Phonological transmission processes in the English translation of Chinese traditional children’s fables: a grounded theory approach

As vital carriers of Chinese culture, traditional Chinese children’s fables embody both aesthetic value and cultural significance in cross-cultural translation. Phonology, as a key feature of their appeal, plays an essential role. However, phonological transmission from Chinese to English remains underexplored, posing challenges in preserving sound-based appeal for target readers. This study addresses this gap by analysing 81 phonologically salient sentences from traditional Chinese fables and their translations, along with 45 reader reviews on Amazon, using grounded theory through open, axial and selective coding. The findings reveal a three-layered phonological transmission model. The Foundation Layer comprises basic elements, including Chinese finals, childlike qualities and the treatment of cultural imagery. The Adaptive Transmission Control Layer captures translators’ adaptive strategies for addressing phonological and structural differences between Chinese and English. These strategies enable aesthetic synergy and enhance cultural communication and identity construction in translated fables, forming the Cultural Efficacy Realization Layer. On this basis, the study constructs the model of Phonological Transmission Processes in the English Translation of Chinese Traditional Children’s Fables, offering a concise analytical framework for understanding phonology in the translation of children’s fables and highlighting its relevance to translation theory and practice.摘要 作为中华文化的重要载体, 传统中国儿童寓言在跨文化翻译中体现出审美价值与文化意义。语音作为其吸引力的关键特征, 发挥着至关重要的作用。然而, 其汉英翻译中的语音传递仍未受到充分关注, 给译文读者的声音审美再现带来挑战。本研究通过分析81条具有语音特征的中国传统寓言语句及其英译文本, 以及亚马逊平台上的45条读者评论, 采用扎根理论的开放编码、主轴编码与选择性编码程序来探究语音传递过程。研究结果揭示了一个三层语音传递模型。基础层包括汉语韵母、儿童化特质以及文化意象的处理等基本要素。适应性传递调控层体现了译者为应对汉英之间的音系与结构差异而采取的调适策略, 在忠实原文与审美效果之间实现平衡。这些策略促成审美协同, 并增强译文寓言的文化传播与身份建构功能, 构成文化效能实现层。基于上述类别, 本研究构建了《中国传统儿童寓言英译语音传递过程模型》, 为理解儿童寓言翻译中的语音处理提供了简明的分析框架, 并凸显其对翻译理论与实践的意义。