On The English Translation Of Classical Chinese Poetry By Wai-lim Yip In The Light Of Skopostheorie

How should the classical Chinese poetry be translated into English? Some scholars insist on translating it into rhymed verse in English, while some advocate the use of prose form. Professor Xu Yuanzhong thought "[...] that beauty in sense could not be preserved at sacrifice in sound" (Xu Yuanzhong, 2000:17). The arguments seem endless.Some classical Chinese poems were translated into English by Wai-lim Yip and collected in his Chinese Poetry --- An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres. This English rendering is aimed at representing the indigenous art of these classical Chinese poems and spreading the Chinese culture abroad.If we study Wai-lim Yip's English translation of classical Chinese poetry in the light of Skopostheorie, we are justified to believe that Wai-lim Yip has achieved the skopos of spreading Chinese culture abroad in his translation. This thesis attempts to study Wai-lim Yip's English translation of classical Chinese poetry, exploring some new translating strategies and improving the English translation of classical Chinese poetry. Skopostheorie is a useful and practical model of translation, so I choose skopostheorie as the strong theoretical support of my essay.This thesis consists of five parts. The introduction starts with the translation of classical Chinese poetry. Then some influential translators and their works are shown and the advantages as well as the disadvantages of their translation are pointed out. After that, this part introduces Wai-lim Yip's translation theory and his Chinese Poetry ---An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres, analyzing the features of his translation. What is more, this part mentions that different translators have different purposes and every kind of translation has its own merits and demerits. It is of great significance to improve the English translation of classical Chinese poetry. In this way, the author introduces the aim of the essay.Chapter One provides the theoretical foundation of this thesis. First of all, this chapter introduces Skopostheorie and illustrates the core rules of Skopostheorie, namely, the "skopos rule", the "coherence rule" and the "fidelity rule". After that, this chapter discusses the feasibility of applying Skopotheorie to the study of translating classical Chinese poetry into English. Finally, Wai-lim Yip's translation theory is mentioned.The next chapter starts with the beauty of classical Chinese poetry and then it studies Chinese Poetry --- An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres translated by Wai-lim Yip in the light of Skopstheorie. Chapter Two also shows that Wai-lim Yip has transmitted the Chinese culture carried in the original poetry and the unique Chinese modes of representation in his translation by various methods, achieving the purpose of spreading Chinese culture abroad. At the same time, this chapter argues that Wai-lim Yip's English translation of classical Chinese poetry accords with the "coherence rule" and reproduces the original aesthetic arts such as the image beauty, the dynamic beauty and so on, conforming to the "fidelity rule".Chapter Three explores the translating principles and methods employed in Chinese Poetry --- An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres by Wai-lim Yip and the inspirations given to us.The conclusion points out Wai-lim Yip has represented the charm of the Chinese language and the original aesthetic art in his English translation of classical Chinese poetry, devoting himself to spreading Chinese culture abroad, which conforms to the "skopos rule", the "coherence rule" and the "fidelity rule". In the end, the author brings forward the new translating strategies to improve the English translation of classical Chinese poetry.