Translation of Children''''s Picture Storybooks: Principles and Applications

• Main Authors: CHEN, HUNG-SHU, 陳宏淑
• Other Authors: CHENG, SIEU-MAI
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/21166551686377026551

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 翻譯學研究所 === 91 === This study attempts to reach some principles regarding the translation of children’s picture storybooks. First, the term “picture storybook” is defined, and then the studies related to translation of children’s books and children’s picture storybooks are explored respectively. Next, this study discusses the characteristics of children readers, and the relationships of pictures and text in picture storybooks, trying to reach some tenable principles regarding the translation of children’s picture storybooks. Compared with adult readers, children readers are 1) less familiar with language, 2) still growing and developing, 3) having less social experience, and 4) having fresh eyes which always look for fun. Compared with other genres, picture storybooks rely more on the relationships of pictures and text. Thus, based on this feature and the above-mentioned characteristics of children readers, the principles regarding the translation of children’s picture storybooks are presented as the following: 1) using understandable words, 2) using precise and correct words, 3) translating the meanings instead of the words, 4) keeping the exotic flavor, 5) using vivid descriptions, 6) making the translated text easy and fun to read, 7) combining the picture and the text. After twenty translated picture storybooks are examined, examples are selected to support my proposed principles. Finally, this study provides a conclusion and may offer some useful suggestions for both translators and researchers.