A Study Of Relevance -Theoretic Account Of Cultural Context Based On Analysis Of The English Version Of Thunderstorm

As interlingual communication, translating is not only a process of language transforming but also a process of cultural transplanting. Mr. Wang Zuoliang (1984) once said that the most difficult point of translating lies in the difference of two kinds of cultures. So, a successful translation hinges upon how to handle the cultural differences in translating. According to some research, characteristics of culture carried by two different language systems can be in a relationship of complete overlap, partial overlap and cultural default, even cultural conflict. What's more, the ways cultural backgrounds impinge are quite complicated. Therefore, to correctly express the meaning of original text, translator should be competent both in linguistic knowledge and in extensive extra-linguistic knowledge, the most important part of which is cultural background. If the translator has acquired related cultural knowledge, he can properly convey the meaning of original text as a mode of communication across language and culture boundaries.So far, Relevance Theory has been widely applied in many fields of language study. When referring to its application in translation, some different views are divided. Most scholars have admitted its great power in accounting for translating, e.g., Gutt argued that the theory has supplied a new horizon for us to study translation"as part of an explicit general theory of communication"(2004: 236). However, some scholars don't admit its great power in conducting translation. They have found its limitations when it is applied to translation. They don't think this theory can fully deal with the most difficult part of translation---- cultural context. A heated discussion of this point is still going on.The present study has made a detailed analysis of the English version of THUNDERSTORM based on Relevance Theory, and tried to explore its power in explaining cultural context translation. And the author will clarify some misunderstandings of this theory and get the root. This study aims to supply a deeper understanding of Relevance Theory and find some effective ways to translate cultural context.