The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction <i>Santi</i>

Lin Wang; Xiao Ma

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

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The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi

Lin Wang, Xiao Ma^*

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Received: 17 September 2023 Accepted: 10 October 2023 Published: 28 October 2023

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Abstract

Narrative analysis framework based on sociology and communication theory put forward by Mona Baker presents narrative as a solution to conflicts balancing in translation process, which views translation as a dynamic process affected and shaped by various narratives framing strategies. Science fiction is a literary form with various narratives and its translation needs exploration under the guidance of narrative analysis. Santi and its English version The Three-Body Problem are excellent examples in the genre of science fiction with many different narratives in terms of history, society, individual and space. This paper, based on narrative analysis framework, examines the translation process of a prominent case in science fiction sector Santi by Li Cixin and translated by Ken Liu via methods of intensive reading, case statistics and comparison. Through meticulous analysis, it is found that 1) the translated version The Three-Body Problem has been shaped by different narrative factors and narratives in source text have been retained or changed in target text, 2) ontological narrative, public narrative, concept narrative and meta-narrative play different roles in producing a translated version, and 3) The Three-Body Problem’s successful reception and communication within American literary world can be attributed to these strategic narratives effectively balancing Chinese characteristics with American aesthetic.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
Page(s)	114-119
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Narrative Construction, Narrative Analysis Framework, The Science Fiction, Santi

References

[1]	Guo, J. (2004). Studies of Sci-Tech Translation. Beijing: China Translation Corporation, 126.
[2]	Wu, J. (2021). The Overseas Dissemination of Chinese Contemporary Science Fiction and Its Implications – The Case of The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Journal of Shandong University (Philosophy and Social Sciences). (6): 72-184.
[3]	Yang, Z. & Wang, L. (2020). A Translation-Communication Mode of Science Fiction Based on Polysystem Theory – A Case Study on The Three-Body Problem. Journal of Honghe University. (5): 11-116.
[4]	Wu, Y. & He, M. (2019). The Three-Body Problem’s Trip to The U.S.: Context, Actants and Translation Strategy. Journal of Foreign Languages. (1): 94-102.
[5]	Wang, Y. (2019). Improvement of International Communication Ability for China’s Literary Works – A Case Study of Santi by Liu Cixin. China Publishing Journal. (1): 23-26.
[6]	Liu, K. & Li, Y. (2018). On The International Communication of China’s Science Fictions from The Perspective of Western Interpretation Preference – A Case Study of The Three-Body Problem in U. S. Comparative Literature in China. (2): 136-149.
[7]	Chen, F. (2017). The Translation and Communication of Chinese Genre Fiction in America: Taking The Three-Body Problem as an Example. Journal of Zhejiang Normal University (Social Sciences) (3): 96-102.
[8]	Zhou, X. (2016). A Study of the English Version of Chinese Science Fiction The Three-Body Problem in Perspective of The Skops Theory. Master Dissertation. Changsha: Changsha University of Science and Technology.
[9]	Liu, H. & Zhang, D. (2019). Eco-interpretation on The Overseas Popularity of The Three-Body Trilogy. Shandong Foreign Language Teaching. (2): 125-132.
[10]	Hu, Y. (2019). An Analysis of Ken Liu’s English Version of Santi from The Perspective of Reception Aesthetics. Journal of Wuyi University. (2): 68-71.
[11]	Zhang, S. & Qin, J. (2018). Translation Process of China’s Genre Fiction from The Perspective of Hermeneutics – A Case Study of The Three-Body Problem. Contemporary Foreign Language Studies. (3): 57-65.
[12]	Somers, Margaret R. and Gloria D. Gibson. (1994). “Reclaiming the Epistemological ‘Other’: Narrative and the Social Constitution of Identity”, in Craig Calhoun (ed.) Social Theory and the Politics of Identity, Oxford and Cambridge MA: Blackwell, 37-99.
[13]	Baker, M. (2006). Translation and Conflict: A Narrative Account. London and New York: Taylor & Francis Group.
[14]	Liu Cixin. (2008). Santi. Chongqing: Chongqing Press.
[15]	Ken Liu. (2014). The Three-Body Problem. New York: Tor.

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APA Style

Wang, L., Ma, X. (2023). The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 9(4), 114-119. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

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ACS Style

Wang, L.; Ma, X. The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2023, 9(4), 114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

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AMA Style

Wang L, Ma X. The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2023;9(4):114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12,
  author = {Lin Wang and Xiao Ma},
  title = {The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {114-119},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20230904.12},
  abstract = {Narrative analysis framework based on sociology and communication theory put forward by Mona Baker presents narrative as a solution to conflicts balancing in translation process, which views translation as a dynamic process affected and shaped by various narratives framing strategies. Science fiction is a literary form with various narratives and its translation needs exploration under the guidance of narrative analysis. Santi and its English version The Three-Body Problem are excellent examples in the genre of science fiction with many different narratives in terms of history, society, individual and space. This paper, based on narrative analysis framework, examines the translation process of a prominent case in science fiction sector Santi by Li Cixin and translated by Ken Liu via methods of intensive reading, case statistics and comparison. Through meticulous analysis, it is found that 1) the translated version The Three-Body Problem has been shaped by different narrative factors and narratives in source text have been retained or changed in target text, 2) ontological narrative, public narrative, concept narrative and meta-narrative play different roles in producing a translated version, and 3) The Three-Body Problem’s successful reception and communication within American literary world can be attributed to these strategic narratives effectively balancing Chinese characteristics with American aesthetic.
},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi
AU  - Lin Wang
AU  - Xiao Ma
Y1  - 2023/10/28
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 114
EP  - 119
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
AB  - Narrative analysis framework based on sociology and communication theory put forward by Mona Baker presents narrative as a solution to conflicts balancing in translation process, which views translation as a dynamic process affected and shaped by various narratives framing strategies. Science fiction is a literary form with various narratives and its translation needs exploration under the guidance of narrative analysis. Santi and its English version The Three-Body Problem are excellent examples in the genre of science fiction with many different narratives in terms of history, society, individual and space. This paper, based on narrative analysis framework, examines the translation process of a prominent case in science fiction sector Santi by Li Cixin and translated by Ken Liu via methods of intensive reading, case statistics and comparison. Through meticulous analysis, it is found that 1) the translated version The Three-Body Problem has been shaped by different narrative factors and narratives in source text have been retained or changed in target text, 2) ontological narrative, public narrative, concept narrative and meta-narrative play different roles in producing a translated version, and 3) The Three-Body Problem’s successful reception and communication within American literary world can be attributed to these strategic narratives effectively balancing Chinese characteristics with American aesthetic.

VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Lin Wang

School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Wuhan University, City of Wuhan, China; School of Foreign languages, Leshan Normal University, City of Leshan, China

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Xiao Ma

School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Wuhan University, City of Wuhan, China

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Wang, L., Ma, X. (2023). The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 9(4), 114-119. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

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ACS Style

Wang, L.; Ma, X. The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2023, 9(4), 114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Wang L, Ma X. The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2023;9(4):114-119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12,
  author = {Lin Wang and Xiao Ma},
  title = {The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {114-119},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20230904.12},
  abstract = {Narrative analysis framework based on sociology and communication theory put forward by Mona Baker presents narrative as a solution to conflicts balancing in translation process, which views translation as a dynamic process affected and shaped by various narratives framing strategies. Science fiction is a literary form with various narratives and its translation needs exploration under the guidance of narrative analysis. Santi and its English version The Three-Body Problem are excellent examples in the genre of science fiction with many different narratives in terms of history, society, individual and space. This paper, based on narrative analysis framework, examines the translation process of a prominent case in science fiction sector Santi by Li Cixin and translated by Ken Liu via methods of intensive reading, case statistics and comparison. Through meticulous analysis, it is found that 1) the translated version The Three-Body Problem has been shaped by different narrative factors and narratives in source text have been retained or changed in target text, 2) ontological narrative, public narrative, concept narrative and meta-narrative play different roles in producing a translated version, and 3) The Three-Body Problem’s successful reception and communication within American literary world can be attributed to these strategic narratives effectively balancing Chinese characteristics with American aesthetic.
},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Narrative Construction in the Translation of the Science Fiction Santi
AU  - Lin Wang
AU  - Xiao Ma
Y1  - 2023/10/28
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 114
EP  - 119
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230904.12
AB  - Narrative analysis framework based on sociology and communication theory put forward by Mona Baker presents narrative as a solution to conflicts balancing in translation process, which views translation as a dynamic process affected and shaped by various narratives framing strategies. Science fiction is a literary form with various narratives and its translation needs exploration under the guidance of narrative analysis. Santi and its English version The Three-Body Problem are excellent examples in the genre of science fiction with many different narratives in terms of history, society, individual and space. This paper, based on narrative analysis framework, examines the translation process of a prominent case in science fiction sector Santi by Li Cixin and translated by Ken Liu via methods of intensive reading, case statistics and comparison. Through meticulous analysis, it is found that 1) the translated version The Three-Body Problem has been shaped by different narrative factors and narratives in source text have been retained or changed in target text, 2) ontological narrative, public narrative, concept narrative and meta-narrative play different roles in producing a translated version, and 3) The Three-Body Problem’s successful reception and communication within American literary world can be attributed to these strategic narratives effectively balancing Chinese characteristics with American aesthetic.

VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download