The Impact of Emotion of Shu Lin’s Translation of David Copperfield

Abstract

Shu Lin allows his emotions to affect his translation of English literature in order to communicate his thoughts and ideas to awaken the young and to improve social morals. Owing to a series of emotions that arise from his value, social customs, and ideas concerning education, there is a dispute about his unfaithfulness to the original text in his translation of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield . This includes deviation, strengthening or weakening of certain emotions, and changes in narrative perspective. This paper examines these three types of unfaithful translation, discussing the impact of emotion in his translation of this novel. In so doing, it not only uncovers the causes of Lin’s emotions during his translation but also illuminates the distinct emotional style of late Qing society.