On Reproducing Aesthetic Value In Prose Translation From Perspective Of Reception Aesthetics

Prose enjoys great popularity and wide acceptance due to its free form and authentic emotion. Different linguistic structures, expression modes and distinct cultural backgrounds all pose many obstacles in translation process. When translators encounter such difficulties, the text-centered translation theories always function in vain. The emergence of Reception Aesthetics brings about enlightenment to translation field. The breakthrough lies in that the reader's position is elevated to the highest level. The target language reader's acceptance becomes the assessing criterion of translation quality. The translator plays the roles of both a reader and a writer. The comparative study of different prose development routes is beneficial to the reproduction of original aesthetic value catering to the taste of the target language reader.Although the road of prose translation is fraught with hurdles, many trail blazers have contributed a lot and provided us with tremendous achievements to learn from. Gao Jian, as one of the most successful prose translators, enjoys great renown for his immense and high-quality translation works. The aesthetic analysis of Gao's translation style here serves as the practical evidence to prove the feasibility of the notion that Reception Aesthetics can be applied to prose translation and the specific technique of handling aesthetic value on different layers is also beneficial for the general translator to choose from. Especially the beauty of fuzzy sets—the imagery and emotion necessitates the translator's earnest endeavor and particular deliberation to reproduce its original aesthetic value.The thesis here consists of three chapters besides introduction and conclusion. Chapter one conducts a systemized analysis about prose and prose translation. Chapter two introduces Reception Aesthetics and its key concepts and then points out its enlightenment and application to prose translation. Chapter three first illustrates the relation between Reception Aesthetics and translator's style. Then an aesthetic analysis of Gao Jian's prose translation style is conducted to further illustrate the significance of Reception Aesthetics to prose translation and provide insightful methods for the general translator.