Wang Jinling, Zhang Ximu

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Re-creation of the contextual picture of the original as a basis for editing one’s translation (exemplified by translation of Paustovsky’s stories). Pp. 6–20.

UDC 81’255.2+378

DOI: 10.37724/RSU.2025.75.4.001

EDN: AKEZOO

 

Abstract. The paper treats the challenges of translating a literary text related to the author’s individual manner of writing and the translator’s perception and interpretation of the source text. We discuss what makes Paustovsky’s prose difficult to translate into Chinese. The challenges are mainly due to the individuality of the writer’s inimitable style. Misunderstanding and, as a result, lack of integrity in the target text may proceed from the complexity of the author’s voice, the subtext, the meaning-making role of “telling” details, Paustovsky’s predilection for associative thinking. Therefore, to ensure adequate understanding of the original and to avoid translation mistakes, it is vital to reconstruct the true meaning of every detail and episode, however small, as a prerequisite for the following translation.

The paper shows editing as a creative and interactive process, where the less sophisticated members of the translation team gradually arrive at the optimal decision instead of the teacher’s variant being imposed on them.

Keywords: Paustovsky’s prose, author’s individual style, reconstructing the contextual feature of the original, editing the translation.

 

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