Rice's text type theory is one of the basic theories of functional translation, so what is the applicability of functional translation theory to literary translation?
[Paper Keywords] Functional Theory literary translation suitability
[Abstract] This paper expounds the contents and characteristics of functional translation theory and literary translation, respectively discusses the embodiment of text conventions, loyalty theory and semantic and communicative translation strategies in literary translation, and puts forward the view that functional theory is also applicable to literary translation.
1, Introduction
Functionalism in translation studies originated from functional language theory and was influenced by Firth and Halliday's functional linguistics and hymes's communicative competence theory. At present, the study of translation from the perspective of function can be divided into two categories: micro and macro (Zhang Meifang 2005). The former refers to the theoretical basis of Halliday's systemic functional linguistics and pragmatics, and studies the textual function with a relatively fixed framework from the perspective of textual analysis. The latter focuses on German scholars, starting with k.reiss's text typology, h.vermeer's teleology and c.nord's function plus loyalty theory, emphasizing the function of the translation in the target language context, and adopting different translation strategies according to different text functions. Literary texts use image language to shape artistic images, reflect profound history and broad social reality, and let readers be infected, edified and educated, so as to enjoy beauty. Literary translation should not only translate the meaning of the original text, but also the feelings and charm in it. Whether German functionalist translation theory is applicable to literary translation is the focus of debate among scholars at home and abroad. Some domestic scholars believe that functionalism is suitable for literary translation. For example, Chen Gang and Hu (2004) compared two versions of the crab poem in A Dream of Red Mansions from the perspective of functionalism. Wen Jun and Gao Xiaoying (2003) explained the concept of literary translation criticism with functional theory. Wu (2003) and Wang Xiaofeng (2004) respectively discussed the applicability of functional translation theory in literary translation criticism. These studies show that functional translation theory is also applicable to literary translation. Lv Fengyi and He Qingji (2009) point out that functionalism is not applicable to literary translation from the perspectives of functionalism, teleology and functional text typology. This paper attempts to analyze the applicability of functional translation theory to literary translation from the perspective of literary translation examples and explore whether it is applicable to literary translation.
2. Theoretical origin and characteristics.
2. 1 Contents and main points of functional translation theory
What does German functional translation theory mean? Focus on function or text function? Study various translation theories from Nord's perspective (Nord, 200 1). Its development has roughly gone through two stages: in the first stage, Vermeer, Rice and Mantari, as representatives, respectively put forward Skopos Theory, Text Functional Typology and Translation Behavior Theory; In the second stage, Nord, the core figure, proposed the typology of functional translation and the principle of loyalty. In the second stage, hornby, H. Honegger, P. Kusmaul and M. Oman also promoted the development of this theory.
2.2 Content and main features of literary translation
Literary works include poems, novels, essays and plays. All kinds of literary texts have their own stylistic features. When translating, we should not only translate the meaning of the original text, but also the feelings and charm in it. The translated language should be vivid, expressive and lyrical, symbolic and rhythmic, giving people enlightenment, edification and beauty. Artistic conception is the life of literary works, which exists in novels, essays and poems. The artistic conception of prose is to make people admire, love, move or dislike through the description of specific things, thus highlighting the meaning and producing artistic conception. There are many factors in the artistic conception of poetry-paying attention to rhythm and rhythm, paying attention to words and sentence patterns, and having images. When translating poetry, these characteristics should be reflected, and the translation should be highly authentic, otherwise it will be difficult to convey the freshness and momentum of the original poem. What is a literary text from the perspective of functional translation theory? Creative works? As an emotional text, it has a prominent position as an author or sender, is a special form of information transmission, and the language has aesthetic characteristics. The language of literary text has aesthetic characteristics, and the text focuses on form. The purpose of translation is to express its form, and the translation method of imitating and being faithful to the original author can be adopted (munday 200 1).
3. Functional theory and literary translation.
3. 1 Text Typology and Literary Translation
Rice's text type theory is one of the basic theories of functional translation. According to him, the linguistic text type theory can help the translator to determine the appropriate degree of equivalence required for a specific translation purpose. As mentioned above, Rice believes that literary texts are emotional and should be translated by imitating and being faithful to the original author. The essay "Hurry" is an early work of Mr. Zhu Ziqing. Mr. Wang expressed his sigh and helplessness over the lapse of time in poetic language, revealing the anguish and sorrow of young intellectuals at that time between the lines. This paper analyzes Professor Zhang's and Professor Zhang's translations, trying to explain the influence of text conventions on literary translation.
Example 1. Title:? In a hurry?
A: a short time
B: The past days
? Short? What is the connotation? Short-lived, fleeting? Passing by? For what? Disappeared, gone? . ? In a hurry? It expresses the author's helplessness over the passage of time, and takes this as a topic to reveal the aesthetic feeling of literary language. Translate a Chinese? Short? Consistent with the theme of the text, expressing short-term helplessness; And what is in translation B? Passing by? What is it? Time is running out? , what else? Regret the lost good days? Does the meaning not reflect what the author wants to express? Short, fast? . From the perspective of translation contrast, due to the different understanding of the meaning of the original text, the wording of translation B fails to show the vivid text. Aesthetic? Language features, the feelings expressed are not as good as translation A; From the perspective of translation methods, it is not complete. Imitate and be loyal to the original author? Semantic deviation. Here's another example:
Example 2. I don't know how many days they gave me; But my hands are getting empty.
A: I don't know? I don't know how many days of vacation I have, but there is no doubt that my vacation is passing day by day.
B: I don't know? I don't know how many days others have given me, but my days are numbered.
Translate a Chinese? Wear away? Expressed? Gradually disappear, decline? Meaning, visual translation, is it consistent with the original? Gradually? Two words; And what about B's translation? Number? Show? Time is running out? It's a bit far-fetched to use this article. The author was only twenty or thirty years old when he wrote this article. Time is running out? It doesn't seem appropriate to describe it, and you lost the original text? Gradually? The meaning of this word. Therefore, for the translation of literary works, we should pay attention to the appeal and artistry of language from the perspective of text standardization, reproduce the emotion of the original text in a sense, and reflect its? Aesthetic? Linguistic features.
3.2 Function plus Loyalty and Literary Translation
What is the core of the theory of function plus loyalty? Translation outline, original text analysis, classification of translation problems? Zhang Meifang, 2005. ? Translation outline? Refers to the requirements of translation customers for translation. An ideal translation outline includes the expected function, readers, media, publication time and place of the translation. The analysis of the source text provides the translator with decision-making basis: 1) whether the translation task is feasible, 2) what information in the source text is related to the translation function, and 3) what translation strategy to adopt. Translation problems mainly involve pragmatics, culture, language and discourse, and should be handled from top to bottom. The purpose of analyzing translation problems is to take different translation measures according to different problems, but in the whole process, translation function is always the focus of consideration (Nord 200 1).
3.3 Translation Strategies and Literary Translation
Page (the abbreviation of page) Newmark is a veteran in the field of English translation, and he has a special liking for German functional linguist karl buhler's theory of language function. Musical instrument model? Semantic translation and communicative translation are also translation strategies based on language function and text content. The purpose of semantic translation is to interpret the original author's thinking process and emphasize the informative nature of the translation, while the purpose of communicative translation is to interpret the original author's intention and pay attention to the effectiveness of the translation. What do you often face in literary translation? Literal/free translation? 、? Domestication/alienation? Considering semantic translation and communicative translation from the perspective of function can avoid this dilemma. Dichotomy? .
4. Conclusion
To sum up, functional translation theory not only has strong applicability in the field of applied translation, but also can explain specific problems in literary translation. Undeniably, literary translation is complicated, and its translation strategies have many considerations. The prescriptive research methods and classification of functional theory can not fully explain the complicated literary translation phenomenon, but the emergence of functional theory provides a way for literary translation and has certain applicability to literary translation research.
References:
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