Xu Yuanchong’s Translation Of Numerals In Tang Poems: An Eco-translatological Perspective

Hu Gengshen put forward the theory of Eco-translatology in2008. The Eco-translatology,with the approach to translation as adaptation and selection as the core of this theory, definestranslation as a kind of selective activity of translators’ adaptation to translationaleco-environment and holds that translation process is a cyclical alternation of the translator’sadaptation and selection. The Eco-translatology provides a new perspective for the translationactivity and translation process and also presents a new interpretation and description of thetranslation principles, translation methods and critical standards.Tang poems are among the excellent literary heritage of our country. They serve as one ofthe most valuable parts in world literary treasure as well. Numerals play an important part inportraying the poetic imagery. They can not only express the precise meanings, but also deliverthe implied meanings in terms of, for example, culture and religion. Therefore, the translation ofnumerals poses some difficulties to the translation of Tang poems. Some scholars have analyzedand studied this question from different aspects such as fuzziness and culture.With the Eco-translatology as the theoretical framework, the present study probes into XuYuanchong’s translation of numerals in Tang poems. This thesis makes a detailed analysis aboutXu’s translation of numerals in Tang poems from the aspects of the adaptations and selections hehas made respectively. In regard to the translator’s adaptations to the translationaleco-environment, this thesis firstly analyzes the translational eco-environment of Xu’s renderingof Tang poems. And through the discussion of such aspects as early life experience, educationalbackground, bilingual and bicultural competence, it is proved that Xu is the qualified and eligibleone that can adapt to the specific translational eco-environment. Then this thesis discusses theselections Xu has made to adapt to the translational eco-environment in the process of translation.By means of citing lines including numerals in Tang poems, the adaptive selections employed onthe linguistic dimension, cultural dimension and communicative dimension are expounded.Under the guidance of the theory of Eco-translatology, this thesis can be conducive to studyingthe adaptive selections and specific translation methods adopted in the translation and provide anew angle for the research of translating numerals in Tang poems as well, so as to disseminateChinese traditional culture to the world.