Aesthetic Representation Of Chinese Prose Translation From The Perspective Of Image-G Actualization

Prose, enjoying the reputation of"aesthetic writings", is regarded as"art of language"and"art of emotion",which is refined and concise in language, free and flexible in style and affluent and diverse in artistic image. Every piece of prose as a holistic work of art is the high integration of words, images, meanings and structures. It is also a complex imagery system. The thesis is intended to make a tentative study on aesthetic representation of Chinese prose translation from the perspective of image-G actualization proposed by Prof. Jiang Qiuxia through analyzing the examples from versions in Selective Modern Chinese Prose Writings rendered into English by Zhang Peiji.The aesthetic representation in translation is to embody the aesthetic experience processed by the aesthetic subject from the S-text in the T-text. Image-G is formulated mentally when the translator grasps the S-text holistically and achieves the unified aesthetic experience of certain artistic image. The translator has an understanding of the S-text in the operation of both linguistic cognition and aesthetic experience, formulates the image-G in his mind, and then actualizes the image-G linguistically in the T-text. Thus, the linguistic meaning and aesthetic significance of the S-text can be appropriately represented. Actualizing the image-G means the effective transference of unified aesthetic experience.From the perspective of image-G actualization and by means of examples, the thesis first explores the essential meaning of aesthetic representation of Chinese prose translation and its aesthetic standard. Besides, it analyzes the interaction between the whole and the parts in aesthetic representation of Chinese prose translation and elucidates its aspects according to the general characteristics of Chinese prose and its high integration of words, images and meanings as well as structures. Finally, it provides some fundamental suggestions for the translator in aesthetic representation of Chinese prose translation. The thesis reaches the conclusions as follows:First, the aesthetic representation of Chinese prose translation is essentially the linguistic actualization of image-G so that the aesthetic qualities and linguistic meanings can be represented in a whole sense and the higher aesthetic equivalence rather than the linguistic correspondence or partial aesthetic effect correspondence can be achieved, which facilitate the target reader to have a similar aesthetic experience as the source language reader reads the original.Second,"harmony"is not only the aesthetic effect that the translator makes efforts to reproduce holistically, but also the aesthetic standard that the translator should strive to observe. The harmony is based on the organic whole of the S-text and the T-text. To grasp the overall qualities of aesthetic representation can help the translator holistically reproduce the aesthetic significance of the parts to achieve the higher aesthetic equivalence and aesthetic harmony.Third, the translator should follow the aesthetic requirements, abide by the aesthetic standard of harmony, and represent the linguistic meanings and aesthetic qualities of the S-text by linguistic actualization of image-G from the basic aspects of imagery system, style and linguistic structure, which are interactive with each other and integrated into the whole. Thus, the aesthetic qualities and linguistic meanings can be represented in a whole sense; the consistent and harmonic text in a contextual sense can be reproduced; the higher aesthetic equivalence can be achieved.The thesis also demonstrates that the image-G actualization is of guiding significance and of applicable value in aesthetic representation of Chinese prose translation.