Ananalysis Of Performability In Drama Translation From The Perspective Of Functional Equivalence Theory

As a valuable treasure in Chinese literature history, drama is considered as anindispensible portion in the domain of literature and art. Until now, large amounts ofdramatic works have been produced. With the development of cultural communication,numerous Chinese dramas have been translated into other languages and beenintroduced abroad. Drama translation has already become a significant component inliterature translation. As a special form of literature, drama which is produced forstage performance possesses dual attributes: literariness and stage. These dualattributes determine the complexity of drama translation. In drama translation, thetranslator shall both ensure the performability of the translated text and deliver thecharacteristics of language, style and the typical culture of the source text, whichincreases the difficulty in translating a drama. The performability, includingspeakability, acceptability and actability, has gradually become one of the most vitalfactors that shall not be neglected. In drama translation, how can we use the principleof the performability to show the characteristics of the work to achieve maximumacceptance from the target language audience? This is the problem this thesis wants tosolve.Thunderstorm, seen as the milestone in the history of Chinese drama, is anoutstanding drama created by Chinese famous dramatist Cao Yu in1933. It has madea lot of sense in literature history. The scholars put focus on the Chinese edition beforethe appearance of its English version. Recently, as drama translation springs up, morescholars have devoted themselves to the study of its English version and made greatachievements. Professor Wang Zuoliang’s English version has produced someprofound effects in China.On the basis of Functional Equivalence Theory, this thesis aims to make aresearch on the performability in Thunderstorm. The author will make a thoroughanalysis of Thunderstorm from the perspectives of Linguistics, Culture and Stylistics,which involve colloquial words, simple sentences, dittography, idioms, appellations,cultural-specific terms and expressions, individualized languages and subtexts.Through analysis, the author plans to testify that Functional Equivalence Theory canbe well applied to drama translation and the English version is performable andacceptable under the command of it. Meanwhile, it can make the target receptors understand and appreciate it better than before.