An E-C Translation Study under the Theory of Eco-translatology: Children and Nature in The Secret Garden
Abstract
Approaching the second decade of the 21 century, the theoretical translation field of China is gracing with a new theory that might open up a new paradigm for the discipline. Inspired by ancient Chinese wisdom on the harmonious relationships between man and environment, the theory of eco-translatology was published by Gengshen Hu. Eco-translatology is an interdisciplinary subject that involves the subject of translation and the ideas used in ecology. In most translated (English to Chinese) children’s literature, translators select different words under their translational environment and their own understanding of cross-cultural adaptation. Therefore, the ideal version of translation would achieve the harmonious relationships between linguistic, communicative, cross-cultural transition, and other translation-related factors, it would also achieve the harmonious relationships between author’s original attempt, translators’ selection of words, and reader’s experience. This paper will make a specific analysis of the different E-C translated texts of the famous children’s literature The Secret Garden to explore translators’ different interpretations of author’s unique ideas and translators’ selection for words under the theory of eco-translatology at that time period and social background. Finally, the author concludes how eco-translatology theory could be beneficial in serving practical use in translation.
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