A Study On Fuzzy Expression Translation Strategies Of Six Chapters Of A Floating Life Translated By Lin Yutang

Fuzziness, as an inherent characteristic of natural language, can help enhance the flexibility and expression of language in human communication. Fuzzy language is both dim and indeterminate, that is, the dim and far-reaching semantic boundary of fuzzy words may bring forth special effects both aesthetically and pragmatically. Hence, fuzzy language is highly valued by most literary works because its indeterminate extension may let loose the reader's imagination. The vast majority of present translation studies, however, focus on the fuzzy expressions in practical writings, daily conversations and Chinese poems. Due attention has not been attracted on the research into the fuzzy expressions in ancient classical Chinese works, not to mention from the angle of cultural differences, all of which are the motivation of this thesis. In view of the current achievements in this field, research scope is narrowed down in this thesis and a cultural approach model for the translation of fuzzy expressions in ancient classical Chinese works is tentatively constructed. Besides, the model may also shed light on the practice of fuzzy language translation so as to advance translation and cultural communication.The introduction of culture into translation studies is a new tendency in modern translation field, which implies that translation is a cross-cultural transference that involves not only two languages but also two cultures. This shift from linguistic transfer to cultural transfer also exists in the translation of fuzzy language. Culture is closely related to fuzzy expressions whose choice and expression will reflect the cultural characteristics of a nation in all aspects. In ancient classical Chinese works, for instance, as one of the most important rhetorical devices, fuzzy language resulted from different Chinese and English thought patterns will be endued with culture peculiar to it. The barriers of fuzzy language translation due much to the striking differences between Chinese and English, particularly in the aspects of historical background, religious belief, living environment and cultural psychology while the feasibility to the university of human language. This thesis attempts to probe into the obstacles and strategies of Chinese-English fuzzy language translation in cultural approach. The exploration is reinforced by the analysis of the cultural influence on the formation and translation of fuzzy language with a case study on Mr. Lin Yutang's translation of Fousheng Liuji (FSLJ), an autobiography written by Shen Fu in Qing Dynasty. Cultural approach will serve as the theoretical basis for analyzing the translation strategies of fuzzy expressions adopted by Lin Yutang at rhetoric and cultural levels. Based on the above analysis, this thesis draws the following conclusion: ancient classical Chinese works are concise in language and their fuzzy expressions are with unique aesthetic value and cultural connotations. When translating them, the translators need to shift their attention to the cultural connotations of the source fuzzy expressions so as to reproduce them in the target language with flexible and reasonable strategies and techniques. From this, translation may really become a medium in transmitting culture.