Abstract
As a cross-cultural activity, translation is not only limited to micro-level considerations such as the original text, its author, the translation, and the translator, but also involves macro-level factors like culture and society. Among the many social factors that influence the translation process, patronage plays a significant role. André Lefevere argues that patronage manipulates and rewrites the translation process, with ideology being a key component of the patronage system. This study compares three English translations of Lu Xun’s The New-year Sacrifice, produced under distinct patronage systems, to examine how ideology shapes translation strategies and textual choices. Using Lefevere’s patronage theory as the analytical framework, it finds that the Yangs’ version foregrounds cultural transmission through foreignization; Lyell’s translation balances academic fidelity and accessibility; and Lovell’s rendering reflects commercial readership orientation. The study demonstrates that ideological manipulation affects translators’ decision-making and reveals the interdependence between translation, patronage, and cultural ideology.
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How to cite this paper
Ideological Manipulation in Translation: A Comparative Study of Three English Versions of Lu Xun’s “The New-year Sacrifice”
How to cite this paper: Songsong Ren. (2025). Ideological Manipulation in Translation: A Comparative Study of Three English Versions of Lu Xun’s “The New-year Sacrifice”. Translation and Foreign Language Learning, 1(3), 409-413.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2025.10.002