A Pragmatic Approach To Cultural Translation

This thesis revisits cultural translation from a pragmatic perspective of adaptation. Since the adaptation theory is a very recently developed by Jef Verschueren for pragmatic investigation, the thesis starts by explaining its major components, and then explores its implications for and its application to cultural translation.On the basis of Verschueren's adaptation theory, the thesis sets up a pragmatic theoretical framework for the investigation of cultural translation. As proved in the thesis the three properties of language and the four angles of pragmatic investigation advanced by Verschueren can explain many translational phenomena and promote understanding of the current principles and strategies in translation practice. Inspired by Verschueren, the researcher proposes that in cross-cultural communication cultural translation is a dynamic process of making adaptation with regard to linguistic structure and context at various levels of salience. And thus adaptation between linguistic structure and context is largely adaptation between language and cultural elementsThis thesis divides the objects of the adaptation by translators into three categories: linguistic reality, social conventions, and psychological motivations. Through an analysis of the different cultural psychology, concepts, and conventions between the English and Chinese nations, the author explores four aspects. First she explores the relationship between culture and translation. Second she discusses the influence on cultural translation that different cultures make and, in particular, the constraints of certain cultural phenomena. Third she illustrates how translators make their adaptation to the constraints in order to achieve their communicative purposes. Fourth she examines the consequences of translators' adaptation.