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Article published In: FORUM
Vol. 18:1 (2020) ► pp.86–104

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Translation and canon formation

Four decades of Chinese fiction in English translation (1978–2018)

 | Tianjin University of Commerce
Published online: 16 June 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.19010.yu
Abstract
As an essential part of the “Globalization of Chinese Culture” strategy, the translation of Chinese fiction into English has gained more significance and deserves more academic attention. Through making a survey of Chinese fiction in English translation from 1978 to 2018, the article not only presents different trajectories of the development of Chinese fiction in English translation in mainland China and the English-speaking countries but also shows that different canons of Chinese fiction in English translation have been formed in the course of this development. Reasons for the formation of the prevailing canon(s) are explored and explained from perspectives taking into account concrete factors such as ideology, poetics and patronage as well as influences of the literary award mechanism. Based on this description and explanation, the article concludes with a few suggestions for the future development of cultural activity of introducing Chinese literature into English-speaking countries.
Résumé
En tant que partie essentielle de la stratégie « globalisation de la culture chinoise », la traduction de la fiction chinoise en anglais devient plus significative et mérite plus d’attentions académiques. En donnant un panorama de la fiction chinoise en anglais de 1978 à 2018, cet article dessine les trajectoires du développement de la fiction chinoise traduite en anglais d’un côté en Chine continentale et d’un autre côté dans les pays anglophones ; il démontre, en outre, que ce processus a produit différents classiques d’œuvres en anglais traduites du chinois. Les raisons pour cette formation de classiques sont devenues un objet de recherche sous diverses perspectives, comme l’idéologie, la poétique et le patronage, ainsi que le système de prix littéraires. Fondé sur cette description et cette explication, cet article conclut avec des suggestions pour le développement futur d’activités culturelles susceptibles d’introduire la littérature chinoise dans les pays anglophones.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • The canon of Chinese fiction in English translation
  • Mechanisms of canon formation
    • Ideology and canonization
    • Poetics and canonization
    • Patronage and canonization
    • Literary awards and canonization
  • Prediction for future development
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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