The current study aims at identifying the content configuration of translators＇ prefaces with special reference to China Yilin Press＇s English-Chinese （E-C） translated publications of American authors and finding ...The current study aims at identifying the content configuration of translators＇ prefaces with special reference to China Yilin Press＇s English-Chinese （E-C） translated publications of American authors and finding the evolving tendency of the content of the translators＇ prefaces. One hundred and eight translators＇ prefaces are selected from the E-C translations published by the Press from 1988 to 2013 and classified on the basis of Genette＇s （1997） classification scheme. The Microsoft Excel as well as a human coder is used to analyze the evolving tendency and content of the translators＇ prefaces. Results indicate that translators＇ prefaces fall into 11 kinds in terms of their content, with the occurrence of three of them--genesis, the translator＇s conclusion and introduction to the translator ---on the increase, whereas that of eight of them--introduction to the author, introduction to the original, genre indication, the translator＇s opinion or analysis, statements of intent, contextual information, commentary on the title and introduction to the translated version--on the decline. It can be concluded that translators＇ prefaces play important roles in that they provide more information concerning the original and the author, such as plots, characters in the story and narrative techniques, but also give explanations for translators＇ motivation of translation, translation strategies adopted. Focus of the content of translators＇ prefaces has shifted from the original and the authors to the translators and translation process that reflect translator＇s subjectivity. This study underlines that due attention should be paid to the evolving tendency of their content configuration in recent years so as to ensure the social status of translators, and circulation and acceptance of the translated publications.展开更多
文摘The current study aims at identifying the content configuration of translators＇ prefaces with special reference to China Yilin Press＇s English-Chinese （E-C） translated publications of American authors and finding the evolving tendency of the content of the translators＇ prefaces. One hundred and eight translators＇ prefaces are selected from the E-C translations published by the Press from 1988 to 2013 and classified on the basis of Genette＇s （1997） classification scheme. The Microsoft Excel as well as a human coder is used to analyze the evolving tendency and content of the translators＇ prefaces. Results indicate that translators＇ prefaces fall into 11 kinds in terms of their content, with the occurrence of three of them--genesis, the translator＇s conclusion and introduction to the translator ---on the increase, whereas that of eight of them--introduction to the author, introduction to the original, genre indication, the translator＇s opinion or analysis, statements of intent, contextual information, commentary on the title and introduction to the translated version--on the decline. It can be concluded that translators＇ prefaces play important roles in that they provide more information concerning the original and the author, such as plots, characters in the story and narrative techniques, but also give explanations for translators＇ motivation of translation, translation strategies adopted. Focus of the content of translators＇ prefaces has shifted from the original and the authors to the translators and translation process that reflect translator＇s subjectivity. This study underlines that due attention should be paid to the evolving tendency of their content configuration in recent years so as to ensure the social status of translators, and circulation and acceptance of the translated publications.
