A Comparative Study Of Allusion Translation In The Two English Versions Of Hong Lou Meng From The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Skopos theory believes that translation is a purposeful human behavior and any translation is reasonable when it conforms to the translator’s skopos. The highest rule of determining the translation process is the translator’s purpose, which is different from the previous translation theories. Therefore, Skopos theory gives a new interpretation on translation issues.As the essential component of classical Chinese culture, Hong Lou Meng gains a good reputation for its profound cultural and historical connotations. In this novel, there are abundant allusions that contain rich and colorful cultural heritages. Making use of allusions to convey the author’s intended purpose is an outstanding feature of Hong Lou Meng These allusions play different roles in different situations. Thus, translators must have a clear idea about the author’s real purpose. Coming from different cultural background, the Yangs and Hawkes have different understandings on the allusions of Hong Lou Meng. Yang Xianyi is influenced greatly by Chinese culture. The fundamental reason contributes to the Yangs translating Hong Long Meng is the ardent love to Chinese culture and invitation of the Foreign Language Press. As the Yangs aim at making the world appreciate Chinese culture, they try their best to reproduce the original information in their translations. The western culture has a big influence on Hawkes, who tries to entertain the western readers and hopes that his version may bring happiness to the readers. Consequently, he inclines to strengthen his version’s acceptability and fluency. The previous mentioned prove that the Yangs and Hawkes put emphasis on the “fidelity rule” and “coherence rule” respectively. But it doesn’t means that they abandon other rules. However, no matter which rule they mainly follow, these rules serve for their own translation purpose. As a result, Skopos theory applies to the allusion translation of Hong Lou Meng. This thesis aims at making a comparative study on the allusion translation in the two English versions of Hong Lou Meng under the guidance of Skopos theory in order to provide a reference for the study of allusion translation, especially the allusion translation method.First of all, this thesis introduces the allusion translation, the allusion translation of Hong Lou Meng and the Skopos theory at home and abroad. In addition, the research contents about the connotations of Skopos theory are presented in detail. Then, according to their different sources, the four categories of allusion in Hong Lou Meng(literary allusion, historical allusion, legendary allusion and religious allusion) and their functions are discussed. Finally, combining these two translators’ different translation purposes and readership, this thesis makes a comparative study on the allusion translation in the two English versions of Hong Lou Meng by means of comparative analysis method and makes a detailed analysis on the causes and factors behind these translation methods.Due to the universal of languages, these two translators sometimes select the same translating methods to cope with the same allusion, such as literal translation, annotation, omission, free translation, and substitution. They select different translation methods to achieve their own translation skopos in most cases on account of their different translating purposes and readership, such as substitution vs. literal translation, free translation vs. literal translation, literal translation vs. annotation, omission vs. annotation, explanation vs. literal translation, explanation vs. literal translation, explanation vs. free translation, explanation vs. annotation. Skopos theory strongly holds that “the end justifies the means” and any translation is reasonable when it conforms to the translator’s skopos. Consequently, Skopos theory allows the translator to choose their translation methods according to their will to some extent. Therefore, Skopos theory can efficiently interpret the causes and factors that contribute to the translators’ ways of translating the allusions of Hong Lou Meng.