Idioms Rendition Of Hong Lou Meng In Perspective Of Aesthetics Of Reception

Translation is the transferring from one language to another aiming at improving the communication and cooperation between different languages. Traditional theories believe that the original text and the original author is the heart of translation. The role of original author and original text is sacred and inviolable while the importance of target reader and translators is neglected. Jauss and Iser, two main representative of Aesthetics of Reception, played a leading part in changing the statue of readers in the history of literature. According to the Aesthetics of Reception, the significance and meaning of the text can only be achieved when it is read and interpreted by readers.Hong Lou Meng, one of the greatest novels in the 18th century of China, tells a tragic love story of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu by Cao Xueqin and Gao E in vivid language. Through description of the Jia family and surrounding people, the novel reveals an enormous picture of the feudal society. Since being published, the novel has raised the interest of scholars. Researchers also try to translate the novel in other languages. Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang did the first complete English version of Hong Lou Meng. As the bearing of culture, idioms contain cultural information. the translation of idioms affects the success of translation of the whole text.On analysis of the Yangs'translation, this paper makes a research on the translation strategies of idioms in Hong Lou Meng. From the perspective of Aesthetics of Reception, the irreplaceable role of translators is discussed. On the analysis of factors that affects the translation of idioms, the paper argues that there are two reception processes in the process of translating for translators. One is the interpreting of original text, and the other is the recreation on the basis of interpreting. After discussing the two processes, the paper researches the subjectivity of translators on the study of"horizon of expectations". And with the analysis of translation strategies study, the active role of translators can be found.This paper is divided into three chapters.Chapter one makes a brief introduction to the idiom in Hong Lou Meng and main theories of Aesthetics of Reception.Chapter two makes an analysis of strategies in idiom translation on the base of Aesthetics of Reception. Main strategies of idioms include literal translation, literal translation with notes, using idioms to translate idioms, replacing certain image and free translation.Chapter three discussed the idiom translation by the Yangs, and analyzed the factors that affect the translation of idioms, such as religion, legend, history value and living habit. It is studied that translators combine their horizon of expectations with those of target readers and choose proper translating strategies to make better communication between cultures.