A Comparison Between The Eastern And Western Translation Thought In Approach Of Functional Equicalence Theory

There are scholars who regard translation as one of the most complex works in the universe. Indeed, translation has all-embracing fields of knowledge with diversified forms. People who do the translation could not share a common standard of the translated text in a big or small way. However, functional equivalence, as one of the criteria ever made, has been accepted by the majority, and examples of its conscious and unconscious application in the translation practices can be found easily.The two English versions of the traditional Chinese fiction Hong Lou Meng are known to the whole translation circle. Although the problem about which version's translation of the poetry in the fiction is superior has been under fierce controversy, this part reflects the translators'competence. This thesis concentrates the analysis on the difference between the two versions of the poetry translation by using the theory of functional equivalence. The diversity of eastern and western translators'thought and their respective advantages are substantially discussed to provide some suggestions for translation and English learners.