Abstract：Abstract: What values a translator prefers have strong effect on what choices he/she makes in the translation process. This paper, from the perspective of sinologist Patrick Hanan’s selection of source texts among the popular fiction of Ming and Qing dynasties, explores how the value of preference, shaped out of his academic commitment to sinology, plays a key role in determining his translation actions. The study finds that Hanan’s ambition to “identify literary talent in popular fiction” is the source of his value of preference. Under such ambition, there form four major values of preference, namely original value, hidden value, relevant value and entertaining value, contributing to Hanan’s selection of the source text. What’s more, emotion and reason function jointly to ensure these values of preference best meet the translator’s expectations in selecting the source text. Observations on the connection between selection of the source text and the value of preference are of great significance as it may lead studies on Hanan to a broader and deeper dimension, unfold the mutual function of sinologist translator’s double identities, and decode the intention of the sinologist to translate Chinese fiction.
Key words: Patrick Hanan; Sinologist; Translation action; Selection of source text; the value of preference；Popular fiction of Ming and Qing Dynasties
