A Comparative Study on Gendered Discourse in Metaphors of Translation in China and the West

Very early translation has been used as a trope to describe women's activities,and women's image has often been used as a metaphor of translation. This essay attempts to makes anin-depthsurvey of the metaphors concerning women's situation used to describe translation in both the West and China. By examining how translational relations have regularly been expressed in terms of gender stereotypes and the power relation between sexes, the analysis focuses on the close link between women's oppression in language and culture and the devaluation of translation. The problem of sexual politics is concerned by means of analyzing the status and roles of translation. Meanwhile, through a comparative analysis of the commonalities and differences of gendered discourse in translation of the West and China, the different philosophical foundation and cultural origin behind the similar power structure is expounded. This essay generally develops as follows: first, the introduction of the cultural discrimination on women and the literary discrimination on translation; second, the analysis of the metaphors of translation in both the West and China as well as the criticism of sexism in them; third, a comparison of the philosophical foundation and cultural origin of these gendered metaphors of translation between the West and China, which explains both the commonalities and differences; Fourth, an elaboration of the deconstruction of sexist discourse in translation. Finally, the conclusion, which reaffirms the significance of the study and the relevant findings about this issue.