A Comparative Study Of English Translations Of Chapter Titles Of Sanguo Yanyi From The Perspective Of Functionalist Theory

Chapter titles of Sanguo Yanyi epitomize contents of each corresponding chapter in couplet form,which are informative and artistic.Functionalist theory is employed to discuss text functions of two English versions of chapter titles of Sanguo Yanyi.One is Three Kingdoms by American sinologist Moss Roberts;the other is The Three Kingdoms by native Chinese speaker Yu Sumei.By comparing the representative examples of the two English versions of chapter titles,this thesis aims to find out translation strategies and text functions of the two English versions of chapter titles,and factors behind their different translation strategies and different focus on the achievement of text functions.After analysis and comparison,the major findings are as follows: a)Roberts' English version of chapter titles intends to reproduce original ideas to target readers,mainly by means of literal translation whereas Yu's English version of chapter titles aims to carry intelligible and comprehensive information in target context,mainly by adopting free translation and addition;b)The degree and the focus of text functions of the two versions of chapter titles are also different.Firstly,Yu's version of chapter titles achieves higher degree of referential function by adding key information and changing different appellations into specific names whereas Roberts' version is an objective reproduction of what the original chapter titles are.Secondly,the focus on expressive function is different.While Roberts' version focuses on emotive sub-function by reproducing the original appellations that show the text producer's emotions or attitudes towards figures,Yu's version focuses on evaluative sub-function by emphasizing evaluative adjectives or adverbs.Lastly,appellative function is basically discarded in Yu's English version of chapter titles but partly retained in Roberts' version;c)Two factors involving skopos and translation brief account for different translation strategies and different focus on text functions of the two English versions of chapter titles.Roberts translates the novel mainly for academic and cultural purposes whereas Yu's translation purpose is mainly served for business and political circles.