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UM E-Theses Collection (澳門大學電子學位論文庫)

Title

A study of non-equivalent culture-loaded words in two English translations of Fu Sheng Liu Ji

English Abstract

This study follows culture-oriented translation studies to investigate translation strategies used to render culture-loaded words. The thesis uses the original text of Fu Sheng Liu Ji and the two translated English versions as target texts, form which the author has gathered Chinese culture-loaded words and expressions as the sample for this study. Those selected Chinese culture-loaded words are classified into four groups - ecological culture, material culture, social culture and religious culture, according to Nida's classification. The present study uses translation strategies suggested by Baker to render culture-loaded non-equivalents at word level as a framework to analyze how the two translators render the Chinese culture-loaded words and expressions, and discuss what the discrepancies might be. The study reveals that the most frequently used translation strategies by Lin Yutang to render the four groups of Chinese culture-loaded words are LOAD WORD, and followed by PARAPHRASE. In contrast, Black adopts PARAPHRASE most, followed by LOAN WORD WITH EXPLANATION and CULTURAL SUBSTITUTION. The thesis also analyzes the possible reasons for the discrepancies in choosing translation strategies between Lin and Black. Of various possible reasons for a translator to choose translation strategies, the author focuses on addressing three key factors: the historical background, the translator's cultural background and their concerns for the target readers' acceptability. Keywords: culture-loaded words; non-equivalence; Fu Sheng Liu Ji.

Issue date

2010.

Author

Xiao, Di

Faculty
Faculty of Arts and Humanities (former name: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities)
Department
Department of English
Degree

M.Soc.Sc.

Subject

Shen, Fu, -- 1763-ca. 1808 -- Translations into English

Shen, Fu, 1763-ca. 1808. -- Fu sheng liu chi

Chinese fiction -- Translations into English

Supervisor

Wang, Xian

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Location
1/F Zone C
Library URL
991005411109706306