Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Brief background information on the two translations and translators

1.3 Overview of research conducted on the translations of Sanguo Yanyi

1.4 Problem statement and focus

1.5 Research goal

1.6 Theoretical framework

1.6.1 Retranslation hypothesis

1.6.2 Linguistic approach versus functionalist approach

1.6.3 Domestication versus foreignization

1.6.4 Descriptive studies of the two translations

1.7 Research design and methodology

1.8 Chapter layout

Chapter 2 Discussion of the source text,Sanguo Yanyi

2.1 Introduction

2.2 How the first Chinese novel came into being

2.3 The structure and features of a traditional Chinese novel

2.4 The other novels

2.4.1 Shuihu Zhuan

2.4.2 Xiyou Ji

2.4.3 Honglou Meng

2.5 The source text,Sanguo Yanyi

2.5.1 The title,authorship and editions of the novel

2.5.2 Sources that the novel uses

2.5.3 The plot and style of writing

2.5.4 Fictitious changes to the historical facts

2.5.5 The structure

2.5.6 The characters

2.5.7 Sanguo Yanyi-related topics for study and the theme(s)of the novel

2.5.8 Adaptations

2.5.9 The influence

2.5.10 Research conducted on Sanguo Yanyi by Western scholars

2.5.11 Motivation for choosing Sanguo Yanyi as a focus of study

2.6 Conclusion

Chapter 3 The English translations and translators of Sanguo Yanyi

3.1 Overview of the translations of Chinese classics into foreign languages

3.2 Translations of Sanguo Yanyi into foreign languages other than English

3.3 English translations of Sanguo Yanyi

3.3.1 Abridged translations in journals and book chapters

3.3.2 Separate editions of the English translations of Sanguo Yanyi

3.4 The two complete English translations

3.4.1 Charles Henry Brewitt-Taylor's translation

3.4.2 Roberts's translation

3.4.3 Reviews comparing both translations

3.5 The translators

3.5.1 Charles Henry Brewitt-Taylor

3.5.2 Moss Roberts

3.5.3 Social and academic backgrounds and interests of the two translators

3.6 Retranslation hypothesis

3.6.1 Denotation of the concept

3.6.2 Theoretical assumptions on retranslation

3.7 Roberts's translation of Sanguo Yanyi as a retransla-tion

3.8 Conclusion

Chapter 4 Literature study

4.1 Linguistic approaches in TS

4.1.1 Nida:Theory of"equivalences"

4.1.2 Catford:Formal correspondence and textual equivalence

4.1.3 Peter Newmark:Semantic and communicative translation

4.1.4 Neubert's"top-down model"—a textual pespective on translation

4.2 Descriptive translation studies(DTS)

4.2.1 Holmes's scheme of the discipline

4.2.2 Polysystem theory

4.2.3 Toury's DTS

4.2.4 Theory of rewriting

4.3 Domestication and foreignization

4.3.1 Venuti

4.3.2 Domestication

4.3.3 Foreignization

4.4 Conclusion

Chapter 5 A descriptive study of the two English translations of Sanguo Yanyi

5.1 Methodology of describing translations

5.1.1 Josè Lambert and Hendrik van Gorp's model of describing translations

5.2 A comparison between the two translations

5.2.1 Preliminary data

5.2.2 Macro-level structures

5.2.3 Micro-level comparisons

5.2.4 Systemic context

5.3 Conclusion

Chapter 6 Conclusion

6.1 General findings

6.1.1 Translation means variation

6.1.2 Translation approaches and strategies

6.2 Translation norms and laws

6.3 Different readerships for the English translations of Sanguo Yanyi

6.4 Further topics for research

Bibliography

Addenda

Addendum A:Covers of some of Brewitt-Taylor's translation of Sanguo Yanyi

Addendum B:Covers of someof Roberts's translation of Sanguo Yanyi

Addendum C:The article by E.T.C.W that appeared in Peking ＆ Tientsin Times

Addendum D:Idioms collected in the selected chapters

Addendum E:Titles,ranks and offices in the selected chapters