The translatability of the religious dimension in Shakespeare from page to stage, from West to East : with reference to The merchant of Venice in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan / Jenny Wong ; foreword by David Jasper
Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-292)
Introduction -- History of effects : historical overview of the treatment of the religious dimension since the early twentieth century -- Case studies of The merchant of Venice in mainland China -- Case studies of The merchant of Venice in Hong Kong -- The merchant of Venice in Taiwan: bond in 2009 -- The world behind the text: pre-understanding of directors and translators -- The problems of translating the religious language in plays
This interdisciplinary study traverses the disciplines of translation studies, hermeneutics, theater studies, and sociology. Under the "power turn" or "political turn" in translation studies, the omission and untranslatability of religious material are often seen as the product of censorship or self-censorship. But the theology of each individual translating agent is often neglected as a contributing factor to such untranslatability. This book comprehensively traces the hermeneutical process of the translators as readers, and the situational process and semiotics of theater translation. Together these factors contribute to an image of translated literature that in turn influences the literature's reception. While translation theorists influenced by the current "sociological turn" view social factors as determining translation activities and strategies, this volume argues that the translator's or the dramatist's theology and religious values interact with the socio-cultural milieu to carve out a unique drama production. Often it is the religious values of the translating agents that determine the product, rather than social factors. Further, the translatability of religious discourse should be understood in a broader sense according to the seven dimensions proposed by Ninian Smart, rather than merely focusing on untranslatability as a result of semantic and linguistic differences
