TITLE:
A Corpus-Based Comparative Multidimensional Analysis of the Two English Translations of Luoyang Jialan Ji
AUTHORS:
Qin Gu, Ling Chen
KEYWORDS:
Luoyang Jialan Ji, Multidimensional (MD) Approach, W. J. F. Jenner, Wang Yitong
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
28,
2024
ABSTRACT: By using the MD approach, this study aims at making a comparison between the lexical features in W. J. F. Jenner’s and Wang Yitong’s translations of Luoyang Jialan Ji (547 AD) from a multidimensional perspective. Statistics show that both the two translations belong to the General Narrative Exposition Register. However, there are significant discrepancies between the two versions in Dimension 1 “Involved versus Informational Production”, Dimension 4 “Overt Expression of Persuasion” and Dimension 5 “Abstract versus Non-Abstract Information”. The differences in Dimension 2 “Narrative versus Non-Narrative Concerns” and Dimension 3 “Explicit versus Situation-Dependent Reference” are not that significant. It is found that in Dimension 1, the information density of Wang’s version is much higher than that of Jenner’s. In Dimension 4, Wang’s version contains more overt persuasive effort than Jenner’s. In Dimension 5, the positive and negative contrast between the two versions indicates that Wang’s version provides information in a more abstract way, whereas Jenner’s in a relatively non-abstract way. Combined with typical examples in the two translation versions, this study is hoped to help better understand the translations of Luoyang Jialan Ji and conduct future studies on the translation styles of the two translators.