Exploring Gender Consciousness in Eight Chinese Translations of The Yellow Wallpaper: A Critical Multimodal Perspective

Tzu-yi Elaine Lee

The Yellow Wallpaper ； critical multimodal studies ； recontextualization ； gender and feminist consciousness

翻譯學研究集刊

20輯（2016 / 12 / 01）

107 - 123

英文

The Yellow Wallpaper, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and first published in 1892, is a feminist critique of the position of women in late nineteenth century society. Since its publication, the work has been translated more than once into Chinese. This study explores gender consciousness in the recontextualization of this story in Taiwan and Mainland China by considering eight Chinese translations. By adapting critical multimodal studies into a theoretical framework (Van Leeuwen, 2008), the researcher will pursue two stages of investigation. First, the study investigates the paratexts of each translated version to examine the ways the story is recontextualized in Taiwan and Mainland China. Among the paratextual elements, translators’ notes are highly valuable in exploring the translators’ creative process and strategies in addressing the strong gender consciousness in the story. In the second stage, the study will use the translators’ notes and other paratexts as a reference and examine the eight selected translations to see how translators in Taiwan and Mainland China represented gender consciousness. The study provides a good example of translations enjoyed by readers on both sides of the strait and that the publication of these eight translated versions gives further evidence of the developing feminist consciousness in Taiwan and Mainland China.

1. (2004).Collection of World Horror Fictions: Volume II.Taipei:Wisdom & Knowledge Publishing.
2. Chien, M. S.(Ed)(1995).I, born as women: America Volume.Heibei:Heibei Education Publishing.
3. Chien, M. S.(Ed)(2001).I, born as women: America Volume.Taipei:Owl Publishing.
4. Deppman, J.,Ferrer, D.,Groden, M.(2004).Genetic Criticism: Texts and Avant-textes.Pennsylvania:University of Pennsylvania Press..
5. Dimitriu, R.(2009).Translators' prefaces as documentary sources for translation studies.Perspectives: Studies in Translatology,17(3),193-206.
6. Djonov, E.(Ed.),Zhao, S.(Ed.)(2014).Critical Multimodal Studies of Public Discourse.London:Routledge.
7. Genette, G.(1997).Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
8. Gerson, J. M.,Peiss, K.(1985).Boundaries, negotiation, consciousness: Reconceptualizing gender relations.Social Problem,32(4),317-331.
9. Gilman, C. P.(1973).The Yellow Wallpaper.New York:Feminist Press.
10. Karpinski, J. B.(Ed.)(1992).Critical Essays on Charlotte Perkins Gilman.New York:Macmillan Publishing Company.
11. Lefevere, A.(1992).Translation, Rewriting, and the Manipulation of Literary Fame.London:Routledge.
12. Lin, S. C.(Trans.)(2003).Herland.Shenyang:Liaoning Education Press.
13. Lin, S. C.(Trans.)(1996).Herland.Taipei:Fembooks Publishing.
14. Liu, B. T.(Trans.)(2010).The Yellow Wallpaper.Taipei:Commabooks Publishing.
15. Ma, J. J.(Ed.)(2000).Famous Short Stories.Wuhan:Huazhong Ligong Publishing.
16. Moers, E.(1977).Literary Women.New York:Oxford University Press.
17. Picken, C.(Ed.)(1983).The Translator's Handbook.London:Routledge.
18. Potts, H. J.(1976).University of North Texas.
19. Van Leeuwen, T.(2008).Discourse and Practice: New Tools for Critical Analysis.Oxford:Oxford University Press.
20. Venuti, L.(1998).The Scandals of Translation: Towards an Ethics of Difference.London:Routledge.
21. Wang(Trans.)(2014).Her Kingdom.Beijing:Beijing Times Publishing.
22. Wang, F.(2013).China,Harbin Normal University.
23. Wilcox, C.(1997).Racial and gender consciousness among African-American women: Sources and consequences.Women and Politics,17(1),73-94.