On The Translation Strategy Of Classic Chinese Poetry In View Of Skopos Theory

This thesis adopts the core conception of functional theory of translation, namely Skopostheorie, as a theoretical foundation to analyze different translators'translation activities. Skopostheorie is a new mode of translation theory which is advocated by a Germany translation scholar Hans.J.Vermeer in the 1960s-1970s. Skopostheorie is an external research of translation which means the research is focused on the selection of the purpose in translation process and gives a fresh conception and criterion of translation. This theory, therefore, can undoubtedly make up for the deficiency of the traditional translation theory and gives a new perspective for the exploratory research of multidisciplinary translation.As well known, having been for thousands of year in Chinese literary history, classic Chinese poetry has been paid high value by sinologists, scholars and translators at home and abroad. From the 19th century, there is an upsurge of translating classic Chinese poetry in Western Countries, so there is the appearance of a 1arge number of translators attempting to translate it. Arthur Waley is one of them. By means of"Sprung rhythm", elegant and transpicuous verse translation, Waley loyally represents the artistic conception of classic Chinese poetry, for which his version arouses general public's interest and lets people who do not know Chinese, understand the meaning of the original.With the progress of the society and the development of the translation theory, there are increasing types of strategies and methods related to the translation of classic Chinese poetry. In current poetry translation circle, Xu Yuanchong is renowned for his theory"Art of beautifulization and creation of the best as in rivalry". From the liberation of the People'Republic of China to the performance of policies of reform and opening to the outside world, Xu Yuangchong witnesses the up and down of Chinese history and culture. For this reason, he is inspired to enhance and glorify the splendid national culture and civilization. Due to this purpose, Xu Yuanchong tries his best to recreate the"beauty"of the original verse in form, in sound and in sense. Being confronted with this two famous translators'versions and even other scholars'versions, there is not a united and accepted critera to weigh which strategy or version is the best one.Based on skopos theory, this thesis makes the comparison between Waley's and Xu's translation strategies and methods in"form, sound and sense". It further illuminates that the translator's skill of translation is determined by the translation purpose. The best translation is the one that is able to satisfy the translation purpose.The final purpose of this thesis is not only to enhance and deepen the understanding of the skopos theory and the classic Chinese poetry but also to encourage more and more scholars to devote themselves to the development of Chinese culture and civilization.