Three Chinese Versions of Charlotte's Web: A Skopos’ Theory Perspective

Abstract

This thesis makes comparisons with three Chinese translated version of “Charlotte’s Web” and analyzes different reactions from readers of translation based on the view of Skopos’ theory. It also aims at exploring the influence and restriction of children’s literature, which is caused by children’s characteristics, expecting to bring new enlightenment in the research of translation theory. First of all, the thesis presents the outline of Skopos’ theory and its guiding significance for translation through literature review. And then, the thesis studies translators’ strategies and purposes for the three common Chinese translated versions of “Charlotte’s Web” through the guidance of Skopos’ theory, making comparisons concretely with both advantages and disadvantages of the three translated versions, and also their main features. At last, the thesis concludes: Skopos’ theory is a kind of theory that aims at illustrating “the most important factor in process of translation is the purpose of translational action”.