A Study Of The Translation Of Song Of Solomon With The Focus On Its Signification

Song of Solomon is a representative work of African American writer Toni Morrison. The studies of the novel in China are mainly literature reviews. Other papers focus on its linguistic features. This paper compares two Chinese versions of Song of Solomon under the guidance of Signification Theory of Henry Louis Gates and studies translation strategies of African American novels with Sinifin (g) feature, hoping to have referential values for translation of African American literature.This paper consists of three chapters. The first chapter studies the translation of Signifin(g) images from aspects of synecdoche, symbolism and allusion. African American novels have "double-voiced" feature. In translation, on one side, a translator must know their "white & black" tradition which sometimes has to be annotated in translation helping readers to understand. On the other side, a translator should represent rhetorical methods in the original.The second chapter studies the translation of Signifin(g) language from aspects of rhythm, ballad, analogy and saying. The translation of Sinifin(g) language must represent its rhetorical forms because Signifyin(g) meaning attaches to Signifyin(g) form. When a translator can't represent Signifyin(g) form, he should find a similar form in his mother language in order to represent Signifyin(g) meaning.The third chapter studies the translation of Signifyin(g) naming from aspects of allusion, homophony and irony. A translator should exploit culture in naming and represent rhetorical meaning of naming.In translation of African American novels, a translator must pay attention to their Signifyin (g) feature which emphasizes the relationship among form, surface meaning and Signifyin(g) meaning. Signifyin(g) meaning is most important in translation. Sometimes it attaches to Signifyin(g) form, sometime it attaches to surface meaning or cultural meaning. Under any conditions, a translator should find out the relationship and try the best to represent Signifyin(g) meaning.