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The Translation Approaches To Culture-loaded Words-A Comparative Study Of Two English Versions Of Hong Lou Meng

Posted on:2004-01-03Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:H QianFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360092986566Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Based on the comparative study of two English versions of Hong Lou Meng (A Dream of Red Mansions by Yang Xian-yi and Glady Yang and The Story of the Stone by David Hawkes and John Minford), this paper is devoted to the exploration of cultural translation. How to deal with culturally tinged words in translation has always been a heated topic. Concerning the purpose of a translation, especially for disseminating traditional Chinese culture, this paper argues that one of Newmark's translation approaches-semantic translation is preferable. This paper is divided into 4 chapters: the first chapter is an introduction to Hong Lou Meng, which possesses an important position in Chinese even in world literature; then it further analyzes the relationship between cultural diversity and the necessity of employment of semantic translation. The second chapter of this paper is devoted to theory analysis. It first analyzes Newmark's idea of translation-semantic translation and communicative translation. According to different purposes, a translator is supposed to apply different translating approach. During the process of the analysis, a great deal of comparison between Yang's and Hawkes' versions is discussed here. Secondly it introduces reception aesthetics theory. With this theory, it once again proves that only when the expectation horizon of the readers and the translated version match each other, can a translation be a satisfying job. The third chapter is a detailed comparison of twoEnglish versions of Hong Lou Meng, from four aspects respectively,which further justifies the employment of semantic translation in translating Hong Lou Meng. The last chapter concludes that semantic translation for classics like Hong Lou Meng can not only promote culture exchanges between east and west, but better meet the target language readers' aesthetic expectation horizon for translated literature and can avoid cultural deceit and cultural colonization. Therefore semantic translation in this circumstance is the best choice.
Keywords/Search Tags:culture, translation approach, semantic translation, reception aesthetics theory, communicative translation
PDF Full Text Request
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