On Pragmatic Equivalent Translation Of Deliberate Misinterpretation In American TV Series With C-R-A Model

In the communicative process, the language users use the special context and the indefinite expression to deliberately distort the intention of the speaker and achieve the aim of successful communication. This language phenomenon is defined as deliberate misinterpretation (DMI). It is not only a language phenomenon but also a language strategy which exists universally in daily conversation. With the further development of China’s reform and opening-up, different cultures gradually show the trend towards integration. Foreign cultures inrush in our country with the form of films and TV series and bring a new cultural perspective. So it is necessary to study DMI in American TV series.The previous researches are mainly about the distinction of misunderstanding and DMI and the comprehensive analysis of DMI as a language strategy is not enough, let alone studying the translation methods of it. Considering that DMI has many pragmatic functions and it exists universally in American TV series, the thesis will pay more attention of studying how to use the correct translation methods to show the implied meaning of DMI clearly and achieve pragmatic equivalence.This study uses the qualitative analysis to study the data collected from the two American TV series which has more DMI than other series. It introduces the theory of C-R-A model (Cooperation-Relevance-Adaptation model) to analyze the translation of DMI systematically. The thesis mainly aims at answering the following questions:(1) What are the realization methods and pragmatic functions of DMI?(2) What translation methods can be used to achieve pragmatic equivalence of DMI in American TV series?(3) Why using the C-R-A model can better achieve the pragmatic equivalence of DMI in American TV series?After the analysis, the author finds that the realization methods of DMI are changing the current context, distorting the conversational meaning of words or expressions, shifting the topic, and obscuring the different meaning expressed by the same word. Its pragmatic function contains:generating amusing or sarcastic effects; getting rid of embarrassment and saving face; resisting insult and resolving the conflict. The aim of translation of DMI is to achieve pragmatic equivalence. This thesis sums up some translation methods of DMI with the aim of achieving pragmatic equivalence, for example:literal translation, annotation, replacement, paraphrase, explication, addition and omission. In the process of translation of DMI, some translation methods only translate the literary meaning, not translate the implied meaning and not show the pragmatic functions of DMI. Using the C-R-A model to guide the translation process of DMI can help the translators grasp the intention of the communicator and choose the suitable language to match the speaker’s intention with the audience’s expectation for the purpose of achieving successful communication, that is to say, to achieve pragmatic equivalence.The thesis can be divided into six chapters:Chapter one generally introduces the thesis, including the motivation, the signification and the organization of the thesis.Chapter two provides a brief review bout the study of DMI and the implication of C-R-A model and points out that it is necessary to use the model to study the translation of DMI.Chapter three discusses the theoretical background of C-R-A model. In this chapter, the author first briefly analyzes the cooperative principle, the relevance theory and the adaptation theory, and then the author analyzes the C-R-A model and shows that the theory has some advantages than any one of the three theories.Chapter four describes the data collection and research methodology. It analyzes DMI in American TV plays and points out the realization methods and pragmatic functions of DMI.Chapter five puts forward that the aim of translation of DMI is to achieve pragmatic equivalence, which is to achieve the equivalence of meaning and effect. However. because of the differences of language form and the influence of culture, there are still some problems in the translation process and it is hard to achieve pragmatic equivalence. In order to solve these problems, the thesis uses C-R-A model to guide the process of translation of DMI. It analyzes how to find the optimal relevance and grasp the communicator’s intention. Besides, it states how to make adaptation to the communicative context and the language structure. In the aspect of communicative context adaptation, it mainly states the adaptation to the mental world and social world. In regarding to language structure adaptation, it makes an analysis on the level of phonology, lexicon, and syntax.Chapter six is the conclusion. It makes a summary of the thesis, points out the findings and limitation and gives some suggestions for the further study.