The Translation Intention and the Translation Method of Soviet Literature during the Anti-Japanese War

Abstract

Translation is a social activity that changes with social changes. During the Anti-Japanese War period, Soviet literature, due to the social and historical conditions it reflected, highly resonated with Chinese society and thus became the focus of study in the Chinese translation field, as well as a hot topic that readers expected, meanwhile, it was regarded as a powerful weapon against Japanese aggression. In the special social context of the Anti-Japanese War, the translators chose original literary works that could inspire fighting morale and adopted translation strategies that could meet the needs of the army and the people, accordingly unique translation features were created. Regardless of whether the translation was carried out by individual translators or within organizational structures, its main objective was to reflect the themes of war and revolution in Soviet Russia. By using translation as a tool, they took into account the specifics of the historical realities of China during that period, emphasizing its role as ideological weaponry and paying special attention to the perception of texts by the reading audience. Translators, seeking to support the national struggle against the aggressor, adapted to the changes in language, society, and culture of the time, focusing on the needs of a broad audience. As a result, the translation employed period-reflective methods like colloquial language, popularization, localization of imagery, and militarization of themes. These texts served primarily political, enlightening, and informative functions, rather than aesthetic ones.