-
1968
-
1141
-
812
-
616
-
601
The translation of images in Tang poetry in view of relevance translation theory: A case study of the pipa image in three English versions of Three Hundred Tang Poems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59400/fls.v6i1.2050Abstract
Tang poetry is rich in images, and the pipa portrayed in Tang poetry mainly symbolizes compassion and melancholy, indifference and openness, and joy and resentment. With the approaches of case study and comparative analysis, the study built a framework of the relevance translation theory to compare the pipa images in three English versions of Three Hundred Tang Poems: The Jade Mountain: A Chinese Anthology (jointly translated by Witter Bynner and Kiang Kanghu), 300 Tang Poems: A New Translation (compiled by Xu Yuanchong, Lu Peixian and Wu Juntao) and English Translation of 320 Tang Poems (translated by Betty Tseng). Then, the contextual effects of pipa images in the three English versions are analyzed with the difference of the translators. The findings are conducive to enlightening translators' mindset of creating optimal context relevance for target readers and maintaining sustainable development of traditional Chinese culture.
Keywords:
relevance translation theory; optimal relevance; Three Hundred Tang Poems; pipa image; translators' mindsetReferences
Bynner, W., Kiang, K. H. (1929). The Jade Mountain: A Chinese Anthology. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Cao, X. A. (2019). A Study of Fuzzy Relevance in Poetry Translation from the Perspectives of Relevance Theory (Chinese). Foreign Languages and Literature. 35(4): 117–122.
Chen, B. H. (2013). Tang Poetry and the Maturity of Image Art (Chinese). Jianghai Academic Journal. (2): 24–35.
Chen, W. H. (2020). On the Style of Tang Poetry in Chinese Aesthetics (Chinese). Wuhan University Journal (Philosophy & Social Science). 73(4): 45–56. https://doi.org/10.14086/j.cnki.wujss.2020.04.005
Chesterman, A. (1989). Readings in Translation Theory. Oy Finn Lectura Ab.
Díaz-Pérez, F. J. (2014). The Translation of Wordplay from the Perspective of Relevance Theory: Translating Sexual Puns in two Shakespearian Tragedies into Galician and Spanish. Meta. 58(2): 279–302. https://doi.org/10.7202/1024175ar
English Translation of 320 Tang Poems. (2011). Available online: https://pdfslide.tips/documents/-28-201111-edition.html (accessed on 19 March 2023).
Fu, S. L., Zheng, X. H. (2022). Princess Wu Sun and the Evolution of Wang Zhaojun’s Image in Han and Tang Dynasties (Chinese). Xinjiang Local Records: pp. 56-58+60.
Gutt, E. A. (1991). Translation and Relevance: Cognition and Context. Blackwell, Oxford. pp. 251-252.
Gutt, E. A. (1998). Pragmatic Aspects of Translation: Some Relevance-Theory Observations. In: Leo Hickey(editor). The Pragmatics of Translation. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd. pp. 41–53.
Gutt, E. A. (2014). Translation and Relevance: Cognition and Context, 2nd ed. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315760018
Han, S. D. (1986). Re-examination of the Origin of Pipa (Chinese). Explorations in Music. (4): 60–65. https://doi.org/10.15929/j.cnki.1004-2172.1986.04.012
Hatim, B. A. (2004). Translation: An Advanced Resource Book, 1st ed. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203501887
Hengtang, T. S. (1980). Commentary and annotations by Zhang Xie: Three Hundred Tang Poems. Hangzhou: Zhejiang People’s Publishing House.
Hu, X. Y, Han, Q. (2021). A Probe into the Classic Causes of The Jade Mountain: A Chinese Anthology. Journal of Sichuan Normal University (Social Sciences Edition). 48(5): 193–198. https://doi.org/10.13734/j.cnki.1000-5315.2021.05.023
Hu, X. Y. (2014). A Corpus-based Study on English Versions of Tangshi Sanbaishou (Chinese). Journal of Sichuan Normal University (Social Sciences Edition). 41(3): 118–124. https://doi.org/10.13734/j.cnki.1000-5315.2014.03.018
Jin, H. (2016). On Translation Strategies of Place Names with Cultural Implications (Chinese). Chinese Science & Technology Translators Journal. 29(4): 44–47. https://doi.org/10.16024/j.cnki.issn1002-0489.2016.04.013
Lin, K. N. (1994). A Brief Introduction to Relevance Translation Theory (Chinese). Chinese Translators Journal. (4): 8–11.
Liu, J. (2016). Establishment and application of the schema for the reconstruction of formalist imagery in the English translation of Tang Poetry (Chinese). Language Planning. 95–96. doi: 10.16412/j.cnki.1001-8476.2016.18.049
Liu, J. Q. (2015) The Residual Approach in Translation Shaping Cultural Identity: A Case Study of Pang De’s Translation of Ancient Chinese Poetry Based on Character Analysis and Juxtaposition of Imagery (Chinese). Journal of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. 26(1): 60–66.
Liu, J., Jia, H. (2014). The Study of Non-verbal Allusion Translation in Film Subtitle: Based on Relevance Theory. Journal of Language Teaching and Research. 5(6), 1381–1386. https://doi.org/10.4304/jltr.5.6.1381-1386
Long, T., Cai, J. B. (2020). Reconsidering Relevance Theory and Relevance Theory of Translation. Shanghai Translation. (3): 12–17.
Mo, L. F. (2010). On the Image-Thickness of the Tang Dynasty Poetry (Chinese). Academic Monthly/ 42(11): 103–111. https://doi.org/10.19862/j.cnki.xsyk.2010.11.016
Munday. J. (2012). Introducing translation studies: theories and applications. Third edition. London; New York: Routledge.
Owen. S. (1996). An anthology of Chinese literature: beginnings to 1911, 1st ed. New York London: Norton.
Pattemore, S. (2011). On the Relevance of Translation Theory, Review & Expositor. 108(2): 263–277. doi: 10.1177/003463731110800209
Sperber, D., Deirdre, W. (1988). In Mental Representations: The Interface between Language and Reality. In: Representation and Relevance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 133–153.
Sperber, D., Deirdre, W. (1996). Relevance: Communication and Cognition, 2nd ed. Oxford; Cambridge, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Tang, J., Shen, Y. (2022). Research on mountain environment factors and tang poetry’s natural ecology using big data in the ecological urbanization. Journal of King Saud University-Science. 34(7): 102-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102150
Tang, Z. N. (2016). On the Modern Value of Li Shangyin’s Poems in China and the West (Chinese). The Journal of Humanities. (8): 67–74. https://doi.org/10.15895/j.cnki.rwzz.2016.08.010
Wang, B. (2000). Limitations of Relevance Theory in Explaining Translation (Chinese). Chinese Translators Journal. (4): 14–17.
Xu, Y. C., Lu, P. X., Wu, J. T. (1988). New translations of Three Hundred Tang Poems. China Translation & Publishing Corporation: Beijing, China.
Xue, R., Guo, S. (2022). Taoism as the Origin of Deer Images in Classical Chinese Poetry (Chinese). Journal of Hainan University (Humanities & Social Sciences). 40(4): 144–149. https://doi.org/10.15886/j.cnki.hnus.202111.2902
Zhang, C. X., Wang, J. (2018). Translation Strategies and Unification of Translation Names of Chinese Traditional Musical Instruments (Chinese). Chinese Science & Technology Translators Journal. 31(1): 29-32+45, https://doi.org/10.16024/j.cnki.issn1002-0489.2018.01.009
Zhao, Y. C. (1999). The Explanatory Power of Relevance Theory to Translation (Chinese). Modern Foreign Languages. (3): 276–295.
Zhu, B. (2019). Study of 300 Poems of the Tang Dynasty Translated by Bynner and Kiang Kanghu (Chinese). Journal of Weinan Normal University. 34(2): 38–45. https://doi.org/10.15924/j.cnki.1009-5128.2019.02.006
Zhuang, Y. P. (2019) Past Lives of Pipa—On the Origin and Evolution History of Pipa (Chinese). Journal of the Central Conservatory of Music. (1): 64–72. https://doi.org/10.16504/j.cnki.cn11-1183/j.2019.01.018
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Article Type
License
Copyright © 2024 Jinbao Cai, Yuexin Zheng, Jiacheng Xu
This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.