A Case Study Of The True Story Of AhQ

Pragmatic perspective of translation is to study the function of pragmatics applied to translation. Specifically speaking, this paper attempts to probe into the methods the translators have adopted to deal with the implied intentions beyond the literal meanings of utterance, at the intervention by cluster of signs, context and intelligence. Based on a comparative study of both Chinese original and its English versions of The True Story of Ah Q, the author first finds out the cases in which descriptive language and characters' speeches convey implied meaning in the Chinese original, then analyzes the ways in which the pragmatic meanings are dealt with in the translation and suggests that except that very few descriptive language and characters' speeches don't have equivalences in the target language, the appropriate way in pragmatic translation is to retain the implied intentions by literal translation. As to cluster of signs, context and intelligence, except for some special cases in which it is difficult for the target readers to understand them due to cultural differences, a larger part of them should be translated as they are in the original rather than be omitted, replaced by or explained with any other things.Exploring the Chinese—English translation of novels from this new angle will help English readers to have a chance of knowing authentic Chinese culture. It is also hoped that the paper will call the attention of more researchers in translation circle to advocate the instructive effect of the pragmatic perspective of translation on translation practice in China.This thesis is made up of four chapters. Chapter 1 is a brief introduction of the background, necessity and objectives of the study. Then in chapter 2, literature review deals with some related researches concerning translation, pragmatics and pragmatic translation mainly in China, and especially it talks about Qian Guanlian's pragmatic translation theory, because it is the main foundation on which the next chapter will rest. Chapter 3 is a comparative study of the Chinese original and its English versions of The True Story of Ah Q by using the pragmatic translation idea of Qian Guanlian: the implied intentions conveyed in the author's descriptive language and in the characters' speeches should be retained in the translated work. Meanwhile, the intervention by context, intelligence and cluster of signs must be taken into consideration. At last, the paper presents a brief retrospective summary of the main ideas discussed in the forgoing sections. Then it points out some limitations in the present study and proposals of further research in future.The originality lies in probing into the methods the translators have adopted to deal with the implied intentions beyond the literal meanings of utterance, at the intervention by cluster of signs, context and intelligence through comparing and analyzing the Chinese original and its English translation of a certain novel.