Translation Strategies Of Allusions Containing Animal Or Plant Words In English And Chinese Languages

With the development of the society and the progress of science and technology, economic, political and cultural communication between different countries has become more and more frequent. Therefore, translation is confronted with new challenges. Language, culture and translation are interrelated and interact on each other. Language is the carrier of culture, and translation is a bridge transmitting language and culture. Allusions are not only the gem of a language but the epitome of a culture. As a special form of language, allusions containing animal or plant words which reflect rich cultural deposits and unique national wisdom of human beings are frequently quoted and used in literary works and other types of formal and informal communication.Allusions containing animal or plant words are rich in their cultural connotation. First, allusions stem from various cultural backgrounds including literary work, historical events, economic and political environment, religion, education and etc; second, discrepancy of the connotations between allusions in the English and Chinese languages is great. Previous studies on allusion translation are successful in proposing translation methods like literal translation by retaining the original image, free translation by abandoning the original image, and free translation by substituting the original image. In fact, the methods all fall into the strategies of domestication and foreignization. This thesis focuses on analyzing the cultural connotation of allusions containing animal or plant words and the application of domestication and foreignization to translating the allusion in the English and Chinese languages. Purpose of translation and translator’s intention, text type and reception of the target readers are determinant factors affecting the choice of translation strategies of domestication and foreignization. By analyzing abundant examples, the author has found that foreignization should be the dominant translation strategy while domestication is a supplementary means when necessary.