A Study Of The Translation Of The Names Of The Magical Creatures In The Harry Potter Series From The Perspective Of Cognitive Models

The magical creatures with the features of creativity and diversified origins in Harry Potter series have always been the readers' concern.However,those unique words undoubtedly bring translators great challenges to translate them.This thesis applies cognitive models into the analysis of the translations of the names of the magical creatures in Harry Potter series with the purpose of exploring the thinking pattern of English-Chinese translation of the words with great cultural differences, unveiling the process of translators' thinking transforming,and providing the future similar translating problems with another perspective.In research method,this thesis uses Fillmore's scenes-frames model and Langacker's figure/ground alignment model as the theoretical background.The concept of core elements derived from the cognitive models is introduced to this thesis and it functions as a key parameter of judging the acceptable translations from unacceptable ones.The acceptable translations are classified into four types and every type is discussed in detail;the author of the present thesis also reflects on unacceptable ones.The thesis consists of five parts.In Chapter 1,the reason for the study,the academic development,the research method and research purpose are introduced.In Chapter 2,the names of the magical creatures in Harry Potter series is classified and analyzed.In Chapter 3,the relationship between cognition and translation is explained. In Chapter 4,the cognitive models are applied into the translation of the names of the magical creatures.In chapter 5,some reflections are made about the translation of the names of the magical creatures.In chapter 6,conclusions are made and the possible future study is proposed.The study of this thesis finds that cognitive models can provide the translations of the names of the magical creatures with very important parameter,that is,the core element.It can also provide the translations of the names of the magical creatures with different thinking patterns.Accordingly it will be heuristic in dealing with the similar translation problems in the future.