On The Aesthetical Reconstruction Of Prose Translation: From Conceptual Blending Theory Perspective

Prose, as a literature genre, is as important as novel, poetry and drama. It has a long history of several thousand years, which makes it an indispensable role in Chinese literature field. Prose is rich in traditional Chinese culture, meanwhile in view of the going-out background more and more scholars begin pay attention to prose study. Prose ought to get much attention in the translation field. Prose carries both meaning and aesthetic function. The former function has already gotten much attention, whereas the latter is usually ignored by scholars at present. By previous study, the translation field studies more about the novel and poem study rather than the prose, which result in the lack of achievements of prose translation. Based on present prose research achievements, it does not carry out thorough enough research.In translating, it is filled with beauty reconstruction and the blending process. Prose translation is a fusion of beauty existing in original text and beauty expressed by the translator, which can be studied by the conceptual blending theory. The Conceptual Blending Theory is an indispensable part of the cognitive linguistics, setting up a theoretical framework for the study of language cognition activities. In view of the fact that translation is also a kind of language application, it is also a cognitive activity. During the process of translation, a translator needs to merge the original text input space and the target space at the same time. With creative integration, it aims to achieve and convey the beauty of the original, realizing the reappearance and reconstruction of beauty. The aesthetical reconstruction is realized by the understanding and processing of the original text by the translator. This paper selects Zhang Peiji’s Selected Modern Chinese Essays as the study material. The research is unfolded from both micro and macro levels: micro levels are phonology, lexis, syntax and rhetoric; macro levels are culture, image and emotion. By analysis, it can present objectively how the translated version realizes the aesthetical reconstruction.The paper includes six chapters. Chapter one introduces the research background, purpose and significance, contents and thesis arrangement. Chapter two presents literature review, including the previous prose study abroad and at home, and the limitation. Chapter three introduces the theoretical framework with its development, principles and its application feasibility. Chapter four and five are the main body, respectively exploring the aesthetical reconstruction from micro and macro level. Chapter six draws the conclusion: it exists a blending process in aesthetical reconstruction during prose translation and it can be explained by the conceptual blending theory. In view of this, the paper can help the both original and target readers to get better understanding and appreciation of the beauty of prose, meanwhile, it offers a new sight for Chinese to English prose study.