Transference Of Optimal Relevance In Translating Combination Of Images In Classical Chinese Poetry

Image is an important element in classical Chinese poetry, thus no translator should overlook the translation of image in classical Chinese poetry. However, creating single image is not the ultimate purpose of the poet; the poet needs to artistically combine images to create artistic conception and express his feelings. And combining images organically can make the multi-interpretation of a poem possible. In image translation, most of the previous researches focus on the rendition of single image, the translation of combination of images has not been given enough attention. Moreover, the previous researches on translation of combination of images are experience-based. No effective theory is taken to guide the translation of combination of images in classical Chinese poetry.This thesis seeks to account for the translation of combination of images from a relevance perspective. Relevance theory assumes that human communication aims at achieving optimal relevance. The hearer expects that his attempt at interpretation can yield adequate contextual effects without gratuitous processing effort. Translation of combination of images, as a special communication act, is an interpretive use of language with the aim of achieving optimal relevance too.Based on this understanding of translation of combination of images, this thesis first discusses the definition of image and the importance of combining images in classical Chinese poetry and classifies the combinations of images into juxtaposition, contrast, analogy, radiation, synaesthesia, climax and bound according to the relations among images. Then the thesis, in light of relevance theory, points out that interpreting combination of images in the source poem is to search optimal relevance between the combination of images and the translator's cognitive context. Due to the differences between the translator's cognitive environment and that of the poet, the communication between the translator and the poet can find itself in secondary communication situation. The translator needs first to make his cognitive environment and that of the poet mutual manifest to each other. In interpreting the original combination of images, the translator should not only understand the connotation of single image, but also search the special contextual effects caused by the ways of combining images. Meanwhile, the thesis holds that the concept of faithfulness developed by relevance translation theory has some limitations in translation of combination of images. Gutt calls the concept of translation defined by the concept of faithfulness indirect translation. This indirect translation emphasizes not adjusting target audience's cognitive environment, the translator should just translate those aspects that can be expected to make it adequately relevant to the target audience without putting them to unnecessary processing effort. However, some special contextual effects caused by the ways of combining images may be lost in this indirect translation; in addition, the contextual effects of some cultural images in combination of images may not be reproduced either.In view of this, the thesis thinks that translating combination of images is to transfer optimal relevance of the source combination of images in the target poem. The specific ways of combining images in classical Chinese poetry provide crucial communicative clues that guide the audience to the interpretation intended by the poet. In order to make the translated combination of images yield similar contextual effects, the translator should firstly adjust or enlarge the target audience's cognitive environment and retain the original ways of combining images in the target poem. As for the rendition of single image in combination of images, the thesis holds that the translator should keep the optimal relevance of single image in order to reproduce the whole contextual effects of the original combination of images. And the translator's ultimate task is to make the translated combination of images yield similar contextual effects as the original.