On Chinese-English Prose Translation From The Perspective Of Reception Aesthetics

This thesis tries to study Chinese-English prose translation. The translated Chinese prose will eventually be read and appreciated by target readers. Therefore, the reader’s reception is viewed as an essential standard for the quality of a prose translation. The advent of Reception Aesthetics breaks down the traditional text-centered theory and values the reader’s role and status, which brings about a brand new angle for translation study. Therefore, the paper analyzes C-E prose translation within the theoretical framework of Reception Aesthetics.In this paper, the author tries to take Zhangpeiji’s (张培基) Selected Modern Chinese Essays4as a case study and analyze Chinese prose translation from the perspective of Reception Aesthetics. The thesis mainly applies three key concepts of Reception Aesthetics to the analysis of C-E prose translation:indeterminacy of text; horizon of expectations and reader’s role and status. Under the guidance of Reception Aesthetics and the study of specific examples, the thesis analyzes the reception processes in C-E prose translation; points out that the translator should take into consideration the reader’s culture, language habits, cognitive psychology and aesthetic taste; summarizes such C-E prose translation strategies and methods as literal translation, free translation, addition, omission, reorganization and substitution to guide prose translation.The thesis brings a new angle for prose translation study:the Reception Aesthetics, which is a significant attempt. The paper also proves the feasibility and meaning of the application of Reception Aesthetics to prose translation study. Hopefully, this thesis can shed some light on guiding Chinese prose translation.