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Advances in Linguistics Research
ISSN Print:2707-2622
ISSN Online:2707-2630
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Translating Science Fiction Time Paradoxes: A Functional Equivalence Framework Across Terminological, Syntactic, and Narrative Dimensions
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Information:
Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China
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Keywords:
Science Fiction Translation, Time Travel Paradox, Typology, Translation Strategy, Functional Equivalence
- Abstract: Time travel paradoxes, as central narrative devices in science fiction, present unique and complex translation challenges owing to their intricate scientific and philosophical foundations. Existing research lacks a systematic typology and targeted strategic exploration for this subgenre. This study addresses three core questions: how to classify time travel paradoxes, identify the key translation challenges they pose, and develop effective translation strategies. Through a comprehensive literature review and theoretical analysis, we construct a typology comprising causal paradoxes (e.g., the Grandfather Paradox) and causal loop paradoxes (e.g., the Bootstrap Paradox), with parallel universe theory examined as a narrative solution. Guided by Nida’s functional equivalence theory, a multi-dimensional translation framework is proposed, operating at the terminological, syntactic, and narrative levels. Case analyses of seminal texts such as All You Zombies and Doctor Who yield the key findings: terminologically, translations must accurately convey core concepts like “originless circularity”; syntactically, logical connectives often require explicitation for clarity in the target language; and narratively, translators must maintain creative tension to reproduce the original’s suspense and philosophical impact. The study concludes that translating time paradoxes is a complex cognitive activity demanding deep logical comprehension, acute reader awareness, and the application of multi-level strategies. It contributes both theoretical insights and practical references to the burgeoning field of science fiction translation studies.
- DOI: 10.35534/lin.0801005
- Cite: Zhang, Y. (2026).Translating Science Fiction Time Paradoxes: A Functional Equivalence Framework Across Terminological, Syntactic, and Narrative Dimensions. Advances in Linguistics Research, 8 (1), 44-52.
