Research On The English Translation Of Euphemism In Honglou Meng From The Perspective Of Nida’s Equivalence Theory

Honglou meng is a great literature works in ancient China, which is read andappreciated by readers around the world. The cultural-loaded words in Honglou mengsuch as euphemisms are always obstacles for the understanding of foreigh readers.Euphemism as a unique linguistical and cultural phenomenon, is widely used inboth Chinese and English. Euphemism exists in every aspect of daily life, andembodies features of each language. With the prosperity of interculturalcommunication, the translation of euphemism appears to be urgent in demand.This dissertation is an attempt to give a comprehensive survey on the Englishtranslation of euphemism in Honglou meng from the perspective of Nida’sequivalence theory. Two famous translation versions of Honglou meng (The Story ofthe Stone by David Hawkes and John Minford; A Dream of Red Mansions by YangHsien-yi and his wife Gladys Yang) are chosen as research objects. The dissertationconducts the analysis in these two versions, and puts forward some suggestions on thetranslation of euphemism.This dissertation is composed of six chapters.Chapter1gives a general account of the euphemism translation in Hongloumeng. Chapter2presents a contrast between English and Chinese euphemism, i.e.similarities and differences. Translation difficulties are also mentioned. Chapter3explores the theory applied to the translation of euphemism in Honglou meng.Reader’s reactions and functional equivalence in Nida’s theory are carefullyintroduced. Chapter4elaborates the application of Nida’s equivalence theory to theeuphemism translation in Honglou meng. Functional equivalence is disscussed onlinguistic, cultural, and stylistic level. Chapter5discusses about criteria and principleson euphemism translation in Honglou meng from the perspective of functionalequivalence. Chapter6makes analysis of translation process of the euphemismtranslation in Honglou meng. Literal translation, free translation, and omission arecarefully discussed on the basis of Nida’s equivalence theory. Although these two translation versions of Honglou meng are brilliant onliterature translation, and provide us a large quantity of examples to analyse thetranslation of euphemisms, the practices of the euphemism translation are stilldeserving to be deliberately analysed. In the thesis, from the perspective of Nida’sequivalence theory, the euphemism translation could achieve funtional equivalence ondifferent levels. And specific criteria and principles are put forward in guidance ofeuphemism translation in the novel. Translation approaches are very important, butnot decisive. In the translation process, varieties of the translation approaches ofeuphemism translation in Honglou meng could be chosen freely if they could achievefunctional equivalence. Contrast analyses among different translation versions and theoriginal edition will not only help us a lot on the researches of euphemism translation,but also even give us a chance to create a more brilliant translation in future.