Fuzzy Rhetoric And Translation

Fuzzy rhetoric is a new branch of both fuzzy linguistics and rhetoric. It poses an obstacle to inter-lingual and trans-cultural communication and creates a great challenge for translation as well. The research conducted on fuzzy rhetoric, however, is still at its initial stage and the translation studies on fuzzy rhetoric in particular, in absence of any monograph dwelling on this topic, are far from perfection in depth and width. Therefore, studies on the translation of fuzzy rhetoric are both necessary and significant. This thesis aims to probe into fuzzy rhetoric in an all-round way, concerning its definition, classification, features, functions, the disparities and similarities between English and Chinese fuzzy rhetoric stemming from the differences and similarities between English and Chinese language, culture, thought pattern, aesthetics and also the degree of translatability of fuzzy rhetoric in hope of providing a systematic and comprehensive blueprint for fuzzy rhetoric. It is different from the previous researches which seem to remain only at the linguistic level. This research recommends itself in that the author takes an initiative to propose a new translation theory—Fuzzy Equivalence in guiding the translation process of fuzzy rhetoric, which originates from but is an improvement of equivalence theory, being more perfect, scientific and feasible. The author elaborates on this new theory in terms of its connotation, nature and explicative force for the translation of fuzzy rhetoric. Besides, exampled by the translation of fuzzy rhetoric in Hong Lou Meng and other literary works as examples, the author takes a further step to explore tentative translation strategies to help achieve fuzzy equivalence in translating fuzzy rhetoric. All the illustration is made from two categories of fuzzy rhetoric, that is, stable fuzzy rhetoric and temporary fuzzy rhetoric. The author concludes that literal translation enjoys the first priority thanks to the commonality between English and Chinese fuzzy language and fuzzy rhetoric. In case of there existing more or less disparity between English and Chinese fuzzy rhetoric owning to linguistic, cultural factors and thought patterns, literal translation plus footnotes, free translation, paraphrase, substitution, amplification are recommended according to specific translation situations. For language difference or culture default that is unconquerable, omission is more advisable than far-fetched rendition to ensure the smoothness of the translation. The author hopes the research will broaden the horizon of fuzzy rhetoric translation and shed some light on future research.