On Translation Of Wang Xifeng’s Language In Hong Lou Meng’s Two English Versions From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

Adaptation Theory proposed by Verschueren in1999, is considered to be“a pragmatic theory which has strong explanatory power and good applicationvalue and it is bound to have a good prospect because it comprehends andinterprets pragmatics from a new perspective”(He Ziran, Yu Guodong,1999:425-435). This theory assumes language use to be a continuous process ofmaking choices for intra-lingual or extra-lingual reasons under differentdegrees of salience. Ever since this theory was put forward, it has greatlyinfluenced the translation studies in China. Many scholars have begun to applyit to the translation studies and made expansive researches based onAdaptation Theory.Hong Lou Meng is the peak of Chinese classic novels. It is honored as theencyclopedia of the Qing Dynasty. It is a miracle that in Hong Lou Meng theauthor Cao Xueqin successfully created more than seven hundred characters,more than one hundred of which are vivid and famous. The character’sdialogue plays a crucial role in molding the characters. Therefore, intranslating Hong Lou Meng, the importance of dialogues can’t be neglected.Although studies on fictional dialogue translation didn’t come intoresearcher’s eye until recently, they have already begun to be paid greatattention to. As a result, many scholars have begun to devote themselves to the researches in this field. However, up to now, there have been very few studiesof fictional dialogue from the perspective of Adaptation Theory.Among the large numbers of Hong Lou Meng’s English Versions, the twoversions by the Yangs and Hawkes are the most authoritative ones. AdoptingVerschueren’s Adaptation Theory as the theoretical framework, this thesisconducts a case study of these two English versions of Hong Lou Meng andanalyzes the language of Wang Xifeng, one of the most successfully depictedcharacters in the novel, from the angles of contextual correlates of adaptationand structural objects of adaptation in translation. Through the analysis, thisstudy proves the explanatory power of Adaptation Theory on fictionaldialogue translation, and further explores the functions of Adaptation Theoryin conveying the image of Wang Xifeng in the translated versions.This thesis provides a new perspective for the studies on fictionaldialogue translation. It will broaden the scope of fictional dialogue translationstudies and have active influences on fictional dialogue translationappreciation and practices.