A Memetic Approach To Analogy Word-Formation And Its Translation

In this thesis, the characteristics and generative mechanisms of analogy are examined and factors to translate analogy words are explored with English analogy words as examples. Modern word-formations are of diversity, among which the analogy word-formation has gained wide acceptance and application. The superiority of analogy lies in that, on the one hand, the mechanism of analogy is of high flexibility, namely, it is a process in which new words are created by imitation and association on the model of the original one; on the other hand, it is so adaptable that its characteristics can be integrated with laws of other word-formations to form higher productivity of coining words. For the reason that analogy word-formation plays a significant role in contribution to development of modern English vocabulary and a large number of analogy words are produced and widely applied, it is of necessity to attach much importance to their translation. Successful translation of analogy words is propitious to observe the linguistic evolution and to acquire a better understanding about mutual evolvement of English and Chinese word-formations.This thesis provides an attempt at investigating and analyzing analogy from memetic perspective. One goal of this study is to point out that formation and translation of analogy words are the manifestation of replication and transmission of memes. Memetics is a new theory which explains the law of cultural evolution based on Darwinism. The concept of meme is proposed by Dawkins to describe a meme as a unit of cultural information, which replicates and mutates like a gene. The research is done under the direction of memetics to explain nature, characteristics, superiority and generative mechanism of analogy, summarize commonness of analogy words and deal with their translation. The development of word-formations is viewed as evolution of memes. In other words, diversity of English word-formation results from replication, propagation and variation of memes. Besides, the thesis focuses on analyzing analogy which acts as a new and successful meme. Analogy is, in essence, a ratiocinative process whereby new word memes are created on the model of the original one, i.e. analogy is a productive system for replication and transmission of word memes. Furthermore, four generative mechanisms of analogy are deducted according to the law of survival, replication and propagation of memes.Three factors are taken into consideration to deal with translation of analogy words, including analogical mentality, intertextuality and word-formation characteristics. Analogical mentality stresses on seizing the commonness of the same kind and the similarity of the different kinds. It is of prime importance to seize the similarity between the original word meme and the new word meme. Moreover, meme is a sort of zymogen to make intertextuality arise, for that reason, it is necessary to utilize reference function of intertextuality for correct comprehension and translation of analogy words. Furthermore, English and Chinese word-formations with respective characteristics are viewed as the source meme and the target meme. During E-C translation of analogy words, it is proposed that the translator be in skillful control of characteristics of the two memes in order to make the version be represented in the form which is modeled on the target meme. And the thesis provides a further insight into the translator's role and task under the guidance of Blackmore's research on replication and propagation of memes and a consideration of the knowledge and skills required by the translator in light of Bell's interpretation on the translator. Generally speaking, it is of much significance to apply memetics to translation of analogy words based on the view that the linguistic universality is superior to the linguistic individuality.