A Comparative Study of Three Translations of Walden:Time's Footprint or Translator's Trace?

The author once wrote Evolution of the Translation Layout of Foreign Literature: Based on Different Translations of Walden which compared the three representative translations of Walden after the Reform and Opening-up.It revealed clearly that time's footprint on the layout of the three translations in terms of naturalization and alienation which is in consistence with the polysystem theory.Comparing the lexical,syntactical and textual features of the three translations,this paper finds no clear time's footprint in the three translations.Instead,the translator's trace seems to be more distinct,against the presumption made based on the polysystem theory.The three translators all had a clear understanding of the target audience and the literary status of the translated literature in the polysystem,and intended to outline the translation framework and used certain styles to achieve the intended purpose,and so in the style there is clear time's footprint to follow.However,in their actual work,it was difficult to get rid of various subject factors,such as their identity,personal temperament,cultural background,upbringing,etc.,which inevitably deviated their work from the original track and branded deep translator's traces.