On Translation Strategies Of Chinese Menu From The Perspective Of Reception Theory

As a result of the quickening pace of China's integration into the global economy, the increasing depth and breadth of the China's opening up to the outside world have been greatly promoted. Menu translation is no exception. Before the 2008 Olympics, Chinese Menu in English Version, a book which is issued by Beijing governmental departments, sought to solve some standing problems in menu translation, namely, there were different English names for the same Chinese dish and unqualified translation. It ultimately aims to make the Chinese meals served at the convenience of athletes and visitors from all over the world. The researches on menu translation are quite a lot and the angles are different, but few people have studied them from the angle of Reception Theory, which stresses the activeness of readers. Therefore, according to what has been mentioned above, this thesis, through the analysis of the strategies and methods used in the translation of Chinese Menu in English Version, probes into the universal principles adopted in the practice of menu translation.This thesis is divided into six chapters. Chapter one introduces the research background, the purpose and significance and the thesis structure. Chapter two is literature review, which includes a brief introduction of Reception Theory, the study of menu translation and Chinese Menu in Translation Version at home and abroad. Chapter three is the theoretical framework upon which this study is constructed. Chapter four is the research design, in which the research questions are raised and the methods are adopted. Chapter five is the main part of the research which presenting the research process in details. In the last chapter, conclusions and limitations are advanced.Therefore, according to what has been mentioned above, the thesis, bases on the data analysis, analyzes translated text of Chinese Menu in English Version, and further probes into the relations between the Reception Theory and menu translation. In order to obtain more objective and accurate research data, this study, which is combined with the basic principles of Reception Theory, designed a questionnaire concerning the acceptance of the C-E translation of Chinese menu, and analyzed the translation strategies and methods in Chinese menu in English version through the analysis of valid data statistics from the questionnaire, the language understanding of the translator and the differences of reader's acceptance on the same translation items. Based upon the comparative analysis of the translated text, the thesis comes to the conclusion that: firstly, in the C-E translation of Chinese menu norm is not directly proportional to the acceptance of readers. Secondly, in menu translation, translation is inseparable by both of the translator and reader's language understanding and expectations on the basis of language understanding in the practice of menu translation. Thirdly, the Reception Theory can be adopted to account for the issues of the degree of acceptance. In the process of data collection, when the translators are pursuing the accuracy of the target text, they should, simultaneously, show concern for the contradiction between different expectations of individuals and the reader's acceptance in the practice of menu translation.