A Paratextual Study on the Communication Model of the English Translations of Cha Jing

Abstract

Lu Yu's Cha Jing is the earliest, most comprehensive monograph on tea and serves as the foundation of tea culture. The English translation of Cha Jing has played a vital role in spreading tea culture to the Western world. In 1974, Francis Ross Carpenter published the first complete English translation titled “The Classic of Tea in the United States”. In 2009, Chinese scholars Jiang Yi and Jiang Xin completed the translation of The Classic of Tea / The Sequel to The Classic of Tea as part of the Great Chinese Library project. In 2015, Aaron Fisher, an American tea culture expert based in Taiwan, introduced the first electronic version through the e-magazine Global Tea Hut. These three translations offer unique characteristics, providing valuable materials for translation studies. There is currently limited research on the communication models of the English translations of Chajing, particularly the comparative analysis of their paratexts. Examining the paratexts through Gérard Genette's theory, this research adopts a qualitative analysis approach to explore the communication models of the three English translations. Additionally, a comparative analysis using Harold Lasswell’s 5W communication model identifies differences, strengths, and weaknesses in terms of the translator(s), message, channel, readers, and communication effects. The study argues that the paratexts of the English translations reflect the evolution of translation and dissemination models of Chajing across different periods and media. The Carpenter translation and the Jiang Yi and Jiang Xin versions represent two prevalent models in the print media era. The former follows a commercial publishing model, targeting ordinary readers and introducing tea culture comprehensively despite some limitations in quality. The latter represents an academic model, faithfully presenting the original essence to domestic and international scholars yet lacking richness in paratextual elements. Global Tea Hut's translation represents a cross-cultural, new media model initiated by a tea enthusiast community. It targets tea culture enthusiasts with multimodal and interactive paratexts but may lack depth and comprehensiveness. In the current media landscape, the three models can complement each other and collectively promote the global dissemination of tea culture.