Comparison Analysis of Wu and Zhang’s Translations of The Old Man and The Sea

Abstract

The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway has always been a renowned masterpiece representing American literature. With the Chinese culture market getting more and more open, since the reform and open policy have been mounted, the amount of Chinese people approaching exotic literature has been substantially amplified. The demand for prominent translations of foreign literary works has soared. The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway as a typical and remarkable foreign literary work are fairly welcome into the Chinese cultural market, with more than 40 versions of translation. With a whole lot of versions, Chinese readers and literature scholars can feel confused. People cannot choose each one on earth is worth reading the most. Rather, in light of distinct reading aims, different versions can have their own merits. Some versions may be very loyal to the original script, but the words ultimately exhibited may not be so vivid and coherent. The others could overwhelmingly focus on the final presentation of the Chinese context that did not express the author’s original intention. So, if people want to comprehend Hemingway’s thoughts, they can choose the former one, while those who just feel like trying American literature for the first time, may opt for the latter one. Hence, it is very significant for people to know which translation can fit their purpose best. Otherwise, they may fail in their research or lose their passion for American literature.