The Study On The Basic Translating Elements Of English Song Lyrics

Despite the fact that English songs have been accepted popularly in China for quite a long time, research findings that touch upon translation of song lyrics have been barely available. Especially, at the present moment that the flood of English songs is overwhelmingly striking Chinese people's seeing and hearing, the excellent and exoteric Chinese translation of English song lyrics is yearningly required by Chinese music lovers. Therefore, the study of English-Chinese song lyrics translation is absolutely trailblazing and challenging, which is not only beneficial for the prevalence of English songs in China, but for the intercommunication of the art of music between China and the western countries as well.With the guidance of functionalist translation, this thesis attempts to concentrate on elaboration of the aims of English-Chinese song lyrics translation, together with the principles, techniques and any other basic elements in the domain, on the basis of the previous academic researches. Firstly, the thesis demonstrates the history and status quo of study of foreign songs and music in China. Secondly, it elucidates that the purpose of English-Chinese song lyrics translation is to realize both the communicative function and musical function, i.e. to make the translated lyrics comprehensible to the public and successful to convey the passions embodied in the original song. In addition, the thesis also focuses on several basic elements that should be attached great importance to in the process of both understanding and translating English song lyrics. In particular, the thesis elaborates on the very essential principles in the English-Chinese song lyrics translation, i.e. considering the inborn restriction of musical factors including rhyme, rhythm, stress, pause, tone, style, etc, many different translation techniques should be flexibly and accordingly applied in lyrics translation based on understanding the original lyrics precisely, which usually includes literal translation, free translation, amplification, omission, restructuring and adaptation. Lastly, the conclusion is drawn as follows: translating song lyrics is a type of purposeful activity. Hence, guided by the principle of accomplishing both the communicative and artistic functions, the translators ought to endeavor to adapt lyrics to music appropriately with initiative and creativity, so that more appealing and popular work of art can be successfully reproduced.