The Study Of Translation Equivalence From The Perspective Of Semiotics

In this thesis, Peircean semiotics is chosen as the theoretical paradigm to study thephenomenon of translation equivalence in the translation of Folk Songs of NorthernShaanxi, with the expectation that the problem of translation equivalence can be studiedfrom a new perspective. Semiotics has exerted great influence on many disciplines, suchas, philosophy, linguistics, literature, aesthetics, history, and anthropology. However thesemiotically-motivated studies in translation are comparatively deficient both in quantityand in quality. Among several schools of semiotics, Peircean semiotics has become themainstream due to its wide research scope, detailed sign classification, rigorous logicsystem and great practical value. Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi are regarded as aunique art form, and the translation of which begins to be paid attention to. How torealize equivalence in the translation of Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi has becomeproblem in the translation study of Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi. In the light of Peirce’s general sign theory, especially his sign-object-interpretant triad and his concepton each interacting element, in this triad, the problem of equivalence in translation ofFolk Songs of Northern Shaanxi is studied.Through the study of the translation equivalence in the translation process of FolkSongs of Northern Shaanxi from Peircean semiotic viewpoint, the author of this thesistries to find out the possibility to realize the equivalence in the translation process. At theend, the conclusion has been drawn that the absolute equivalent translation is hard toachieve but the utmost degree of translation equivalence can be realized through thetechniques such as domestication, alienation and free translation. Peircean semiotics cangive some enlightenment to translation study. Nowadays, a little attention has been paidto the translation study of Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi, so there is much room for theresearch on this field.The whole thesis consists of five parts: the first part is the introduction part whichintroduces the research background, necessity of thesis, significance of the thesis,research object, framework and methodology. The second part describes the history andresearch of semiotics and translation equivalence abroad and at home as well as thecurrent research situation of Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi. In the third part, translationequivalence from semiotic perspective is studied. Specifically, the relationship betweensemiotics and translation, the problem of translation equivalence in the translationprocess, and Peirce’s semiotics are presented. The forth part illustrates the characters ofFolk Songs of Northern Shaanxi. In the fifth part, based on Peirce’s semiotic theories, thetranslation equivalence is studied in terms of sign-object relation, sign-interpretantrelation and sign-sign relation respectively. Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi is used asthe case study. At the end of this part, the proposal is put forward that the equivalencetranslation should be attempted in the utmost degree by using some techniques, such asalienation, domestication and free translation. Finally, a general conclusion is drawn.Peirce’s sign theory can shed new light on translation studies and a new trend,semiotranslation is growing. The translation study of Folk Songs of Northern Shaanxi inthe present thesis is just a tentative one and further studies are required in this field.