| Drama is a comprehensive form of art, which has dualistic nature:on one hand, it is a literature work for appreciation; on the other hand, it is the blueprint for stage performance; that is, it inherits both readability and performability. Due to the dualistic nature of drama, translators are confronted with a dilemma: whether to ensure the performability of drama or to emphasize its literariness. Besides, there is no effective standard to assess a translated drama.According to skopostheorie, the translation skopos is the most important factor which determines the whole translational action. The strategies and methods to be used are determined by the translation skopos, so that a functionally adequate target text can be produced. Skopostheorie offers a new perspective for solving the dilemma of drama translation. In addition, "translation brief" is put forward which specify the kind of translation needed and "adequacy" is regarded as the standard for drama translation instead of "equivalence", which offers valuable insights to assess translation appropriately.Based on skopostheorie, this thesis carefully studies Miss Wichmann's English Version of The Phoenix Returns to Its Nest, discusses the features of drama translation and the validity and applicability of skopostheorie to drama translation. After analyzing the translation brief, translation skopos and translation strategies and techniques employed in the translated version, the author of this thesis comes to a conclusion that with corresponding translation strategies and methods, the translator satisfies intelligibility, speakability, individuality and aesthetic function adequately. And the skopos of the translation is finally fulfilled. |
