Contextual Adaptation Of The Translation Of Figures Of Speech

Based on Verschueren's Theory of Linguistic Adaptation, the present study makes a qualitative study,including statistical work, on translation from a pragmatic perspective, with the translation of figures of speech in the chapter titles of Hong Lou Meng as a case. Its emphasis is on the description of the dynamic adaptation to context in adaptation theory.In order to make the present study more significant in guiding translation practice, a translation model under adaptation theory is proposed to interpret the process of translation. The discussion of contextual adaptation is presented at two levels, namely, the linguistic level and the extra-linguistic level by the analysis of figures of speech in the chapter titles of two English versions of Hong Lou Meng. The study specifically addresses the following questions:1. What is a translation model like within the framework of adaptation theory? 2. How does a translator adapt his translation to the linguistic context and extra-linguistic context?Through the analysis on the translation of chapter titles from the perspective of rhetoric, the author holds that translation is an instance of language use and a special and complex kind of communication. It is a dynamic process of adaptation on context– structure relationships at various levels of salience. The translators should choose the translation strategies with salience adapted to the variable context under his objective's guidance, so to make a flexible and dynamic translation. In order to realize the function of translation more effectively, the process of choice-making in translation should be adapted to the objectives multi-lateral and multi-dimensional. Verschueren's adaptation theory can definitely establish a new and beneficial perspective for the translation study.