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Different versions are made by different translators who are also different in their understandings. These translators must use different words in their versions. Domestication and foreignization are the point where different researchers must start in their translations. The Gift of the Magi is a famous short story of O. Henry, which is about a story of presenting gifts at Christmas Eve. It is a so common theme, but The Gift of the Magi becomes the outstanding. That is really worth thinking deeply.
1.2 Purpose of the Research
So far, the versions analysis to The Gift of the Magi has not been widely studied. For this reason, the author of this paper will make a contrastive analysis of three Chinese versions of The Gift of the Magi from the perspective of domestication and foreignization.
By analyzing the three versions of The Gift of the Magi, this paper tries to show the meaning and form, and shaping the characters’ images. Besides, differences among the three versions can be identified through the analysis, which can improve the understanding of The Gift of the Magi. In addition, this paper is expected to be helpful to English---Chinese translation.
1.3 Research Methodology
Three research methods are used in this paper. First, literal research method: we can prepare for the research by the way of gathering some relevant information. Second, comparative analysis: in order to perfect the subject, he author of this paper will have a comparative study on the three versions to find the differences and analyze them. Last, investigation case method: choosing the typical cases in the versions to explore in details.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Introduction of Domestication and Foreignization
Domestication and foreignization are two terms which were put forward by the American translator called Lawrence Venuti. (Zhu Anbo, 2009: 3) Domestication and foreignization are two strategies of translation. Domestication refers to the translation strategy that the translator brings the source culture to the readers in the target language to reduce the foreignness of the original text. On the other hand, foreignization is another translation strategy which is intended to take the readers to the foreign culture in the source text, and still remains some original style.
Domestication is a term used by Venuti to describe the translation strategy in which a transparent, fluent style is adopted in order to minimize the strangeness of the foreign text for the target language readers. While foreignization is a term used by Venuti to designate the type of translation in which a target text is produced which deliberately breaks the target conventions by retaining something of the foreignness of the original. (Shuttleworth & Cowie, 1997: 59)
The confrontation has been existing in domestication and foreignization. Domestication is considered as the target language culture oriented while foreignization is regarded as the source language culture or readers oriented. What we say oriented is not only on the culture level, but also on the linguistic level.
Domestication is a kind translation strategy which makes the target language as the basis. This entails translating in a transparent, fluent, ‘invisible’ style in order to minimize the foreignness of the target text. (Jeremy Munday, 2010: 146) For example, Chinese idiom “智者千虑，必有一失” can be translated as “Homer sometimes nods”. At the same time, English idiom “Cast pears before swine” can be translated into “对牛弹琴”. More specifically, the translation principle of domestication is that the translator does not dwell on the form of the original text, but just keeps the same meaning of the original work or the different levels of linguistic such as grammar, vocabulary and syntax.源:自/751-·论,文'网·www.751com.cn/
The reasons why translators use domesticating translation are followed: first, it is unrealistic and dangerous to force the target language to follow the rules of the source language. Therefore, the translator should overcome language barrier and culture barrier. Second, the purpose of translation is culture exchange. That is to say, one of the responsibilities of the translator is to avoid the cultural conflict. Third, in order to make the reader understand the translation better, the translator should transfer the source culture into the target culture. Last, the translator should not make excessive demands on the intelligence and imagination of the reader and force the target reader to understand the culture of the source text. Therefore, what the translator should do is to make the sourceculture close to the culture of the target reader.