Translation Of Culture-specific Items Of Xi You Ji From The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Skopos theory in translation holds that Skopos rule is the primary rule translation should comply with and the skopos decides the whole translation process which is restricted by comprehensive factors. Different skopoi or functions determine the choice of different strategies and methods in translation process. That is the ends justify the means.This thesis takes Skopos theory as the main theoretical basis and the CSIs in two English versions of Xi You Ji, one translated by Anthony C. Yu and the other by W.J.F. Jenner, as the case study. It makes comparison and analysis between the translation of CSIs in these two English vesions from the following five subcultures: ecological culture, material culture, social culture, religious culture and linguistic culture as well as discusses different translation strategies and methods adopted in the translaiton of CSIs of these two English versions for the effect required by their translation skopoi. It also points out that translation standard is to adequately fulfill translation skopos.This thesis is composed of five chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction, which presents research background, research methods, research questions and research significance. Chapter 2 is literary review of Skopos theory illustrating the theoretical background and basic idea of it and stressing the three rules:Skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule. Meanwhile, it expounds two translation types of Skopos theory: documentary translation and instrumental translation. Chapter 3 introduces culture-specific items and analyzes the factors influencing their translation strategies. Chapter 4 is a comparative study of the translation of CSIs in the two versions. It analyzes translation strategies and methods, reasons and effects from the perspective of the three rules. Chapter 5 is a conclusion, which summarizes the main findings and the limitations of this dissertation and supplies suggestions for further study.This dissertation attempts to compare the translation of CSIs in the two English versions and explain the reasons of divergences and reasonably evaluate the two versions. Through analyzing the translation of CSIs in Xi You Ji, the author tries to discuss the choice of different translation strategies and methods and the advantages of Skopos theory in guiding literary translation which provides feasible translation strategies for cultural translation.