On Translation Of Cultural Images In Classical Chinese Poetry

Classical Chinese poetry is the gem of the Chinese literature. It is characterized by the employment of abundant cultural images which are the key to the interpretation and appreciation of classical Chinese poetry. How to translate cultural images properly and make it easier for target language readers to accept has become a difficult point of poetry translation. Previous studies on image translation focus on the source language text, paying little attention to readers' reception. There is a difficult issue that is still not settled in image translation. It is the dilemma of preserving the image of object or retaining the connotation in the target language text. The thesis holds that the issue is likely to be settled from the perspective of reception theory. Reception theory stresses the core role of readers, to apply reception theory to translation means the translator should employ corresponding translation strategies according to the readers' reception. Therefore, reception theory provides a new perspective for image translation. The thesis tries to make a tentative study of translation of cultural images from the perspective of reception of English readers.This thesis is composed of five chapters:Chapter One gives a brief introduction to the research motivation, significance and method of the thesis.Chapter Two is literature review. The author first reviews the statements about images made by Chinese literary critics and Western imagists, and then makes a survey of research on image translation overseas and in China. On the basis of the research, the author analyzes the problem to be solved in the current study and the research perspective adopted in the thesis.Chapter Three describes the gist of reception theory and its enlightenments on literary translation.Chapter Four is the core of the thesis. The author first makes description of images in the horizon of expectations of Chinese and English readers, and points out that there is a controversial issue that is not settled in image translation. In the end, the author puts forward the solution to the problem from the perspective of readers' reception: The translator should preserve the image of object as much as possible to satisfy readers' creative expectations. At the same time, he should consider readers' given expectations, adopting such methods as annotation or compensation to make the translation acceptable. When both the image of object and the connotation can not be conveyed in target language text simultaneously, the translator should consider readers' reception ability, omitting the image of object and preserving the connotation.The final part is the conclusion in which the author summarizes what has been investigated in the previous chapters and points out the limitation of the thesis and the question to be further discussed.