A Diachronic Investigation into the Translatorial Styles of Eight Complete English Versions of The Book of Songs

Xun Zhao; Jie Hu

doi:10.54097/cfgr7c48

Authors

Xun Zhao
Jie Hu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/cfgr7c48

Keywords:

The Book of Songs, Complete English Translations, Diachronic Comparison, Translator Style, Corpus Metrics.

Abstract

This study constructs a specialized corpus and employs computational tools (WordSmith 8.0, AntConc) to conduct a diachronic comparative analysis of eight complete English translations of The Book of Songs. Lexical analysis reveals that early translations prioritize terminological diversity, whereas contemporary versions emphasize precision in core vocabulary and cultural nuance transmission. Syntactically, sentence structures evolve from complex and stylistically varied patterns to more concise and regularized forms. At the discourse level, early translations feature high formality, dense explicit connectives, and linear narratives, while later versions shift toward implicit coherence and diversified narrative strategies. Employing hermeneutic theory, the study interprets these stylistic shifts as products of translators’sociohistorical situatedness, demonstrating how their distinct styles—rooted in personal experiences and cultural contexts—facilitate cross-cultural dissemination and interpretation of the classic.

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