Linguistic Deviation, Literariness, and the International Image of Chinese Literature — A Case Study on the English Translation of YAN Lianke’s Novels

The international image of Chinese literature is to a large extent dependent on the literary merit or literariness of the English versions, which is, to some extent, achieved through faithful representation of linguistic deviations in the original works.This article introduces Leech’s eight types of linguistic deviation in poetry into novel studies, and explores the reproduction of them in the English translations of YAN Lianke’s novels, in the hope that the issue of literariness representation in translation can be researched in a more systematic manner.Case studies suggest that, besides linguistic and cultural differences between Chinese and English, the translators’ motivations and attitudes toward contemporary Chinese literature can also impact translation effect as well as the image of Chinese literature as a whole.No one can deny that the reception of literary works in a foreign culture is subject to various factors, and that a version of better translation quality cannot guarantee satisfactory reception among the target readership, but leveling of literary effect in the translation process as a result of erasing language deviations of the originals will often leave an unsatisfactory impression on the target readers.It follows that literariness in its own right in the translated literary works is the prerequisite for a better image of Chinese literature and a more favorable reception.