A Study Of Meaning-Based Translation

Translation equivalence has long been the center of debate among translation critics. This thesis makes an in depth examination of this topic by setting "meaning" as the TC between the source text and the target text. It serves as a fundamental study in hope of throwing some light on the epistemology and methodology of translation.Studies show that meaning is not an innate property of language but is contextually-dependent. One the one hand, the participants of the context provide basis for meaning classification and on the other hand, the vacancy or difference of participants in the target language result in a semantic gap. In order to fill the gap, translators have to exert their creativity, hence, subjectivity.As for translation strategies, annotation, re-creation, alteration, transplantation, domestication and alienation are discussed under the principle of gestalt aesthetics.In conclusion, three features of meaning are summarized. They interact with each other and restrict the precise representation of meaning.