A Corpus-based Comparison Of Translation Strategies Between Yang And Hawkes’ Versions For Metaphors And Similes In The Poems Of Hong Lou Meng

Based on a self-built parallel corpus,this thesis described and compared the CE translation strategies in Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang’s version,and David Hawkes’version for the Chinese literary device 比喻(biyu)in 224 poems from the first 80 chapters of Hong Lou Meng.After a comparative differentiation of the literary devices比喻(biyu)in Chinese literature and similes and metaphors in English literature,this study focused on Chinese similes with linking words and metaphors without linking words.Corpus statistics were used to compare and analyze the strategies,and textual analysis was conducted with theoretical guidance.Quantitative statistics presented the use of metaphors and similes as strategies,and the use of "like" and "as" in similes as strategies.Textual analysis compared the strategies for the most frequently-used metaphorical image "jade" based on culturology.The analysis revealed some commonalities.For Chinese similes,the frequency of metaphors is higher than similes in both versions,and "like" is used more frequently than "as" in similes;both versions’ main strategies include using interrogative sentences,using verbs to replace linking words,changing the reference or object,etc.Translation strategies of metaphors include rendering declarative sentences into interrogative sentences,adding verbs,and changing the reference or the subject,etc.In terms of differences,for similes,"like" is used more frequently in YD Version than DH Version.For metaphors,DH Version prefers free translation while YD Version prefers literal translation.The two versions also use different strategies for specific metaphors or similes.Based on descriptions above,the study summarized and compared translation strategies for metaphors and similes,so as to provide reference for translation practices of similar text types and literary devices.