Habitus and the agency of a translator : a case study of Howard Goldblatt = 譯者的慣習與行動者屬性 : 基於葛浩文的個案研究

Abstract

With Mo Yan’s winning of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012, Howard Goldblatt’s translation of Chinese literary works is attracting increasing scholarly attention. In light of the “sociological turn” in translation studies, this thesis comprehensively examines Goldblatt’s translation endeavors from the perspective of Pierre Bourdieu’s practice theory, also known as field theory. Compared with polysystem theory and culture- related theories, field theory not only offers a macroscopic view on translation practices, but also becomes powerful in explaining problems in translation studies when combined with paratexts, which has been widely used in translation research in recent years. Sociological studies on Goldblatt’s translation remains largely unexplored, and existing studies suffer from the lack of first-hand data, premature analyses and explanations.

Based on the first-hand data collected from Chinese Literature Archive at the University of Oklahoma, this thesis explores the translation habitus and the capital structure of Goldblatt as an agent in the field of the translation of Chinese literature. Dividing Goldblatt translation habitus according to his life trajectory, translation thoughts and internalization of the field’s influences, this thesis finds out that his translation habitus, characterized by reader-oriented mediation and respect for both readers and writers, took shape immediately after he entered the field. With the huge success of his first translation work Mayor Yin, his symbolic capital accelerated. However, a careful comparison between the first drafts and the post-editing drafts of his translation works reveal that Goldblatt’s translation habitus remains largely unchanged over the years.

This thesis also finds out that Goldblatt, as an outstanding agent, has exerted great influence on Chinese literature in the field of world literature. On the one hand, his influence is limited because it is almost impossible for him alone to fundamentally change the position of Chinese literature in the field. On the other hand, his influence is infinite. Indeed, with his efforts, the position of Chinese literature did move towards the center of the field of world literature however subtle the change was. The enormous symbolic capital of Goldblatt attracts agents who are dedicated to translating Chinese literature and persuades them into chasing capital structure similar to Goldblatt’s. The significant cultural capital that those agents are going to produce in their chase will eventually empower Chinese literature and pave the way for its odyssey to the center of the field of world literature.