ABSTRACT

Chinese Translation of Little Women, a famous novel by Louisa May Alcott, based on Gideon Toury’s translation norms theory, is studied diachronically in this paper. After briefly reviewing the three translated versions of Little Women, comparison and analysis of the three Chinese versions from initial norms, operational norms and preliminary norms are carried out. It is found that, in diachronic studies, initial norms, operational norms and preliminary norms are often used as important measures. Preliminary norms can be subdivided into social background, rhetoric and translators. By applying these norms in this study, it can be concluded that social backgrounds, rhetoric and translators are the main causes of the differences between different versions. The research can also help readers and language learners in their selection of reading and studying materials.

Keywords： Little Women；diachronic study; Toury’s translation norms theory;

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two  Literature Review-2

2.1 Previous Studies on the Chinese Translation of Little Women-2

2.2 Previous Studies on the Diachronic Study-3

Chapter Three  A DIACHRONIC ANALYSIS OF THE THREE VERSIONS ACCORDING TO TOURY’S TRANSLATION NORMS-4

3.1 Objects of the Analysis: the Three Chinese Versions-4

3.2 The Classification of Toury’s Translation Norms-5

3.3 The Comparison of the Three Versions-6

3.3.1 Initial Norms in Three Versions-6

3.3.2 Operational Norms in Three Versions-7

3.3.3 Preliminary Norms in Three Versions-9

Chapter Four  significances ON DIACHRONIC STUDIES OF TRANSLATED LITERATURE-13

4.1 Better Understanding of Social Backgrounds of Translation-13

4.2 Helpful in the Studies of Translators' Differences-13

4.3 Better Useful for Readers to Understand Literature-14

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-15

WORKS CITED-17