Mandarin: A five-act comedy

Author: Xu Weixiang (translating from Machiavelli)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The translator aims to provide readers with a translation that is both faithful to the original work and easy to read. However, the former should clearly take precedence, as translation is a constrained task. Making Machiavelli speak Chinese is more important than ensuring the translation is fluent. The target readers of this translation, in the translator's view, include not only general literary enthusiasts but also those interested in other aspects of Machiavelli's thought. These two groups of readers have seemingly different requirements, and it is as difficult to satisfy both as it is to serve two masters at once. The poetry in the play. Machiavelli's original work is highly poetic, and the translator has strived to reflect this in the translation. However, often the translator falls short, leaving behind only a sense of regret. The translator is unqualified in both Italian and literature. This "cross-boundary flight" was entirely driven by enthusiasm (thymos), and the translator greatly overestimated their own abilities. Should there be any shortcomings, the translator eagerly awaits the readers' criticism and corrections. The language of the play differs greatly from modern Italian in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and other aspects. Many words are unfamiliar, and the translator's Italian-Chinese dictionary is often insufficient. The translator aims to provide readers with a translation that is both faithful to the original work and easy to read. However, the former should clearly take precedence, as translation is a constrained task. Making Machiavelli speak Chinese is more important than ensuring the translation is fluent.