The Translation and Dissemination of Wuthering Heights in China from the Perspective of Pierre Bourdieu’s Field Theory

Abstract

The reception of foreign literary works in other counties experiences translation, publication and dissemination. This study’s objective is to explore the reception of Wuthering Heights in China by adopting Descriptive Translation Studies and Empirical Research studies. The Historical and Archival Research methods and Close Reading methods were applied. The materials were two versions of Wuthering Heights translated by two translators that appeared at different times, the data collected from the Chinese Chaoxing database and CNKI(Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure). The theoretical framework was Pierre Bourdieu’s Field Theory, focusing on the core terms: “habitus”, “field”, and “capital”. First, the author explored the two translators’ "habitus" and compared the characteristics of their versions. Second, the author interpreted the dissemination of Wuthering Heights in China, concentrating on its dissemination in the publication field, literary field and film field. This research found that the two translators had unique translation habitus and presented different characteristics in their versions. The accumulation of cultural capital took place in the publication, literary and film field that promoted the dissemination of Wuthering Heights. The analysis of the representative version’s reception in China can reflect the reception of the original work in China to a great extent. The reception of Wuthering Heights in China is of great significance. Its eternal charm, Chinese translators’ and scholars’ efforts, and Chinese readers’ passion for it contributed to its canonization.



Author Information
Qingqing Zhang, University of Malaya, Malaysia
Huzaina Binti Abdul Halim, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Paper Information
Conference: PCE2022
Stream: Foreign Languages Education & Applied Linguistics (including ESL/TESL/TEFL)

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon