On Stylistic Deviation Of English Version Of Classical Chinese Poetry

This thesis aims to study stylistic deviation in the translation of classical Chinese poetry into English from the perspective of English versions.The styles of classical Chinese poetry and their English versions are both similar and different. Theoretically, they should be the same, yet actually they are quite different, which are mainly caused by the translator, the differences between two languages and cultures. Generally, the style of English versions of classical Chinese poetry is complex, influenced by the translator, the two languages and cultures.The style of English versions of classical Chinese poetry is both concrete and abstract. It is concrete because it is made of linguistic elements such as register, diction, figures of speech and prosody, which belong to the language applications. Due to these concrete linguistic elements, the transference of style is made possible. The transference of style is not easy, as style, besides its form constructed by the language, possesses spirit. The spirit of classical Chinese poetry involves yijing or poetic world, tone and Chinese flavor etc, which are the determinant factors in the transference of style. The translation of register, diction,figures of speech and prosody must be based on the spirit of style.The thesis, making clear the concept of English versions of classical Chinese poetry, makes a detailed analysis of diverse subjective and objective causes that lead to stylistic deviation in the transference of style. The subjective causes mainly consist of the influences of the translator's translation conception, the translator's personal emotion involved and misplaced foregrounding. Objective causes refer to inconsistency of images, differences between languages and so on. In view of stylistic deviation, the thesis proposes various solutions, which are image as a translating unit and text analysis. Taking image as a translating unit can solve stylistic deviation caused by subjective causes while text analysis can avoid unnecessary stylistic deviation caused by objective causes. These two methods are not separate and should be used together. In this way can English versions be as close to the original in style as possible.