Can one translate without knowing the SL? A study on the English translation of Daomu Biji

The publication and international circulation of Chinese Internet Literature (CIL) translations have recently garnered considerable attention. However, a notable gap exists in the comprehensive examination of the translations, both at the process and product levels. Notably, the translation of Chinese Internet Literature significantly influences the exposure of the said literary works to an international readership. To address this gap, the study aims to investigate the translation process of “Daomu Biji” (Grave Robbers’ Chronicles), a Chinese web novel series within the supernatural genre by Xu Lei. The book is written in eleven volumes, and six volumes were officially translated by Kathy Mok in 2011. On the other hand, a fan translation was released on the MereBear474765851 weblog, where the translator claims no knowledge of the source text. Essentially, the translator translates the source text using a machine, reads the official translation (indirect intralingual translation), heavily edits the translated text, and checks it with two specific users (native Chinese speakers) before publishing it on the blog. The readers are then free to comment on the translated text, and the translator would revise the text constantly. Surprisingly, most readers familiar with official and fan translations prefer the latter in their comments about the book. This study conducted an interview, where the identity of the translators are kept anonymous and confidential (as requested by them) to gain a deeper understanding of the motivations and procedures in the process of translating. The outcome may contradict the fact that to translate, one needs to master at least two languages.