Recontexualization In The English Translation Of Sunzibingfa:A Functional Context Perspective

The current study probes into the recontextualization of translations of Sunzibingfa by Sawyer,Minford,Lin and Huang from the perspective of Functional Context Theory.The purpose of the study is to explore the features of these four versions in terms of recontextualization and to seek for motivations leading to the differences.It also attempts to outline implications for translation studies and to aid in the promotion of traditional Chinese culture.In Systemic Functional Linguistics,context consists of the context of culture and the context of situation,with the latter being composed of field,tenor and mode.However,no consensus has been achieved with regard to the components of context of culture,which has given rise to controversies in its application in translation studies.Recontextualization has been widely studied with two defects,namely the lack of theoretical support and urgent need to clarify the parameters and content involved.Therefore,in order to improve the analysis of these four chosen translations,the study first proposes an analytical framework of recontextualization within Functional Context Theory.In terms of context of culture,it is proposed that ideology which influences the cultural attitude of the translators should be emphasized.The reconstruction of context of culture should be accomplished through social,spiritual,military and linguistic layers of culture both synchronically and diachronically.With regard to context of situation,it should be studied from the recontextualization of field,tenor and mode from Transitivity,Logico-semantic,Mood,Modality,Person,Theme-Rheme structure and Cohesion at the lexico-grammatical level respectively.By comprehensive and systematic analysis of the translated texts,this research generalizes the strategies applied to reconstruct the context of the source text and provides explanations from the perspective of geographic and historic difference,ideology,religion and philosophy as well as linguistic and thinking patterns concerning different translators.Differences are found among these four translations in recontextualization.As for context of culture,Sawyer shows an objective attitude towards Chinese culture;he reconstructs the synchronic context of the source text with rich para-texts and reconstructs the diachronic context through Domestication aided by sparse Foreignizaiton concerning culture-loaded words like "qi",while paying special attention to the reconstruction of military and linguistic cultures involved.Minford tends to adapt to the target context by Domestication supported by extensive quoting of western history,literature and military anecdotes to meet the expectancy of western readers.However,misreading and distortion of Chinese culture renders a serious tendency of "western cultural centralism".Lin's translation excels in the accurate understanding of Chinese culture,leading to appropriate recontextualization in most cases.Huang's translation excels in the synchronic and diachronic recontextualization at the level of linguistic culture supported by rich quotation in the para-texts.As for context of situation,Sawyer's translation highly resembles the field of the source text,with little adjustment in the tenor and mode parameters.Minford exhibits strong reader consciousness in the reconstruction of tenor and mode;however,errors arise in that of field due to excessive imitation of language style of the source text.Lin keeps loyal to the source text and improves the readability of the translation through use of common vocabulary,simplification of syntactical structures and explication of logico-semantic relations.Huang' translation is comparatively accurate in the positioning of Participant Roles with cultural connotation,but there is simplification and deviation in terms of process type and logico-semantic relations due to extensive adoption of nominalization.Assessed from the perspective of recontextualization,this research concludes that Sawyer's translation is best for advanced students and beginning researchers concerning Sunzibingfa;Minford's translation,apart from the para-texts implying misreading of Chinese culture,acts as a good choice for ordinary reader interested in general understanding of Sunzibingfa;Lin's translation is suitable for readers with preliminary knowledge of Chinese culture,like domestic foreign language learners,certain overseas Chinese and some western readers.Due to the simplification in para-texts and little occasional overt reconstruction of context,as well as no mentioning of western examples,this translation lags behind the aim of promoting Chinese culture in the whole world.Huang's translation is especially appropriate for readers interested in Chinese language as well as Sunzibingfa for both literary and academic purposes.It is found that the recontextualization and strategies applied are greatly influenced by geographical,historical,philosophical,religious and linguistic cultures of the translators.This research has practical values for translation studies and translation practice.First,it makes clear that the importance of recontextualization should be noted in translation of Chinese classics.The translated texts should be in accordance with the context of source text and that of target text,so as to transmit Chinese culture to the western world.Second,this research provides suggestions for translation studies from the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistics.Third,by comparative studies of influential and later versions,this research may provide criteria in the choice of translated texts.Overall,the research may provide enlightenment for the translation and popularization of other Chinese classics in the future.