A Functional Stylistic Approach To English Public Speech's Translation

Most excellent English public speeches possess the incomparable and lasting charm as they represent many short splendid periods in history and fully display speakers'brilliant talents.Through delivering speeches, the speakers inform the audience of something, persuade the public to accept their ideas and win their supports. Therefore, these public speeches are carefully prepared before being published. As a kind of unique language variety, English public speech is extremely important in the western world. Studies on the translation of EPS from the perspective of functional stylistics can not only raise our appreciation of English language' essence but also provide a guidance for the practice of EPS's translation.Functional stylistics (FS), the most influential stylistic branch, has been applied in the studies of many fields since it came into being. It can also be applied in translation studies of EPS for there is a natural connection between translation and FS. The comprehensive and fresh views on style and multi-functional stylistic analysis in FS can help the translator better understand the source text and then provide guidance for the practice of translation. This thesis attempts to analyze and translate the stylistic properties in EPS from the perspective of FS.This thesis mainly falls into five parts. The first part is the introduction. In this part, research background, the selected speeches in the study, the aim and significance, and the structure of the thesis will be introduced. Chapter one is devoted to theoretical foundation. In this chapter, related theories and concept in FS will be fully explored, in which functional theory, contextual theory, the theory of functional stylistic analysis and the concept of "style" will be illustrated. Chapter two is concerned with the survey of English speeches. In this chapter, the classifications, components, features and functions of English speeches will be elaborated on. The contextual analysis of the selected English public speeches will be conducted to explore the determinatives factors of three metafunctions. Chapter three aims to explore the necessity and justifications of FS to English public speeches translation. Then the author tries to establish a framework of applying FS to English public speeches' translation. Chapter four is the most important part of this thesis. This chapter is concerned with practical translation studies of English speeches from the perspective of FS. The translations studies will be carried out on the stylistic features in the grammatical resources which realize three meta-functions of the language. The final part will bring out a natural conclusion.The major findings of the thesis are as follows:Determined by the field of the context of situation, in the grammatical and lexical realization of ideational function, there are three major stylistic properties:metaphor of verbs, metaphor of transitivity and nominalization. These stylistic properties make the expression of ideational meaning more vivid and interesting. As for their translations, literal translation and free translation will be adopted.Determined by the tenor of the context of situation, in the grammatical and lexical realization of interpersonal function, there are four stylistic properties:rhetorical question, metaphor of modality, evaluative words and metaphor. Rhetorical questions have different functions, and in their Chinese versions, their correct moods should be translated to reproduce the same effects. Metaphor of modality is often adopted to emphasize the objectiveness of the speakers' interpersonal modal expressions. As for the translation of modality, the Chinese content words or functional words should be employed to reproduce the objectiveness of the modal meanings. In appraisal system, the speakers often employ successive evaluative words to express their strong feelings or attitudes. The Chinese Four character-phrases are often used to reproduce the evaluative meanings of the speakers. Besides that, lexical metaphor is the special way to evaluate the things. It can not only make the evaluations more concrete and but also improve the interaction between the speaker and the audience. Both the literal translation method and conversion method will be used.Determined by the mode of the context of situation, in the grammatical and lexical realization of textual function, there are two stylistic properties:marked theme and rhetorical devices as cohesive means. Marked theme will be specially analyzed, which have various functions such as highlighting focal information, ensuring intrasentential and intersentential cohesion, achieving stylistic effects. Preserving the marked theme in translation can retain its stylistic effects. Apart from common cohesive means, some rhetorical devices such as the repetitions of word, parallelism and antithesis and climax can be used as cohesive means in English public speeches to create a balanced structure, realize intrasentential and intersentential cohesion and add musical rhythm. Their stylistic effects can be easily retained by literal translation.