Application Of Relevance Theory In The Translation Of Historical Documentary Literature

According to relevance theory, verbal communication is a cognitive process and individuals in communication seek for the maximization of relevance (Sperber&Wilson,1986/1995). Though relevance theory was not put forward in the first place as a translation theory, it has a tremendous directive value for translation practice. According to relevance translation theory, translation is a dynamic ostensive-inferential process exerted on source language, and it is one fundamental means of verbal communication (August Gutt,1991). The translation process contains two major stages involving interactions among the original author, translator, and the readers of the translated work. According to Gutt (1991), the translator’s objective is to transmit the assumption that the original communicator wanted to pass on the original text readers to the target text readers (1991). During the translation process the translator infers the author’s communicative intention, reproduces the clues on the basis of the similar cognitive context of author and translator, and pursues optimal relevance in the complete process. Translator transmits the relevance to target readers to help and enable the readers to understand the translation in their cognitive context and processing effort.This thesis is a report on the author’s translation process and result of the second part of The Siege in Peking:China Against the World written by William Alexander Parsons Martin. Taking relevance theory as its theoretical framework as well as the guiding principle in reflecting on the translation process and result, this report aims to explore and prove the directive value of relevance theory for the translation of documentary literature.This thesis briefly introduced the relevance theory and relevance translation theory, arguing that that in translation of historical cultural work the translator should pursue optimal relevance and adopt proper translating strategies in accordance with characteristics of historical cultural work to achieve the objective of conveying the original author’s intention and catering to the target text readers’expectation. According to relevance theory, the translator needs to find the optimal relevance of the cultural background and cognitive context between the original text and the target text and pass the original author’s intention to the target text readers completely.This thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter One introduces the background, the object and the significance of this translation practice report. Chapter Two presents the theoretical background and provides a general review on the source text, including its subject matter, its linguistic and stylistic features, and its main content. Chapter Three offers case analysis from the perspective of relevance theory. Chapter Four is the conclusion which summarizes the new insights into translation obtained during the translation process and subsequent reflections on the various difficulties encountered and solved.