Pun Translation Of Hong Lou Meng In Two English Versions From The Perspective Of Relevance Theory

Pun is an effective rhetoric and the use of pun is frequently employed by CaoXueqin in Hong LouMeng. Pun has a great influence on the readers’understanding and appreciating the original text. Puntranslation can be regarded as a crucial factor in evaluating the translation versionsFor Hong Lou Meng, there are two translation versions recognized universally as the most influentialones. One is A Dream of Red Mansions translated by the couple of Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang andanother is The Story of the Stone translated by David Hawkes and his son-in-law John Minford.This thesis compares and evaluates pun translation in two versions from the perspective ofRelevance Theory, and draws the conclusion that Hawkes’version surpasses Yang Hsien-yi’s, for theformer offers its readers optimal relevance through minimal processing efforts, which coincides with theprinciples of Relevance-theoretic Translation Theory. The suggestion is that unconscious coincidencewith Relevance Theory can bring the Hawkes’version better cognition, if we employ Relevance Theoryto conduct the translation intentionally, the translation quality is sure to be guaranteed.This thesis consists of six chapters: Chapter One is the introduction part. Chapter Two is literaturereview which focuses on recent research on pun translation in two versions and the problems existing inprevious research. Chapter Two also gives the reasons for employing Relevance Theory as the theoreticbasis and the significance and purpose of the research as well. Chapter Three is on Relevance Theory inaccounting for pun translation, and makes a simple explanation about some key concepts and domesticdevelopment of Relevance Theory, elaborates the evaluation effect that Relevance Theory brings to puntranslation. Chapter Four classifies pun translation, and enumerates the functions of pun. Chapter Five isthe main body, which introduces the two versions in detail, compares pun translation. The last chapter isthe conclusion part which summarizes and generalizes the whole thesis and puts forward some suggestionon the research work for the future.