Xu Yuan Zhong's Poetic Translation Theories And Reduplication Translation In Chinese Classical Poetry

As a lexical phenomenon, reduplication exits both in Chinese and in English. Its usage is very popular in China, especial in Chinese classical poems. However, in poetry translation, less attention was paid to the translation of reduplications which appear so often in Chinese classical poems. When we take a look at different English versions of Chinese classical poems, we will find that many translators just omit reduplications once they appear in a poem. Although problems for translating reduplications in Chinese classical poetry have been occasionally touched, there still is not a systematic study of them, with a loss of adequate importance and attention. Thus, in view of this, the author of this thesis tries to provide a systematic exploration and research on theoretical and practical aspects for translating reduplications in Chinese classical poetry.The thesis elaborates the definitions, forms and functions of reduplications in Chinese classical poetry. Because most of reduplications are informal in English and the quantity of reduplications in English is less than that in Chinese, it is not as widely used in English poetry as its counterpart in Chinese classical poetry which produces special, unique artistic and aesthetic effects. To solve the problems of translating reduplications in Chinese poetry, the thesis aims to apply Xu Yuan Zhong's poetic translation theories: the theory of "Three Beauties"—Beauty in Sense, Beauty in Sound and Beauty in Form; the theory of "Three Transformations"—Generalization, Equalization and Particularization; and the theory of "Three Understandings"—Comprehension, Appreciation and Admiration. The thesis tries to make a clear description for translating reduplications in Chinese poetry based on the combination of Xu's poetic translation theories and practice.Under the guideline of Xu's poetic translation theories, the thesis discusses some methods for translating reduplications in Chinese classical poetry based on the sound, form and sense of reduplications, pointing out that through these methods, reduplication in Chinese classical poetry is translatable and practical.