Gained in translation : the effects of translators' gender on English-language children's literature as translated in China and Taiwan
This thesis explores how translatorsâ gender affects their reading and interpretation of foreign childrenâs literature, particularly from source texts by British male authors to target texts by Taiwanese female translators. It argues that masculine voices characteristic of British texts and Chinese translations from the early twentieth century have been changed both by modern liberal authors and regulated by emerging female translators working with female editors. The study examines ways in which translators reproduce social and gender norms from both the source and the target cultures. It also investigates how gender identity affects translatorsâ use of language and their attitudes toward the target texts of different groups of readers. The thesis provides historical background and an overview of the childrenâs publishing business and infrastructure in Taiwan before discussing polysystem theory and feminist criticism in relation to translation. It uses a combination of close reading and comparative analysis across a large sample of texts to identify instances where gender appears to have affected the translation. The analysis begins with classics â such as Aliceâs Adventures in Wonderland (1865)
Hsin, Chia-Hui
Gained in translation : the effects of translators' gender on English-language children's literature as translated in China and Taiwan. This thesis explores how translatorsâ gender affects their reading and interpretation of foreign childrenâs literature, particularly from source texts by British male authors to target texts by Taiwanese female translators. It argues that masculine voices characteristic of British texts and Chinese translations from the early twentieth century have been changed both by modern liberal authors and regulated by emerging female translators working with female editors. The study examines ways in which translators reproduce social and gender norms from both the source and the target cultures. It also investigates how gender identity affects translatorsâ use of language and their attitudes toward the target texts of different groups of readers. The thesis provides historical background and an overview of the childrenâs publishing business and infrastructure in Taiwan before discussing polysystem theory and feminist criticism in relation to translation. It uses a combination of close reading and comparative analysis across a large sample of texts to identify instances where gender appears to have affected the translation. The analysis begins with classics â such as Aliceâs Adventures in Wonderland (1865)
translation effect translator gender english_language child_literature translate china taiwan explores translator gender affect read interpretation foreign child_literature particularly source_text british male author target_texts taiwanese female translator argues masculine voice characteristic british text chinese_translation change modern liberal author regulate emerge female translator_work female editor study_examines way translator reproduce social gender_norm source_target culture also_investigate gender_identity affect translator use language_attitude toward target_texts different_group reader provide historical_background overview child publish business infrastructure taiwan discuss polysystem_theory feminist criticism relation translation combination close_read comparative_analysis across large_sample text identify instance gender appear affected translation analysis begin classic