On English Translation Of The Introduction Of "Chinese Gardens" With A View Of Functional-oriented Theory

Cultural tourism is rising as a new concept. People are increasingly attracted by other nations'historical and cultural heritages, materially, spiritually or verbally, when they pay visits to other countries. Chinese gardens, with the unique constructing technique and style along with their historical and cultural background, would inevitably attract the attention of the world. The translation of the introduction of Chinese gardens mainly serves to help foreigners better understand Chinese culture and stimulate the readers to pay a visit.The introductions of Chinese gardens are mainly written in an elaborate style and are of profound cultural flavor, while the English tourist texts are usually in a simple and clean style and carry a cultural flavor different from Chinese. In order to realize smooth communication and cultural exchanges between China and the English speaking countries and help them know the charms of Chinese gardens, equivalence must be established in English translation of the introductions.This thesis is to discuss the translation strategies and methods through a case study of Professor Wang Manliang's English translation of the Summer Palace, with the application of Functional Equivalence Theory advanced by Eugene A. Nida. Nida, who regards translation as a form of communication, studies translation in a communicative approach. Functional Equivalence Theory objectively shows the most basic function of translation, that is, to conduct an information exchange between two languages. In his definition of translation, meaning and style are considered as two aspects of equivalence. In his Functional Equivalence Theory, Nida applies the concept of"receptor's response"as his criterion for a qualified translation."The receptor's response"serves as a vital measurement for the success in translating. Functional Equivalence Theory offers different degrees of adequacy for a qualified translation from minimal to the maximal, rather than a fixed standard, allowing a wide range of diversity in translating.Based on the"receptor's response"and the adequacy of a translation from minimal to maximal level, the translation standards are discussed accordingly. In the detailed investigation of Wang Manliang's Translation of the Summer Palace, the study of equivalence is carried on the level of meaning and the level of style; under the guidance of translation standards, strategies and methods for translating the Chinese introduction of Chinese gardens are explored.The thesis then points out some problems existing in some English versions of the introduction of Chinese gardens, offers some suggestions on the English translation of the introduction of Chinese gardens and finally sketches the possible prospect of this field.