On The Application Of Register Theory In Chinese Translation Of Moment In Peking

Abstract As a world-renown Chinese man of letters and scholar, Doctor LinYutang has been enjoying a high international reputation in literary circles not only because he has contributed to readers at home and abroad many popular works, but because most of his writings have bridged the cultural gap between the East and the West. Moment in Peking, one of his representatives, is a typical example of such writings. Written in English, this fiction has been regarded as the most influential one among Lin Yutang's works, and also made him candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature for four times. There has been several Chinese versions, among which Mr. Zhang Zhenyu's translation, published once and again in China's mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other places, has been of great vitality. Through the register analysis of its Chinese translation by Mr. Zhang Zhenyu, this thesis aims at proving that register has been of great value and guiding significance to fiction translation and translation criticism, and attempts to probe into the special characteristics and rules in fiction translation. Meanwhile, it also testifies the success in Zhang's translation of Moment in Peking from register theory perspective.Besides introduction and conclusion, this thesis is divided into six chapters.The introduction gives a brief account of the theme of the thesis and its basic structure;Chapter 1 is a general introduction of register theory and its application in translation. The historical reviews, various researches, three variables of register theory and their relationship with lingual system are included in this part.Chapter 2 is a general introduction of Moment in Peking, its Chinese versions, with the one adopted in particular.Chapter 3 stresses on the analysis of the translation of different fields in this fiction. After a contrast between literary vs. non-literary language and an introduction of general principles on practical translation, the translation of different fields in the fiction is analyzed in detail, including: private letter, sacrificial prayer, poster and official document etc. Chapter 4 focuses on the translation of different modes in the fiction. In this part, the written poems and oral lyrics will be analyzed in detail.Chapter 5 discusses the translation of different tenors in the fiction. This chapter will mainly focus on the four factors which influence the tenor of the text: formality, politeness, impersonality and acceptability.Chapter 6 discusses the significance and limitation of register theory's application in translation.The conclusion sums up the whole thesis.