A Study On Translation Strategy Of Folklore Lexis In Bailu Yuan

Cross-cultural translation has been a hot topic in translation study these years. Translation is not only a linguistic transformation but also a culture transfer. Translation, though as a science, asking the translator to be faithful to the original writer's intention and style, requires also translator's artistic creativity and special attention to reader's dynamic interaction with the target text and the cultural factors. Cultural factors is the major barrier in the process of translation, especially the covert culture carried with the words. Folklore lexis directly reflects the special ethnic characteristics culture of a nation. Therefore, how to overcome this kind of cultural barriers when conveying the messages from the source language to the target language has become one of the central issues in spreading culture.The novel Bailu Yuan by Chen Zhongshi, set in Bailu Loess tableland, a village in Guanzhong Plain, Shaanxi Province, describes the folk life of the two families, Bai and Lu, such as their daily life, customs of marriages, funerals and religions. The distinctive features of this area as well as the rich culture it embodies are shown through languages, especially folklore lexis. It's undoubtedly that the folklore lexis is the core and soul of the folklore culture because it reveals the intrinsic nature of the culture. Integrating Intercultural Communication Theory with Cultural Translation Theory advanced by Susan Bassnett, the paper puts forward the translation strategy of integrating foreignization with domestication. In dealing with Chinese culture-specific items, foreignization, as the primary choice of translation strategies, serves to retain the cultural flavor of the source language, and help to extend the influence of Chinese culture in international communication. Nevertheless, domestication also deserves the translators' consideration as a supplementary tool in that it can eliminate cultural conflict and achieve intelligibility of the target readers. In light of the theory of Edward Hall—the founder of Intercultural Communication, the author categorizes the folklore lexis in Bailu Yuan into folklore lexis with overt culture and those with covert culture. Based on the classification, this paper interprets and translates the folklore lexis in Bailu Yuan. And then studies in detail the translation approaches to the Guanzhong folklore lexis in Bailu Yuan in order to uncover their exact cultural connotation. Finally the author evaluates the appropriateness and effectiveness of the adopted strategies in form of relevant parameter analysis and a questionnaire.Based on the linguistic approach to intercultural communication studies, this thesis presents the readers the folk customs of Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi Province through the cultural interpretation and translation of the folklore lexis in Bailu Yuan. The author aims to help readers of different cultural backgrounds understand the folk culture better and furthermore, to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding. and promotes cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.