Variational Translation Phenomenon of Six Chapters of A Floating Life

-- Taking Lin Yutang’s English Version as an Example

Abstract

The Variational Translation theory was summarized and proposed by Huang Zhonglian, a Chinese translator and scholar, from his many years of translation practice and research. There are altogether seven flexible means: omission, editing, narration, condensation, combination, modification and addition. Six Chapters of A Floating Life by Shen Fu of the Qing Dynasty was beautifully written and deeply loved by Lin Yutang. To better promote Chinese culture to the world, Lin translated this novel, and its English version was highly praised abroad. Based on the Variational Translation theory and combined with examples, this paper discusses in detail the specific manifestations of the translation variation strategies such as omission, editing, narration, modification and addition in the English version of Six Chapters of A Floating Life. The ultimate goal is to enhance the guiding role of the Variational Translation theory in the English translation of Chinese novels.