A Study Of English Translation Of Euphemisms In Hongloumeng From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

There are a large number of euphemisms in Hongloumeng,which are endowed with rich cultural connotations.However,there is scanty research on English translation of euphemisms in Hongloumeng from the perspective of adaptation theory both at home and abroad.In view of this,this study aims to explore two questions: 1)How many categories can the euphemisms in Hongloumeng be classified into based on the object and scope of euphemisms? 2)What translation methods can be used in translating euphemisms?On the basis of studying Hongloumeng and its two English versions,three research methods are mainly adopted in this study: documentary analysis,text analysis and case study.In the light of Verschueren's adaptation theory,this study focuses on English euphemisms in Hongloumeng from two aspects of adaptation theory,namely,adaptation of context relations and adaptation of language structure,and analyzes English euphemisms from the perspectives of functions,characteristics and classifications.It is found that based on the objects and scope of euphemisms,the euphemisms in Hongloumeng can be divided into the following categories:euphemisms for death,disease,sex,funerary,prostitute,love and appellation.The study attempts to give an analysis of the euphemisms with special cultural connotations in Hongloumeng,which provides empirical reference for the study of English translation of euphemisms.According to the English translation of YangXianyi and Gladys Yang(the Yangs for short)and that of Hawkes and Minford(Hawkes for short),this study explores the translation methods of euphemisms in Hongloumeng from the perspective of adaptation theory.It is also found that the English versions usually adopt literal translation,free translation,amplification translation and omission in rendering euphemisms in Hongloumeng.