Application Of Relevance Theory In Literary Translation

Because of the complexity of translation, there have always been controversies over translation theories, especially that of literary works. The thesis attempts to seek resolutions for these controversies by analyzing the application of RT in translation, especially in literary translation. It starts with a review of relevance theory which is proposed by Sperber and Wilson in 1986, aimed at explaining the inferential nature of human communication with a cognitive approach. Relevance Theory, though not meant for translation, is powerful in accounting for translation. After a detailed statement of this point, the thesis employs adequate examples to discuss the problems in literary translation due to the specific linguistic or cultural features and introduces relevant solutions under the guidance of RT. At the end of the thesis, the author points out the RT is of great value in its application in translation, especially in literary translation and thus deserves the highly concern and further research on the part of the theorists and translators and their joint efforts will help push the development of translation.