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Article published In: Babel
Vol. 66:1 (2020) ► pp.118–141

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Representing Anglophone culture in China

A case study of Peter Pan in translation

 | Shantou University
Published online: 7 February 2020
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00135.yua
Abstract
Using three Chinese translations of Peter Pan completed at different times in history, this paper discusses how the spread of the Anglophone culture in China influenced the representation of Anglophone culture in translations. The paper provides an overview of different types of culture-bound elements identified in Peter Pan, illustrating the different translation strategies adopted to treat these elements. The analysis focuses on the influence of the changing sociocultural context in China, exploring how the spread of Anglophone culture in China over time is reflected in the translation of culture-bound elements. As the penetration of the Anglophone culture into China became more profound from the early twentieth century to the early twenty-first century, the source culture became better preserved, providing readers with a culturally rich target text with foreignizing translation strategies.
Résumé
En utilisant trois traductions de Peter Pan en chinois, réalisées à différentes périodes de l’histoire, cet article examine comment la diffusion de la culture anglophone en Chine a influencé la représentation de la culture anglophone dans les traductions. L’article donne un aperçu de différents types d’éléments liés à la culture, identifiés dans Peter Pan, en illustrant les différentes stratégies de traduction adoptées pour traiter ces éléments. L’analyse se concentre sur l’influence du changement de contexte socioculturel en Chine, en explorant comment la diffusion de la culture anglophone en Chine se reflète au fil du temps dans la traduction d’éléments liés à la culture. Au fur et à mesure de l’intensification de la pénétration de la culture anglophone en Chine, entre le début du XXe siècle et le début du XXIe siècle, la culture source a été mieux préservée, offrant aux lecteurs un texte cible culturellement riche, avec des stratégies d’étrangéisation de la traduction.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Culture-bound elements in the translation of children’s books
  • 3.Culture-bound elements and their translation strategies
  • 4.The translation of culture-bound elements in Peter Pan
    • 4.1Food and drink
    • 4.2Currency, weights and measures
    • 4.3Customs, practices, and games
    • 4.4Flora and fauna
    • 4.5Buildings and transportation
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (47)
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