The transformation of folklore tripling method in translation of Chinese tales about animals

The goal of this research is the description of transformation in translation of tripling in a Chinese tale about animals. The subject of this research is structure of the tale “Tiger and Buffalo” in the original and in translation, as well as implementation of the principle of triples in translating this folk art. The tale “Tiger and Buffalo” was selected as an example, since it most fully reflects the functioning mechanism of tripling method of an action, although such mechanisms of transformation of text structure in translation into the Russian language are also present in others Chinese tales about animals. It is demonstrated how the classical folklore tripling method of an action functions in a Chinese tale, and which modifications experiences the structure of a tale in translation into the Russian language. A metaphrastic triple repeat in a Chinese tale in translation into Russian transforms into three different forms of expression. In translation, it does not retain its syntactic parallelism from the Chinese original, and expressions change its structure. The author establishes that the main fabric of narration in the tale “Tiger and Buffalo” is comprised by three key semantic groups of tripling of action; and two brief mirror dialogues are located in between them. The last line of each third level of tripling action contains the transformation of pattern established in the process of reiteration; this results in a significant narrative arc  and change of the formed pattern reflected lexically and syntactically. The scientific novelty consists in discussion of the question on transformation experienced by tripling in translation into a language with other typology. The translator’s need for active use of the means of synonymy instead of tripled metaphrastic reiteration presented in the original text, as well as the need for transformation of textual structure of a Chinese tale into the Russian language, emerge due to diverse way of thinking of a Russian contemporary translator and creators of a folk tale who lived in a different historical era. The conclusion is made on a prevalent influence of aesthetic ideal of a separate language and culture upon textual structure of a folk tale.