A Study on the Translation Styles of Lyell and Lovell from the Perspective of Pierre Bourdieu’s Sociological Theory: A Case Study of the English Translations of Lu Xun’s Novels

Abstract

With the sociological turn, the research perspectives in Translation Studies (TS) have broadened. Researchers in TS began to systematically examine the social factors behind translation activities. This article applies Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological theory to explore the translation styles of Lu Xun’s novels translated by William A. Lyell and Julia Lovell. The concepts of field, capital, and habitus from Bourdieu’s theory are employed as the theoretical framework for this study. Through sociological and comparative textual analysis, the article finds that both Lyell and Lovell tend to adopt a domestication strategy in their translations. However, due to Lyell’s unique language learning experience and extensive academic background, the field and accumulated capital in his career have shaped his scholarly translation habitus. Furthermore, as an expert in Lu Xun’s works, Lyell emphasizes fidelity in his translations and employs a strategy of foreignization through footnotes to introduce the cultural context of the source language to readers, resulting in a more complex translation. In contrast, Lovell, who grew up during the period of growing interest in translating Chinese literature abroad, has accumulated capital that has fostered her translation habitus of faithful re-creation. Additionally, as Lovell’s aim in translating Lu Xun’s novels is to introduce the author to a wider Western audience, her translations prioritize readability and are more concise and accessible.