Unravelling the stylistic nuances: a comparative multidimensional analysis of amateur and professional translations of Legends of the Condor Heroes

This study investigates the stylistic differences between amateur and professional translations of Jin Yong's *Legends of the Condor Heroes*, a popular Chinese martial arts novel. Using Biber's multidimensional analysis, the study examines fictional speech and narration in both types of translations. Amateur translations show less variation between speech and narration, lower involvement in dialogue, reduced informational density in narratives, and more abstract language overall. These differences potentially affect reader comprehension and engagement. The study suggests that a lack of professional training, collaborative nature of amateur translation, and translation into a non-native language contribute to these disparities. The research contributes to translation studies by highlighting the impact of amateur translation on the dissemination and reception of popular genres in cross-cultural contexts.

Isabelle Chou, Zhangyujie Xiang, Kanglong Liu