A Study of Shi Yingzhou’s Translation Thoughts Based on His Translation of Sonnets of William Shakespeare

Abstract

To draw academic attention to overseas Chinese translators, the author of this paper probes into the translation thoughts of Shi Yingzhou, a Philippine Chinese and master of poetry translation. This study is based on extra-textual materials, including Shi’s notes in his essays and his preface for his translated work, coupled with a case study of Shi’s translation of Sonnets of William Shakespeare to interpret his thinking on translators’ qualifications, translation selection, translation criteria and translation methods. By virtue of both the extra-textual and textual materials, Shi’s translation thoughts are approached in a more objective manner: on the one hand, Shi himself is a well-qualified translator and holds a scrupulous attitude towards the selection of the works to be translated, which are in line with his thoughts on translators’ qualifications and translation selection; on the other hand, “fidelity” finds its conspicuous presence in Shi’s translation criteria and translation methods, but intrinsic cultural difference between English and Chinese may jeopardize the form and the meaning of the original to some degree, suggesting a gap between his translation practices and his translation thoughts.

Keywords

Shi Yingzhou / Shakespeare’s sonnets / poetry translation / overseas / Chinese translators / fidelity

References

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