Collaborations in Literary Translation: Nicky Harman and Dylan Levi King’s Translation of Jia Pingwa’s Qinqiang (Shaanxi Opera)

This paper explores the intricate collaborations in literary translation through the case of the translation of Jia Pingwa’s 贾平凹 novel Qinqiang 秦腔 (Shaanxi Opera) by Nicky Harman and Dylan Levi King. Jia Pingwa is a seminal figure in contemporary Chinese literature, and his award-winning novel Qinqiang intricately weaves the cultural and social fabric of rural Shaanxi, enriched with local dialects and idiomatic expressions. These linguistic elements pose significant challenges, requiring a nuanced approach to make the text accessible to an international audience. This study examines the collaborative efforts between Harman and King, highlighting how their combined expertise facilitated the translation process. Additionally, it delves into their collaboration with the author Jia Pingwa, whose insights were crucial in addressing the complexities of dialect and cultural context. The paper also scrutinizes the role of the publisher Amazon Crossing and its editor in shaping the translation strategy to ensure broader global appeal. Through an analysis of first-hand materials, including interviews, correspondences, and different drafts, this paper sheds light on the multifaceted nature of collaborative translation. By exploring the interplay between translators, authors, and publishers, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of collaborations that underpin successful literary translation, a subject of increasing interest in translation studies.