A Study On The Translation Of Allusions From The Perspective Of Intertextuality

The present thesis is a tentative study of allusion translation from the perspective of intertextuality and aims at finding solutions to allusion translation. Intertextuality is an important term in contemporary literary criticism. In Kristeva's word, "every text is constructed as a mosaic of quotations, every text is the absorption and transformation of other texts". After its coinage by Julia Kristevat, intertextuality has been employed in most of the important branches of literary and cultural theories. Significantly, the theory of intertextuality was introduced into translation studies by Hatim and Mason in their collaborative work Discourse and Translation (1990). As the theory of intertextuality has inherent connections with translation studies, it is the theoretical basis of this study.Starting with the background of the study, the thesis proposes that intertextuality is internally pertinent to allusion translation, and this view provides a new standpoint for translating allusions. Ever since its first invention by Kristeva, intertextuality has had a rich and extremely varied history. The author traced its origin, analyzed its functions and enlightenment in translation studies. There are macro-intertextuality and micro-intertextuality. The macro-intertextuality refers to the relationship between any text and the total of knowledge of a given text, code and signifying practice. The micro-intertextuality refers to the relationship between a text and other texts. It is related to a single word, phrase, or sentence that has an intertextual relation with that of other texts. This is actually the characteristics of allusions. So the study of micro-intertextuality contributes a lot to allusion translation.As a gem in language, allusion is succinct in form and profound in meaning. Both English and Chinese languages abound with allusions. All these allusions have rich connotations. If translators are not familiar with the cultural heritage of allusion, they may be puzzled by the indirect reference, and surely cannot translate it properly. What has value as a sign in one cultural community may be devoid of significance in another...