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A Quantitative Study of the Chinese Original and English Translation of Alai’s the Song of King Gesar

Author(s)

Yang Du, Xiaojin Zhang*

Affiliation(s)

School of Foreign Languages, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study takes the Chinese original of “the Song of King Gesar” written by Alai and its English translation by Howard Goldblatt and Lin Lijun as the research objects. Using the research methods of quantitative linguistics, it conducts a comparative analysis of the Chinese original and the English translation from three dimensions: lexical richness, word frequency, and lexical complexity. The study aims to reveal the similarities and differences between the translated version and the original in terms of vocabulary, explore the adjustments made by translators in maintaining the original style and adapting to target language readers during the translation process, and provide references for the translation and dissemination of national epics. The study finds that the English translation is slightly lower in lexical richness than the Chinese original, shows certain differences in word frequency distribution, and makes appropriate adjustments in lexical complexity according to the characteristics of the target language. These results have important implications for understanding the translation rules of national epics and improving translation quality.

Keywords

Alai's the Song of King Gesar; Chinese-English Comparative Study; Quantitative Research; Lexical Richness; Word Frequency; Lexical Complexity

References

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