On English Translation Of Suzhou Classical Garden Introduction From The Perspective Of Reception Aesthetics

Suzhou classical gardens are the gems of Chinese culture and the finest specimens of classical gardens in China. Those gardens mean much more than groups of substantial constructions and scenic spots, but symbolize the glorious Chinese cultural elements of history together. With their rising fame in the world, they have been attracting increasing numbers of tourists at home and abroad. The quality translations of texts related to Suzhou classical garden can not only display the unique charms of Chinese gardening art, but also promote Chinese culture on the stage of the world. However, most available English publications introducing these picturesque gardens are not devoid of problems, which would inevitably harm the publicity of Suzhou classical gardens abroad. Highly specialized knowledge, delicate literary style and rich Chinese cultural connotations in the garden introductions raise great challenge for their translators. Texts of Suzhou classical garden introduction fall into the category of technical text. Its translation is a purpose activity and the achievement of its purpose primarily depends on the target text readers'response.Reception Aesthetics theory, as a new and influential paradigm and methodology in literary theories, notes a shift in concern from the author and the work to the text-reader relationship in literary criticism. It focuses on readers'reception of the text and their participation in literature works and holds that the author should consider the readers'social experience, aesthetic tendency and receptive ability, which constitutes the readers'"horizon of expectations". This is consistent with the key factors in tourism information text translation. This thesis employs an innovative angle of research, by integrating a literary theory with non-literary translation. It concludes that Reception Aesthetics theory's enlightenment for Chinese-English translation practice of Suzhou classical garden introduction, and provides applicable translation strategies: in order to comply with target text readers'horizon of expectation and shorten the aesthetic distance, a strategy of assimilation on the linguistic level is suggested for easy comprehension. And the alienation strategy is suggested to translate the cultural specific information so as to broaden the tourists'horizon of expectation and enrich their aesthetic experience.