On Humor Translation Strategies Within The Framework Of Skopostheorie

In the light of Skopostheorie, this thesis explores how the purpose of E-C humor translation is realized in the target text and analyzes the translation strategies in the translation of the scenario of Desperate Housewives and its gain and loss.Humor is a symbol of one’s knowledge, wisdom and inspiration. During the increasingly frequent, cross-cultural communication, humor translation has attracted scholars’ attention.However, as an alphabetic language, English makes full use of its phonological, semantic and syntactic features in producing linguistic humor, in which one can barely find the equivalent items in Chinese. To solve this thorny problem, scholars and translators have put forward different methods and strategies such as literal translation and free translation, domestication, foreignization and annotation. Despite this, some successfully practiced strategies in humor translation cannot draw strong theoretical support from traditional translation theories.From the aspects of features and types of English humor and its translation purpose, the author makes an in-depth exploration of humor translation. The author selects the Skopostheorie of German functionalism as the theoretical basis of this research. Within the framework of Skopostheorie, the prime principle is that any translation process is to realize the purpose of the whole translational action; the translation strategies are determined by the translation purpose and the intended functions of the target text. The functional feasibility of the target text is considered the criterion to judge the quality of a translation. Therefore, translators are able to take measures to free themselves from linguistic and cultural barriers with theoretical support.Within the framework of Skopostheorie, the author emphasizes that humor translation is a purposeful activity (Nord2001:11) and that translation strategies should aim to fulfill the primary function of the humor translation. In some cases, the laughter-eliciting function can be sacrificed to guarantee the realization of the primary function. Firstly, the author starts with definitions and features of humor, the translatability of humor and the related studies on humor translation; secondly, the author states the outline of Skopostheorie and its feasibility, then further explores its three principles; thirdly, the author explores the types of humor, so as to lead to the expounding of translation strategies; the author then discusses how the Skopostheorie is practiced in humor translation with a case study of Desperate Housewives.