A Comparative Study on Two Translations of Lao She’s Black Li and White Li

Abstract

This paper employs Manipulation Theory and Skopos Theory as theoretical foundations to understand why and how external and internal constraints have affected translators in using translation solutions. This paper has chosen Lao She’s Chinese short story, Black Li and White Li, and compared the two translations from Wang Chi-Chen and Lyell A. Williams. A comparison of “patronage”, “professionals”, and translation solutions shows that the two translators produced remarkable translation works at their time and their translation solutions are worth learning.