On Translating Visual Image Of Chinese Classic Poetry Into English-A Perspective Of Reception Aesthetics

Image is the soul of poetry. As the most frequently applied means in poetry, visual image is the very essence of poetry which can vividly reflect poet's inner world and the theme of a work. Therefore, translation of visual image is the key to successful Chinese-English poetry translation. Visual image is the combination of subjective sentiments and visual objects. Due to its characteristics, visual image is an effective means of expressing poets'feelings. Yet until now, there are few researches made on the study of visual image translation. This paper will discuss the translation of visual image in Chinese classic poetry from the perspective of reception aesthetics.According to reception aesthetics, a translator should take readers into account while transforming the visual image of the original linguistic form into target linguistic form. In the process, linguistic meaning and aesthetic experience decide the possibility of image transplanting. A translator should consider the receptive ability of target readers'horizon of expectations and make corresponding adjustment to maintain proper aesthetic distance between the translated work and readers.On one hand, translated poetry should meet part of target readers'horizon of expectations. This paper explores how to bridge the aesthetic distance between the work and target readers'given horizon of expectations from four aspects, namely, by adding cohesive devices between visual images, adding necessary subjects to visual images, fixing relations between visual images and omitting some visual images. This effort lays a foundation for further understanding of translation and avoids the phenomenon of repulsion. On the other hand, in view of the disparity between the two languages, visual images in Chinese classic poetry bear some elements which are different from those in western poetry and it is these elements that the true aesthetic value of literary works lies in. A competent translator should skillfully maintain the aesthetic distance so that target readers can, on the basis of part satisfaction of horizon of expectations, adjust their original horizon of expectations and finally construct new horizon of expectations. This paper discusses five techniques to break target readers'given horizon of expectations. And the consequence would contribute to further understanding of Chinese classic poetry. Because a translator's horizon of expectations is different from that of the poet, he will construct a schema different from that of the poet. In the process of translating, a translator mobilizes his horizon of expectations to make interpretation of visual images in the original and try to reproduce them in target language. This reconstructed schema is definitely stamped with the consciousness of the translator. This paper exemplifies how a translator acquired horizon of expectations influences his visual image translation. As the translator's interpretation will influence the aesthetic effect, he must expand his own horizon of expectations and make his interpretation carry more aesthetic value.