Author(s)

Lizhen Chen

Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College, Zhangzhou, China.

The present thesis aims at the possibility and limitation of culture transmission in Chinese-English literary translation, that is, whether culture can be successfully transmitted in this process. Meanwhile, under related theories, a systemic study will be conducted into Fortress Besieged (Weicheng’s English version) concerning cultural translation. To achieve the set goal of our study, the present thesis first gives an overview of Weicheng (《围城》) and its English version Fortress Besieged, and then based on culture’s universal and open characteristics, cultural translatability is demonstrated and then the limits of cultural translatability demonstrated based on culture’s national and epochal characteristics. Finally, the present thesis looks into Fortress Besieged in terms of cultural translation and analyses the translation strategies and methods it takes. Some sparkling translations are displayed, as well as a number of awkward or inadequate translations. This thesis is intended, with the combination of theories and practices, to give a reasonable judgment to the problem of translatability and its limits through a systematic and comprehensive analysis.

Culture, Transmitting, Weicheng/Fortress Besieged, Translation Strategies

Chen, L. (2019) On Culture Transmission in Chinese-English Literary Translation—Based on Weicheng’s English Version. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7, 139-160. doi: 10.4236/jss.2019.78011.