On The Translation Of Cultural Images In Hongloumeng

This thesis, mainly through the comparative analysis approach, does a research into the translation of cultural images in Hongloumeng. Chapter One gives an introduction to the definition and classification of cultures, the definition of images, the definition and classification of cultural images, and analyzes the nonequivalence property of cultural images. Chapter Two discusses the principles that a translator should follow in the translation of cultural images. Based on a narrow definition of translating, we suggest that the translation of cultural images should contribute to the readers’appreciation of the source culture, which should become the supreme purpose of cultural images translation. And to achieve this purpose, a translator should follow four principles, namely, coherence principle, faithfulness principle, clarity principle and idiomatic principle. By faithfulness principle we mean the faithful reproduction of meanings which include conceptual meaning, connotative meaning, structural meaning, pragmatic meaning and cultural meaning. Preferably the four principles should be followed at the same time. When the four principles cannot be realized at the same time, coherence principle should be prioritized over faithfulness principle. But even in this case, a translator should still strive to realize faithfulness principle. And faithful principle comes before clarity principle while clarity principle outweighs idiomatic principle. On the basis of coherence principle and faithfulness principle, a translator should make his translation as clear and idiomatic as possible. But if the source text purposely uses fuzzy words to achieve some special effects, clarity principle will not be valid; if the source text purposely uses unidiomatic words to achieve some special effects, idiomatic principle will not be valid. Chapter Three explores five strategies for the translation of cultural images, respectively, retention of image, shift of image, addition of image, reduction of image and deletion of image. Retention of image consists of literal translation, literal translation+explanation and literal translation+annotation; deletion of image can be further divided into four types: transliteration, transliteration+explanation and transliteration+annotation, paraphrase. Examples are used to demonstrate how each of these strategies applies to different situations. Chapter Four discusses the translation effects of cultural images. Firstly, it analyzes the untranslatable elements in cultural images. Examples are used to illustrate that some elements in cultural images are simply untranslatable, which may lead to some loss in the transference of meaning. Secondly, it analyzes the phenomenon of false translation. False translation can be intentional or unintentional. Intentionally false translation can be acceptable or unacceptable. Intentionally false translation is acceptable when it is done against untranslatable elements and aims for the readers’appreciation of the translated culture. Intentionally false translation is unacceptable if it tends to cause misunderstanding of the translated culture among the readers. Unintentionally false translation is generally unacceptable as it results from the translator’s negligence or misunderstanding of the translated cultural images. Lastly, this thesis proposes a criterion for validity assessment of cultural images translation. A translator should measure his work by seeing whether his translation of cultural images has followed the four translation principles mentioned above to the greatest extent, whether his translation has contributed to the readers’appreciation of the translated cultural images. If the four principles have been realized and the supreme purpose of cultural images translation has been achieved, then the translation is successful; otherwise, unsuccessful.This thesis, by a description of theories and a comparative analysis of some examples from Hongloumeng, explores the translation principles, translation strategies and translation effects of cultural images in Chinese literatures, intending to improve the translation quality of literatures, especially classic lieteratures so as to promote cultural transmission and communication.