A Study Of The English Translation Of Chinese Food Names: From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

During the 30 years of the opening-up of China, more and more foreigners come to China and begin to understand China. At the same time, Chinese people go to the outside world more frequently and spread the old great Chinese culture to foreign countries. As an indispensable part of Chinese culture, cuisine culture becomes a hot topic and gets more and more attention. It becomes increasingly important to translate the Chinese food names in an adequate and proper way.Based on Verschueren's Adaptation Theory, this thesis aims to analyze how to apply the adaptation theory to the English-translation of Chinese food names. Adaptation Theory claims that we should take variability, negotiability, and adaptability into consideration to conform to the principles of language pragmatics. Using language consists in the continuous act of making of linguistic choices, consciously or unconsciously, for language-internal (i.e. structural) and/or language-external reasons. As for the language adaptation, he holds that there are four necessary angles which must be considered, they are contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, the dynamics of adaptability, the salience of the adaptation processes. As a special form of language use, Chinese food names translation--a kind of cross-cultural communication--also can be approached by way of Verschueren's Adaptation Theory.Extensive use of raw materials, exquisite cutting styles, complicated cooking methods, proper duration and degree of heating and blending condiments are the distinct and unique features of Chinese food. As to the Chinese food names, they mainly serve the following four functions:distinguishing products, stimulating consumption, symbolizing reputation and advertising.When translating these Chinese food names into English, the translator should adapt his version to the foreign eaters' mental world, social world and physical world, choose the most proper word and phrases, according different time and settings.Through the systematic analysis of practical modes, the author believes that the Adaptation Theory plays a very important role in Chinese food names translation. The application of adaptation theory in Chinese food names translation provides a new thinking a broader space for Chinese food names translation study.