Approaches To English Songs Translation

With the development of international co-operation and cultural exchange, music has become an essential part of cultural communication globally. However, regional differences always bring about linguistic and cultural hindrances. To translate foreign songs into Chinese both semantically and emotionally presents a challenge to translators. The foreign songs translation, prosperous and falling, has experienced over 100 years of development since the sunset of the Qing Dynasty, anyway, now, in translation world, songs translation has long been ignored. The Exploration and Practice in Translation of Songs by Xue Fan in 2002 is the first works to introduce translation of songs systematically and theoretically, in which the author makes a comprehensive and systematic analysis and summarization in songs translation. In this thesis, the author researches and analyses limited resources and materials on hand to make brief approaches to the English songs translation.In this article, there are several valuable devotions by the author. On the one hand, the thesis makes a comprehensive and systematic analysis and summarization in English songs translation; on the other hand, the thesis applies Skopstheorie to instruct name translation in English songs, and the functional equivalence to introduce lyrics translation. Besides, the author accumulates and analyses most of the examples quoted in this thesis.Chapter One makes an overview of the English songs translation: its development, its necessity and possibility to stress its importance and operation significance.Chapter Two introduces two related theories: Skopotheorie by Hans J. Vermeer and functional equivalence by Eugene A. Nida. And furthermore this part briefly introduces the instruction of Skopos for name translation and of functional equivalence for lyrics translation.Chapter Three presents several music styles, lyrics characteristics in both Chinese and English. And furthermore this chapter analyzes the importance of music styles for translation and of style equivalence in songs translation.Chapter Four focuses on name translation. As well as a topic, the name of a song in these days functions as a brand name to some extend. Therefore, this chapter adopts Skopos to analyze the proper methods and principles of English songs translation so as to express the essence of songs and also promote these songs.Chapter Five concentrates on lyrics translation. This chapter applies functional equivalence to analyze the translation of rhymes, rhythms, cultures and figures of speech in English songs, and summarizes techniques and some requirements for English songs translation.In conclusion, the author emphasizes the difficulties and importance of songs translation and recommends some requirements in the process oftranslation...