An Intertextual Analysis On Xu Yuanchong’s Classical Chinese Poetry Translation

Intertextuality is one of the most frequently used terms in contemporary critical vocabulary,and is recognized as an important literary theory by western structuralists and destructuralists.According to intertextuality theory, no text is independent and the interpretation of a certainliterary text should be based on the correct and thorough identification of its intertextuality.Translation is a type of transforming activity intertextualized with language, culture and thinking,thus it si by nature an intertextualized activity. During the process of text comprehension and textreproduction, translator should combine the text with the other to recreate a translation which canachieve the same effect. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce intertextuality into translation.Classical Chinese poetry is the cream of classical Chinese literature. With a highlycondensed form, it intends to say most in the fewest words and provide readers with great roomof association. Intertextual signs, which abound in classical Chinese poetry, contribute a greatdeal to the charm and vitality of Chinese poetry. However, the intertextuality, especially theintertextual interactivities in the sound system, image transformation and classical allusiontransformation of the poem brings about many complications and difficulties for its translation.To overcome these difficulties, it is necessary to analyze the translation of classical Chinesepoetry on the basis of intertextuality. Therefore, the thesis makes intertextual analysis on XuYuanchong’s classical Chinese translation, discussing the intertextual activities between theoriginal text and the translator, the translator and the target text.Based on the literature review of the intertextuality theory and the studies on XuYuanchong’s classical poetry translation, this thesis mainly makes a brief introduction ofintertextuality theory, which mainly introduces the historical overview on intertextuality theoryand the categories of this theory. The following part illuminates the intertextual feature oftranslation and classical Chinese poetry and points out that there are many intertextual activitiesin sound system, image and classical allusion. At last, taking Professor Xu Yuanchong’stranslated works as examples, theoretical and comparative analyses on different translated versesare made so as to come to the conclusion, that is, with the guidance of the intertextuality theory,the classical Chinese poetry translation is endowed a new perspective in poetry translation theory and practice study. Therefore, the thesis puts forward the necessity of introducing intertextualityinto poetry translation studies and its practice and the necessity of learning from Professor XuYuanchong’s intertextual approach of classical Chinese poetry.