A Study of English Translation of The Kiloword from the Triple Beauties Perspective

Abstract： As a traditional primer for elementary education in ancient China， The Kiloword was well known by Chinese people for over 1500 years. A good translation of The Kiloword should not only provide basic information of China， but also obey the Triple Beauties： beauties in meaning， sound and form， which were proposed by the famous translator Xu Yuanchong. What was more it should also encourage foreigners to probe into the profound Chinese culture.

The purpose of this paper was to attract more readers to study the classical text The Kiloword and learn to appreciate the translation of Wang and Li from the criteria of the Triple of Beauty. Moreover， the research would shed some light on the English translation of classical Chinese poetry， and gear the literary translation to a healthier course to spread the Chinese civilization to the world.

Key words： The Kiloword； Beauty in meaning； Beauty in sound； Beauty in form

1. An Analysis on Beauty in Meaning

Reproduction of the Artistic Conception

The artistic image thinking is the must in poetry. The conception of The Kiloword is ingenious and elaborate. The literary is grace and striking， which contains so much figurative language. In the translation， Wang and Li tried their best to imitate this method， and the author believed that they reproduced the artistic conception to great extent， which adding the charming to the translation.

枇杷晚翠，梧桐蚤凋。

陳根委翳，落葉飄搖。

游鹍獨運，淩摩絳霄。

The loquats loathed to drop their green，

But tong leaves yearned to quit the scene

Old roots still twisting winging lay，

And foliage in falling eer would sway.

The giant rocs were free to rise

Toward the highest crimson Skies.

Wang Baotong and Li Lis translation （2008）

In these sentences， personification was widely used， to endow the things with the feelings and emotions of humans. Whats more， the usage of the preposition and verb such as out， bloom， yearn， made the words became a lively and vivid picture. Thanks to the translator， we could have the visual enjoyments.

2. An Analysis on Beauty in Sound

Rhyme Scheme

A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyme between lines of a poem or song. In other word， it is the pattern of end rhymes in lines.

（http：//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyme scheme）

Tetrameter couplet was widely used in Wang and Lis translation. In the translation， it has a regular pattern of rhyming words for stanzas. The rhyme of their translation is “aaaa”.endprint

云騰致雨 ，露結為霜。

金生麗水 ，玉出昆岡。

When clouds are formed， the rain is made. a

When dew drops freeze， the frost is laid. a

The Goldsand streams in gold abound. a

From Kunlun mountains jade is found. a

Wang Baotong and Li Lis translation （2008）

Although there were few stanzas not following the rhyme scheme， Wang Baotong and Li Li tried hard to translate every stanza with an end rhyme. Their translation is close to the original text with the rhyme scheme “abcb”. Reading his translation， readers can experience the feeling of music by rhyming words and it is really a pleasant to ears.

3.An Analysis on Beauty in Form

The Kiloword is in a neat form， four characters make a line and two couplets make a stanza. The translator should not only convey the content of the text， but also reproduce its form. In Wang and Lis translation， the beauty in form can be found everywhere. Various forms were used in the translations， mainly include： colloquial style， motto and epigram style， persuasion tone， elegant style， parallel style.

Colloquial Style

In Wang and Lis translation， colloquial style was used widely to give people the amiable feelings and emotions. Thus the colloquial words， terms， phrases and reputation could be found frequently.

女慕貞潔，男效才良。

知過必改，得能莫忘。

罔談彼短，靡恃己長。

信使可覆，器欲難量。

The fair admire the chaste and pure.

The gents must follow the wise and sure.

And when we slip we mend our way，

And what we learn we keep for aye.

Refrain from talking how they fail，

Nor feel so sure that youll prevail.

Whate er you promise， never break it，

And be so tolerant that none will make it.

Wang Baotong and Li Lis translation （2008）

The usage of “our” “we” and “you” shorten the distance between the author and reader， whats more， it could make the reader at ease. “What shame， great shame” is just like conversation between people. The sentence “Nor feel so sure that youll prevail” was just like the parents， teachers or just like your good friends to provide you their sincerely advice. These colloquial usages made people easy to obey the suggestion that was offered.

Translation itself should be taken as a form of art. The created part in translation can not only compensate for the lost part in transmitting the source language to the target language and it can also raise the beauty in all perspectives of translation. Because The Kiloword is in the style of verse， similar to poetry in meaning， sound and form， the translation of The Kiloword requires the translators to not only convey the meaning of the text faithfully， but also reproduce the beauty of meaning， sound and form.

References：

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作者簡介：徐熒，1993年7月18日出生，女，漢族，郯城縣人，現就讀于陜西師范大學外國語學院2016級（英語）學科教學專業。主要研究方向：英語學科教學。endprint