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On the Translation of “pride” in Pride and Prejudice
LI Xiu-li
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DOI:10.17265/1539-8080/2016.02.007
China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China
Being the most important word in Pride and Prejudice, “pride” occurs so many times in the novel. The paper mainly examines seven translators’ renditions of two dialogues in the novel and points out that the varied renderings of “pride” in different places of the novel by each of the translators ruin the cohesive and coherent texts. These renderings range from being derogatory to neutral and to commendatory: 傲慢, 高傲, 骄傲, 自尊, and 尊严. The paper argues that three factors are likely to account for the wrong renderings. Firstly, the Chinese title of the novel, though looking perfect with 傲慢 rhyming nicely with 偏见, may have served as a blindfold, rendering the translators oblivious of their evident mistakes. Secondly, the Chinese translators failed to obtain an insightful interpretation of Darcy’s pride and the wrong renderings blur the distinction between Darcy’s pride and Lady Catherine’s arrogance or insolence. Thirdly, the coherent and narrative functions of repetition were not fully valued by the translators of the novel. The paper contends that the rendering of “pride” as 傲慢 is very often inappropriate. 傲慢 is a strong critique that refers to a person’s overbearing and disrespectful attitude or behavior, whereas “pride” used to depict Darcy carries a less derogatory connotation. In addition, Darcy’s pride has two parts. Externally his proud manners can be “repulsive” to other people while internally his pride relates more to his opinion of himself. The paper then suggests that “pride” be rendered as 骄傲 all the way through the whole novel.
pride, Pride and Prejudice, repetition, translation, coherence
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