The voice of the translator
A case study of the English translations of The Peony Pavilion
There have been discussions about the concept of the translator’s voice, and the visibility of the
translator in the practice of translation. However, questions relating to what actually makes the translator visible
and visibility as a strategic act remain under-explored. This chapter examines the impact of the translator’s
assumptions about visibility, and the translation strategies adopted. Special attention will be paid to opera
translation from Chinese into English, using The Peony Pavilion as a case in point. Through
text-based comparison and analysis of paratexts, it is revealed that the translator’s voice emerges as a result of the
translation strategy used, and is underpinned by the translator’s assumptions.
Article outline
- 1.The translator’s voice: An overview
- 2.
The Peony Pavilion
- 2.1The importance of The Peony Pavilion
- 2.2The ‘duality’ of Chinese opera
- 3.The three English translations
- 4.Discussion of the three English translations of The Peony Pavilion
- 5.Conclusion
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References