On Three Translations of Li Bai’s Changgan Xing
Abstract: This research studies three translations of Li Bai’s well-known poem Changgan Xing, produced by Ezra Pound, Xu Yuanchong and S. Obata respectively. The aim is to explore the strengths and weaknesses of those translations, and to learn translation skills through appreciating and comparatively studying both the original text and the translations.
As there is no universally accepted interpretation of poetry, the question of what constitutes successful poetry translation should be approached with sensitivity and openness. The author believes that each theory, principle or strategy can make its own contribution to the translation of the poem, and welcomes the “diversity” of translation.
Keywords: Classical Chinese poetry, translation, Li Bai, Changgan Xing
李白长干行三种翻译版
摘 要 本论文旨在通过对李白的《长干行》及其三个英译本的研读，在比照和欣赏中学习中诗英译的技巧，试析庞德(Ezra Pound)、许渊冲和小畑熏良(S. Obata)译本的各自得失。
论文从欣赏的角度将原作与译文、译文与译文进行对比分析，从总体印象着手，后就诗题翻译、遣词造句、语言风格、诗韵及诗体结构、意象和意境的处理等几个方面进行考察，进而探讨三位译者选用的翻译策略及其在译文中的体现，结合“等效”原则、“三美”理论等翻译理论知识，参考译界学者的相关研究成果，从三个不同角度分析三篇译文的得失以及不同翻译策略的运用对译本的影响，最后提倡建立多元的翻译欣赏标准，期待译文“百家争鸣、百花齐放”。
关 键 词 唐诗；英译；李白；长干行
Contents
Introduction 3
1.1 A Brief Introduction to Li Bai 3
1.2 The Background of Changgan Xing 3
2 Literature Review 5
3 Appreciation of the Three Translations 8
3.1 General Outline of the Original Text 8
3.2 The Title 9
3.3 The Structure and Rhyme 10
3.4 The Tone and Diction 11
3.4.1 The Tone Decides the Diction 11
3.4.2 The Diction Alters the Tone 12
3.5 The Image 13
3.5.1 Images of similar culture 14
3.5.2 Images of different culture 16
4 The Limitations and Breakthrough of the Three Versions 21
4.1 In terms of Equivalence 21
4.2 In terms of “Three Beauty” 23
4.3 “Best for Whom?” 25
5 Conclusion 26
References 27
