versions

3.1 Cao Xueqin and Zang Hua Yin

Before studying a famous work’s versions, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the original text. And knowing more about the author is also necessary. In other words, we should devote ourselves to finding something more about the author, such as his social environment. So, in this part, Cao Xueqin, his life background and the characteristics of zang hua yin will be discussed.

3.1.1 Cao Xueqin

Cao Xueqin, the author of Hong Lou Meng, was born in 1715. Although there exist many controversial issues about him at present, he is both the greatest writer and the most complex writer in the history of Chinese literature.

Cao Xueqin had experienced his childhood in Jiangning, and had lived a life of wealth and luxury till he became a teenager. Then, as a result of the political struggle, his family suffered a series of strikes. At that time, he went back to Beijing with his family. After experiencing a major turning point in life, he felt the indifference in the feudal society deeply. Therefore, he kept away from the officials, and lived a poor life.

In his later years, he moved to the western suburb of Beijing. Although life became more difficult, he still concentrated on the writing and revision of Hong Lou Meng. In 1762, his youngest son died, which made him sink into excessive sorrow and grief, and he was bedridden after that. And finally he passed away because of the bad sickness.

Cao Xueqin"s greatest contribution is his creation of the novels, which is the peak of ancient Chinese novels. With structured and complicated plot, vivid and lively description, he created many typical characters. He occupies a very important position in literature history.

3.1.2 Zang Hua Yin and Its Characteristics

Zang Hua Yin is a poem recited by Lin Daiyu, who is the leading lady in Hong Lou Meng. The poem superficially describes the beautiful flower, but in fact it reflects the feeling of Lin. The poem, full of tears and anger, filled with rich and strange imagination, presents Lin’s sentimental character, inner contradictions and complex mental activities. The poem expresses her attitudes towards life and death, love and hate in the process of a kind of complicated struggle to herself. The poem also shows her confusion about life, her sad and lonely mood. The fate of the flowers is linked to the fate of Lin, which criticizes those who abuse flowers of nature and satirizes the social evil force powerfully.

The poem creates a rich and vivid image, which associates Lin’s encounter, fate, thoughts and feelings with flowers. The whole poem is a mirror of Lin"s life concept and life value. Every word, full of tears and anger, reflects Lin’s sufferings from her life vividly. It shows Lin’s firm character that she is unwilling to yield and do not want to be insulted by unclean behaviors. She looks forward to having a kind of free and happy life. This poem provides the readers with important clues to explore the tragedy of Lin.

The negative emotions in this poem are extremely dense and should not be ignored. It has a bad influence on some readers who lack analytical thinking ability. Although the mood accords with the Lin"s character and her social status, it to some extent expresses Cao’s negative attitude towards his life, and exposes the weaknesses in his own thoughts.

3.2 Two English Versions of Zang Hua Yin

In last chapter, we discuss mainly about Cao Xueqin and the characteristics about zang hua yin. That is important for us to study the original text, which means that we are supposed to study more about the translators too. So in this chapter, attention will be paid more to the two translators, the two versions and characteristics of the two versions.

3.2.1 Yang Xianyi’s Translation

Yang Xianyi was born in Xuyi, Jiangsu in 1915, and he studied English Literature in University of Oxford since 1934. After returning to China in 1940, he became an associate professor at Chongqing University. And then in 1953 he moved to Beijing and began to translate some Chinese classic novels, including The Scholars, The Songs of Chu and so on. His versions were published successively by the Beijing Foreign Languages Press. In early 60s, he and his wife began to translate A Dream of Red Mansions, which was once interrupted, and finally completed in 1974. Their translations are well-known in many foreign countries and have a widespread impact.

In Yang Xianyi’s career of translation, his wife Gladys played a very important role. She was born in a British missionary family in Beijing in 1919. She returned to England at the age of seven, and studied in a church middle school. And in 1937 she was admitted to University of Oxford, where she did research on Chinese language and literature. She met Yang there, and in 1940 they held their wedding in Chongqing.

Yang Xianyi and Gladys shuttled back and forth between cities in southwest China, and their life is very hard. However, Yang found that in his career of translation, he and his wife owned a unique advantage. From time to time, Yang Xianyi fluently interpreted the classical masterpieces in China, and Gladys recorded quickly with the help of typewriter. In Yang Xianyi"s view, with the help of Gladys, he could translate everything. In 1951, they received the invitation of Chinese Foreign Language Press and they came to Beijing. During this period, they translated a lot of Chinese works at an alarming rate, and the English translation of A Dream of Red Mansions is an example. They also translated Qu Yuan"s masterpiece, Li Sao. In fact, Yang translated Chinese into English, and Gladys turned it into a dual narrative.

Here is part of his translation:

As blossoms fade and fly across the sky,

Who pities the faded red, the scent that has been? 

……

By the third month the scented nests are built, 

But the swallows on the beam are heartless all; 

……

For suddenly it comes and suddenly goes, 

Its arrival unheralded, noiseless its departing. 

……

Now you are dead I come to bury you; 

None has divined the day when I shall die; 

…… 

The day that spring takes wing and beauty fades 

Who will care for the fallen blossom or dead maid? 

3.2.2 Hawkes’s Translation

David Hawkes was born in east London in 1923, and he studied Chinese at University of Oxford during 1945 and 1947. Then he became a postgraduate in Beijing University, and after that he worked as a professor of Chinese in University of Oxford. Hawkes, as a famous Sinologist, translated The Songs of the South, and his translation of A Little Primer of Tu Fu was more authoritative and well known in the world. With his colleague’s encouragement, Hawkes prepared to translate The Story of The Stone, which was his extraordinary achievement. In order to keep his focus on the translation, he gave up his job at University of Oxford in 1971. Hawkes spent ten years translating the first eighty chapters, and the last forty chapters were translated by his son-in-law. As a result, the first complete translation of Hong Lou Meng in the western world was born.

It is said that three factors make his translation wonderful. Firstly, he was a famous master of sinology around the world, and he had very profound attainments about Chinese culture. In the early 1950 s, Hawkes continued his study in Beijing University, and his understanding of Chinese culture was full of cognitive thought. Secondly, Hawkes was the representative one of redology. He not only understood Chinese culture, but also specialized in redology. What’s more, he achieved a lot in the field of redology, for example, he had a great research about Qin Keqing, one character in Hong Lou Meng. Thirdly, his mother tongue was English, and this point in the process of translation of The Story of The Stone was very rare. As English is not his native language, a Chinese translator cannot translate it well.

Up to now, Hawkes"s English version of The Story of The Stone has a unique classic status in the western world. After its publication, it never appeared a new English version of Hong Lou Meng during the later twenty years. While Yang’s version has a great influence in China, Hawkes’s version enjoys a standing reputation in western world.

Here is part of his translation:

The blossoms fade and falling fill the air,

Of fragrance and bright hues bereft and bare.

……

This spring the heartless swallow built his nest

Beneath the eaves of mud with flowers compressed.

……

Glad that it came, grieved it so soon was spent.

So soft it came, so silently it went!

……

Can I, that these flowers’ obsequies attend,

Divine how soon or late my life will end?

……

One day, when spring has gone and youth has fled,

The Maiden and the flowers will both be dead.

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