Abstract
Guided by the theory of performability, this study investigates the construction of performability in the Chinese translation of early modern English drama, using Thomas Middleton’s The Revenger’s Tragedy as a case study. It proposes a tripartite analytical framework, cultural localization, linguistic colloquialization, and character individuation, offering a novel perspective that bridges macro-cultural and micro-linguistic approaches in drama translation research. The research employs a case study methodology, analyzing selected excerpts from the play. To systematically identify and analyze conceptual metaphors, the study utilizes the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) complemented by corpus analysis via Wmatrix, followed by manual verification. The analysis demonstrates how performability is operationalized through three strategic pathways. First, the domestication of Western cultural metaphors transforms culture-specific signs into familiar aesthetic images for the target audience, thereby reducing cognitive barriers and enhancing emotional resonance on stage. Second, the colloquialization of archaic Early Modern English expressions restructures dialogue rhythm, aligning it with contemporary spoken conventions to facilitate natural actor delivery and instant audience comprehension. Third, the individuation of characterization in translated lines meticulously preserves characters’ distinct linguistic styles and identities, providing a textual basis for vivid and multi-dimensional stage portrayal. The findings indicate that these integrated strategies enable the translated text to come alive in performance, with characters gaining fuller presence and stage action acquiring richer layers. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse on performability in drama translation and provides practical, actionable strategies for translators and practitioners working with classical English theatrical texts in Chinese contexts.
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How to cite this paper
Constructing the Performability in Translating Early Modern English Drama: A Case Study of the Chinese Translation of Excerpts from The Revenger’s Tragedy
How to cite this paper: Jizhao Pan. (2026) Constructing the Performability in Translating Early Modern English Drama: A Case Study of the Chinese Translation of Excerpts from The Revenger’s Tragedy. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 10(3), 304-309.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.03.010