Applying Translation Variation Theory to Children’s Literature Translation-A Case Study of the Korean Translation of the Secret of the Matryoshka Doll

Abstract

The Secret of the Matryoshka Doll is one of the representative works of the Chinese children’s writer Cheng Wei and has long been popular among young readers in China. Its successful circulation in Korea has depended to a large extent on the availability of a high-quality translation. Translating children’s literature requires careful attention to readers’ age and psychological characteristics, while also striving for language that is vivid, lively, and rich in childlike appeal. Unlike traditional translation theories that prioritise “faithful reproduction” of the source text, translation variation theory foregrounds the specific needs of target readers and advocates flexible adjustment of the original within an appropriate range so as to enhance the acceptability of the translation. Taking the Korean version of The Secret of the Matryoshka Doll translated by Kang Young-hee and published by Danbi Children’s Publishing House as a case study, this paper, within the framework of translation variation theory, examines seven techniques—addition, omission, editing, retelling, Condensation, integration, and revision. By comparing representative passages from the source text and the translation, it demonstrates that the translator’s reasoned adjustments and selections, guided by the reading expectations of child readers in the target language, make the translated text clearer, more accessible, more vivid, and better aligned with the reception habits of young readers abroad.