Study On The Role Of Punctuation In Two English Versions Of Hong Lou Meng In C-E Translation

As an essential part of written language, punctuation marks play an important role in translation. However, punctuation marks are ignored by linguists for a long time. Relative works on punctuation are always limited to grammar handbooks, writing guides and so on, which just aim to prescribe rules for the usage of individual punctuation marks. This results in the mistake in translation for the most students and translators who could not master the use of punctuation marks properly.This thesis makes a systemic analysis of punctuation marks. At present, the literatures referring to the roles and translation of punctuation marks can be numbered. Current literatures are mainly in the researches made by European linguists during the mid-1980s and1990s. Roles can present the practical use of punctuation clearly. This thesis briefly introduces the researches on the roles of punctuation marks at abroad, and further explores the types of roles of punctuation marks.Chapter One analyzes the system of punctuation marks completely and put emphasis on the role of punctuation marks played in the writings.In Chapter Two, the author presents punctuation marks’roles from three points as syntactic function, pragmatic function and semantic function. From the perspective of syntax, punctuation marks have three functions: separation, specification and substitution. From the perspective of pragmatics, punctuation marks’emotive function is discussed. From the perspective of semantics, punctuation marks are closely concerned with semantic meaning of writings.In Chapter Three, through analysis of contrast and role of individual punctuation marks, this part summarizes the phenomenon, factors and solutions of misuses of punctuation marks in C-E translation. In order to improve the quality of C-E translation, the author proposes three strategies of punctuation marks such as translating punctuation marks word by word, adding and subtracting punctuation marks properly and changing punctuation marks necessarily. Furthermore, taking the chapter titles, poems and dialogues in two versions of Hong Lou Meng by Yang Xianyi and David Hawkes as the object of the study, the thesis analyzes mainly the application of punctuation marks from three points of syntax, pragmatics and semantic meaning. The author finds that there are obvious differences among the uses of number, variety and function of punctuation marks in two versions. Yang’s version puts emphasis on compact structure and the realization of meaning, which is faithful to the original. However, Hawkes’version emphasizes on forms influenced by the hypotxis of the English language. In the course of analyzing the contrast of two versions, different versions represent various styles in the translation for different punctuations.Conclusion sums up this thesis, in which the main roles of punctuation marks are discussed. In addition, the author makes a suggestion that English learners and researchers realize the significance and pay full attention to punctuation marks from another point in order to improve the quality of translation.