Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China

Abstract The stories of Cinderella, highlighting the theme of kindness, are classic children’s literature worldwide. In China, the translation of the Cinderella stories has been listed in the Chinese textbook series launched in 2004, exerting a profound influence on generations of Chinese readers. T...

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Main Authors: Yanjin Liu, Dechao Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2024-02-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02719-w
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author Yanjin Liu
Dechao Li
author_facet Yanjin Liu
Dechao Li
author_sort Yanjin Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The stories of Cinderella, highlighting the theme of kindness, are classic children’s literature worldwide. In China, the translation of the Cinderella stories has been listed in the Chinese textbook series launched in 2004, exerting a profound influence on generations of Chinese readers. This study investigates how Huiguniang, the Chinese counterpart of the character Cinderella, has become a household name among Chinese children. By examining the changes, correlations, and shifts of their prototypical features under the framework of the Aarne-Thompson-Uther classification in the three Chinese translations of the Cinderella stories and the ancient Chinese folklore The tale of Ye Xian, the study examines how factors such as external stability, internal dynamic trade-offs, and the iterative nature and empowerment of translation have popularized and canonized Huiguniang in China. The study further extends its focus within the broader context of discourse studies, embracing the intersections of language and society, as it brings to light the intricate dynamics of translation, empowerment, and cultural reception.
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spelling doaj.art-57ec7c53795145c8ab6112eaf22113da2024-03-05T18:00:11ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922024-02-0111111110.1057/s41599-024-02719-wIntersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in ChinaYanjin Liu0Dechao Li1Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of MacauDepartment of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung HomAbstract The stories of Cinderella, highlighting the theme of kindness, are classic children’s literature worldwide. In China, the translation of the Cinderella stories has been listed in the Chinese textbook series launched in 2004, exerting a profound influence on generations of Chinese readers. This study investigates how Huiguniang, the Chinese counterpart of the character Cinderella, has become a household name among Chinese children. By examining the changes, correlations, and shifts of their prototypical features under the framework of the Aarne-Thompson-Uther classification in the three Chinese translations of the Cinderella stories and the ancient Chinese folklore The tale of Ye Xian, the study examines how factors such as external stability, internal dynamic trade-offs, and the iterative nature and empowerment of translation have popularized and canonized Huiguniang in China. The study further extends its focus within the broader context of discourse studies, embracing the intersections of language and society, as it brings to light the intricate dynamics of translation, empowerment, and cultural reception.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02719-w
spellingShingle Yanjin Liu
Dechao Li
Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China
title_full Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China
title_fullStr Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China
title_full_unstemmed Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China
title_short Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China
title_sort intersecting language and society a prototypical study of cinderella story translations in china
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02719-w
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AT dechaoli intersectinglanguageandsocietyaprototypicalstudyofcinderellastorytranslationsinchina