On The Study Of The English Translation Of Chu Ci From The Prospective Of Conceptual Blending Theory

This thesis attempts to make a comparison among English versions of Chu Ci from the Conceptual Blending Theory perspective. It tries to find out whether the Conceptual Blending Theory can be applied in the translation study of Chu Ci and the translation study of other classic poetry. Also, it discusses the theoretical implication to the further translation practice.Chu Ci is a precious treasure of the Chinese literature, which has significant value in both literature and history. Chu Ci was composed two thousand years ago. Chu Ci and Shi Jing are considered as the two origins of Chinese poetry. Because of its delicate wording, elegant form and far-reaching theme, Chu Ci is a piece of classic works being quoted and chanted by generations. Until the 19th century, some translators have begun to translate Chu Ci into other languages and cultures. Chu Ci is full of images and metaphors and it brings difficulties to its translation. On the other hand, the study of the translation of it has not been given enough attention yet.The Mental Space and Conceptual Blending Theory of Fauconnier (1985, Fauconnier &Turner 2002) provide a new perspective for the translation study. CBT focuses on mental process and the role of the translator. It sees the translation process as a mapping and blending of mental spaces. The translation process has two Input Spaces, one Generic Space and a Blended Space. The source text works as Input Space 1 and the translator's culture and knowledge background as Input Space 2; the shared cultural background of the two language serves as Generic Space; the translator projects Input Spaces in to the Blended Space by metaphorical mapping. CBT analyzes translation process from new point of view and gives translation study a new methodology.By comparing versions of Chu Ci, the author studies different translators'ways of dealing with the same images, and gives explanation from CBT. Through the study of Chu Ci' translation, the research result shows that Conceptual Blending Theory has certain degree of theoretical guidance and explanatory power to the translation study of Chu Ci, also provides some indication to the translation of Chinese classic works.