Translator’s ideology, dominant ideology and the use of pseudonym : an analysis of a Chinese version of George Orwell’s Animal farm

Research output: Journal PublicationsJournal Article (refereed)peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article seeks to decipher the intricate relationship between translation, the translator’s ideology, the dominant ideology, and the use of pseudonym. It does so through analyzing Liang Shiqiu’s Chinese version of George Orwell’s political satire Animal Farm, written under the pen name of Li Qichun. We will investigate the similarities and differences between Liang’s translations under the pseudonym and the ones written under his real name. In addition, we will explore the conflicts that existed between the translator’s ideology and the dominant ideology of the time when the translation was produced, trying to solve the riddle of why he used the pen name Li Qichun when translating Animal Farm. The study indicates that although there is a similarity between Liang’s translation of Animal Farm under the pen name of Li Qichun and his translation work under his real name, the differences are significant. In terms of the translator’s ideology, Liang was against any form of totalitarianism. The purpose behind translating Animal Farm was to combat totalitarianism, but ironically and paradoxically the society in which the translation was produced was also a totalitarian society. Through reference to the pseudonym we may discover the interactions and conflicts that exist between the translator’s ideology and the dominant ideology of a certain special historical period.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)543-563
Number of pages21
JournalArchiv Orientalni : Quarterly Journal of African and Asian Studies
Volume82
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

The previous version of this paper was presented at the international conference “ ‘Did anyone say Power?’: Rethinking Domination and Hegemony in Translation,” held at Bangor University in September 2013.

Keywords

  • translator’s ideology
  • translation
  • Liang Shiqiu
  • pseudonym
  • ominant ideology
  • Animal Farm
  • George Orwell

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