Stylistic nuances through syntactic complexity: A corpus-assisted study of narration and dialogue in two english translations of Hongloumeng

Abstract

Hongloumeng (also known as The Story of the Stone or A Dream of Red Mansions), a significant work in Chinese literature, along with its various English translations has been the subject of substantial scholarly attention. Among these, the two translated versions by David Hawkes and John Minford, and Xianyi Yang and Gladys Yang, have garnered much academic interest and sparked extensive discussions. However, there remains a significant void in the thorough analysis of syntactic complexity, a crucial aspect of their respective distinct translation styles. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a meticulous examination of the syntactic complexity in the first 80 chapters of the novel, as translated by Hawkes and the Yangs, with a specific focus on the subgenres of narration and dialogue. The analysis reveals substantial disparities, such as Hawkes employing longer linguistic units in narration and a higher frequency of subordinations in dialogue. By emphasizing the importance of syntactic complexity within the realm of translation style, this study advocates for integrating metrics that assess syntactic complexity in future explorations related to translation styles. The implications of these findings for enhancing translation research and pedagogy are also discussed.