Integrating Multimodal Stylistics in Literary Translation: The Case of Massage

Abstract

This study examines the semiotic modes of meaning-making in literary translation from the perspective of multimodal stylistics. Taking Bi Feiyu’s novel Massage and its English translation as a case study, this research finds that typographical choices reinforce the transmission of tone and the representation of characters’ psychological states; punctuation modifications reshape the rhythm of reading and literary effect; and spatial layout accentuates narrative emphasis through visual adaptation, thereby enhancing the narrative tension of the translated text. In addition, the cover of the English version constructs multimodal meaning through visual metaphor and typographic design, foregrounding the novel’s theme. The transformation of multimodal semiotic resources in literary translation exemplifies a process of multimodal repragmatization, while such semiotic reconfiguration enables multilayered meaning-making across cultural contexts. These multimodal translation strategies not only enrich the expressive potential of the translated work but also provide target readers with a multidimensional reading experience.