A Study Of C-E Translation Of Culture-Loaded Words In The Everlasting Regret From The Perspective Of Memetics

Memetics, deriving from The Selfish Gene composed by Dawkins, a reputable and renowned zoologist and behavioral ecologist in Oxford University, is a newly-proposed theory to account for cultural evolution based on The Evolution Theory which is put forth by Darwin, a distinguished biologist. Since its emergence, lots of scholars have actively devoted themselves to the study of this theory, which in a way supplements and perfects this theory by applying it into the research of psychology, teaching methodology, linguistics and so on, most of which apply Memetics to analyze the mechanics of some cultural phenomena, and the diffusion of advertising language, public signs and popular sayings.With Memetics as the theoretical basis, the author attempts to explore the C-E translation of culture-loaded words in literary works and takes the translation of The Everlasting Regret as an example. Firstly, the inter-relationship among meme, culture and translation is analyzed and that the essence of literature translation rests with culture meme transmission is demonstrated. Meanwhile, the role translators play as special hosts and the responsibility translators assume in translation is expounded. Besides, in light of features of strong memes and their selection criteria, together with characteristics of culture-loaded words, the author endeavors to summarize the criteria culture-loaded words need to adhere to so as to become strong memes in target language, based on which domestication and foreignization strategies are decomposed. The author concludes that domestication in line with coherence, conformity and simplicity facilitates core meme’s comprehension and transmission and sets the stage for faithful transmission of affiliated memes. However, domestication hinders the interaction and exchange of two cultures involved and deprives the chances of target readers to get close to source culture. Therefore, domestication is feasible when two cultures involved have few contacts. Foreignization in line with fidelity, novelty, and individual utility can represent affiliated memes, namely, cultural memes in source texts more faithfully, which helps target readers broaden their horizon, enrich target culture and language, and reinforce culture communication. However, foreignization may bring comprehending barriers, which requires higher competence of readers’ comprehending ability, thus it is often plausible at the later stage of culture communication.The Everlasting Regret is a long-narrative poem composed by Bai Juyi, a brilliant and exceptional poet in Tang Dynasty. Translations of culture-loaded words in four English versions made in different ages are picked out to conduct analysis and comparison, and a statistic comparison of their translation strategies. They exemplify and justify the tendency of translation strategy ranging from domestication as dominant strategy to foreignization as dominant strategy in rendering culture-loaded words in literary works, which is in accordance with the driving force of meme and the needs of times, hoping to offer some enlightenment to translators in the new century.