Empathic perspective-taking in translation: a comparative analysis of three translations of Hong Lou Meng

Translators’ empathic perspective-taking (EPT) influences their linguistic choices and reflects their emotional stance and translational positionality. This paper examines the EPT in three translations of Hong Lou Meng respectively by Xianyi Yang and Gladys Yang, Bencraft Joly, and David Hawkes. The analytical framework comprises three dimensions: person deixis, psychological engagement, and cultural empathy. The analysis aims to explore how EPT is manifested and textually encoded in translation. The results show that the translators exhibit distinct EPTs. Yang and Yang, for instance, present limited empathy with characters and frequently adopt a literal translation approach. Joly’s EPT aligns closely with that of the narrator, whereas Hawkes demonstrates profound empathy for the primary characters. These discrepancies are primarily attributed to factors such as political influence and reader awareness. This study seeks to illuminate a top-down approach for connecting emotional manifestations with high-level influencing factors and to stimulate further discussion on translator empathy.