The Translation Of Culture-bound Words In Chinese-English Dictionaries: From The Perspective Of Reception Aesthetics

Chinese culture-bound words are an indispensable component of a Chinese-English dictionary. Whether they are properly translated directly affects not only the quality of Chinese-English dictionaries, but also dictionary readers' understanding and reception of Chinese culture-bound words, which can therefore hinder the smooth conducting of cross-cultural communication. However, due to its conspicuously and distinctly rich cultural connotations, its translation is a difficult task. Although many Lexicographers and translators have made great efforts to improve the translation of culture-bound words and have undertaken deep analyses on the definition, categories and translating strategies of culture-bound words, the study of culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries remains relatively weak in terms of compiling practice and translation study. In view of the situation, this paper attempts to approach the translation of culture-bound words in Chinese-English dictionaries from a new perspective, namely, Reception Aesthetics. In this paper, the definition of culture-bound words is clarified, the categories of culture-bound words both abroad and at home are expatiated, the tradition of culture-bound words translation and the traditional criteria for culture-bound words translation are discussed and the problems found in culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries and the causes for the problems are explored. Furthermore, the main ideas of Reception Aesthetics, including the concepts of literary works, reception and aesthetic experience and the readers' role and status, are introduced into the culture-bound words translation study. In the framework of Reception Aesthetics, the concept of dictionary works, horizon of expectations of dictionary readers and defamiliarization of dictionary works are analyzed; the role and status of dictionary translators and dictionary readers are explored; foreign readers' reception and cross-cultural communication are discussed. Moreover, the criteria for and methods of culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries are proposed from the angle of Reception Aesthetics, and thereby providing beneficial reference for both the compilation of Chinese-English dictionaries and the translation of Chinese culture-bound words.The whole paper consists of seven chapters.Chapter 1 serves as an introduction, which outlines a brief introduction, the theoretical consideration, purpose, significance and outline of the current study.Chapter 2 gives an account of the definition of culture-bound words, the categories of culture-bound words both at home and abroad, the tradition of culture-bound words translation and the traditional criteria for culture-bound words translation.Chapter 3 discriminates the different types of Chinese-English dictionaries, the problems in culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries and the causes for the problems. Four elements have contributed to the problems found: 1) the unfaithfulness and inexpressiveness in conveying the content meanings of the source words; 2) the inelegance in the form; 3) the neglect of readers' response; 4) inheritance without innovation. Moreover, factors of language, cultures, ideology, and translators also contribute to the referred problems.Chapter 4 introduces the main ideas of Reception Aesthetics. The topics involved in Reception Aesthetics, specifically speaking, include the concept of literary works, the concept of reception, the concept of aesthetic experience and the readers' role and status. Furthermore, this chapter makes an analysis on the concept of dictionary works, horizon of expectation of dictionary readers' and the defamiliarization of dictionary works, which paves the way for the connection between Reception Aesthetics and the study of culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries.Chapter 5 discusses the theory of Reception Aesthetics in connection with culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries from the following four aspects, namely, dictionary translator - as a particular reader, dictionary readers' role and status, the expansion of horizon of expectations and reception and cross-cultural communication.Chapter 6 is devoted to discussing the criteria and methods used in culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries from the angle of Reception Aesthetics. The criteria for culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries are worked out of the consideration of the following factors: 1) beauty in content; 2) beauty in form; 3) experience beauty; and 4) dynamic beauty. Moreover, the methods used in culture-bound words translation in Chinese-English dictionaries can be described as follows: transliteration, literal translation, additive method and image-transferring method.Chapter 7 is the conclusion. It briefly reviews the content of all the chapters, sums up the main findings, points out the limitations of the present research and puts forward suggestions for further research.