李白诗歌意象英译调查

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This questionnaire is about translating poetry in Tang Dynasty into English. The poem included here is the very first one almost every Chinese child learns. How does it sound to you in English? Your honest response will help bridge two poetic worlds
1. Are you a native speaker of English?
2. What is your highest level of education?
3. Have you ever read any classical Chinese poetry in translation before?
4. Are you familiar with Li Bai as a poet?

Read the following translation of Li Bai's 'Thoughts on a Tranquil Night' by Xu Yuanchong: 
'Before my bed a pool of light — 
O can it be hoar-frost on the ground? 
Looking up, I find the moon bright; 
Bowing, in homesickness I’m drowned.' 

Original text:
静夜思
   唐·李白
床前明月光，
疑是地上霜。
举头望明月，
低头思故乡。
5. What feeling(s) does this poem mainly give you?
6. On a scale of 1–5, how strongly did you feel the main emotion(s) above?
7. Please rate how clearly and naturally the following images are conveyed in this translation.
  • Not accurate at all
  • Slightly accurate
  • Moderately accurate
  • Very accurate
  • Extremely accurate
月光 ('a pool of light')
白霜 ('hoar-frost')
床 ('bed')
Here are three English versions of a line from Li Bai's poem about the moon:
Version A (Xu Yuanchong): 'Looking up, I find the moon bright;' 
Version B (Witter Bynner): 'Lifting my head to look, I found that it was moonlight' 
Version C (Herbert A. Giles): 'Up towards the glorious moon I raise my head,'
8. Which ideas do you associate with the 'moon' in these translations?
9. Among the moon translations (Versions A, B, C), which is most effective in conveying beauty and feeling?
10. Why did you choose that translation as the most effective?
11. What suggestions do you have for improving the translation of Li Bai's poetic imagery into English?
12. If you are willing to participate in an online in-depth interview, please leave your WeChat ID, thanks so much.
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