A Study On The Translation Of Catering Culture-loaded Words In A Dream Of Red Mansions Based On Prototype-model Theory

A large number of catering culture-loaded words in A Dream of Red Mansions shows the feast of Chinese catering culture and is worthy of repeated taste and in-depth study.In order to introduce Chinese catering culture to foreign readers,it is necessary to translate the catering culture-loaded words in the novel.Owing to this demand,prototype-model translation theory emerges.As a native translation theory,it regards translation behavior as simulation behavior,takes “faithfulness” and “suitability” as criteria,seeks to excavate the artistic connotation of classics,tries to eliminate the obstacles in the process of Chinese cultural translation,and provides a methodology for the translation of artistic language such as culture-loaded words in classics.From the perspective of prototype-model theory,this study makes an analysis of YANG Xianyi and DAI Naidie’s version and Hawkes and Minford’s version of A Dream of Red Mansions.Both versions are well-known and excellent complete versions of A Dream of Red Mansions,and the catering culture-loaded words are widely distributed,rich and detailed in the novel.First,through qualitative method,the author sorts out 120 words of catering culture-loaded words as the corpus,and divides them into two categories: generic vocabulary and non-generic vocabulary,and observes their ways of translating of the two versions;then,through empirical method and other research methods,the author uses three simulation techniques in prototype-model translation theory to analyze the two categories of vocabulary respectively.After that,according to the characteristics of catering culture-loaded words in A Dream of Red Mansions,this paper explores the construction of translation of ancient books based on prototype-model translation mode.It is found that though Yang and Hawkes deal with the source text differently,they have achieved the goal of cultural communication to some extent.In addition,there are some mistranslations in both versions,which fail to convey cultural information to the target readers accurately.It is proved that the prototype-model translation theory is feasible to analyze the translation of catering culture-loaded words in A Dream of Red Mansions.This study not only helps to broaden the research scope of prototype-model translation theory and provide reference for future translation practice,but also enriches the research results of culture translation in Chinese ancient books.It is also helpful to promote the spread of catering culture with Chinese characteristics,and enhance the understanding of Chinese culture,especially catering culture by international friends.