A Study On C-E Transfer Of Vehicle Images In Fortress Besieged From The Perspective Of Reception Theory

As the root of literary language, metaphor is pervasive. However, metaphor translation has been sadlyneglected both abroad and at home, especially from the perspective of the aesthetics. As the difficult point inliterary translation, the key problem to this topic is transferring vehicle image properly. For these reasons, thethesis applies the aesthetics of reception theory and metaphor theory, with the emphasis on the former, toanalyzing the transfer of vehicle images in Fortress Besieged, which is famous for rich metaphors.The thesis is conducted with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Firstly, based on PeterNewmark’s classification of metaphors and Liao Qiyi’s division of images, vehicle images in FortressBesieged are grouped into dead/cliché vehicle image, standard/stock vehicle image and recent/original vehicleimage. Secondly, with the difficulty in understanding of vehicle images and a requirement on TRs’ masteryover Chinese considered, a questionnaire of twelve manually selective data is designed for fifteen TRs to gettheir responses to transference of vehicle images. Then, three of subjects with a higher level of Chinese areinterviewed individually in the form of open questions related to Fortress Besieged. Finally, the data arecollected and analyzed in light of reception theory and metaphor theory.In conclusion, the present thesis holds the view that Jeanne Kelly＆Nathan K. Mao tend to adopt literaltranslation to transfer vehicle images in Fortress Besieged, with vehicle images in SL reserved. On the whole,61％of TRs’ can understand the basic meaning of these metaphors, only34％of TRs’ think the transferredvehicle image is acceptable in authenticity. It is also concluded that causes for proper transfer of vehicleimages in Fortress Besieged lies in:(1) vehicle images in TL are the same as those in its SL;(2) vehicles in TLhave the same “common recognition” as those in SL;(3) Completing indeterminate meaning facilitates TRs’understanding of vehicle images in ST. On the other hand, it is revealed that the improper transfer of vehicleimages is caused by:(1) misplacement of vehicle images in SL with those in TL;(2) lack of interpretation ofvehicle images in SL;(3) lack of cultural connotation;(4) translator’s intention of conveying SL cultureliterally;(5) other aspects, such as culture and thinking mode, cause the difficulty in finding the equal vehicleimages in TL. Therefore, in light of the aesthetics of reception theory, vehicle images should be transferredunder the following principles:(1) Conforming the two criteria for checking the proper transference of vehicleimages;(2) Completing the indeterminate meaning for the sake of TRs’ understanding;(3) Considering TRs’culture identity fully. Finally, the present research gets the enlightenment that, in the long run, literal translation cannot onlyrealize the author’s intended purposes, but also form TRs’ expectation fusion at a higher level and promotecultural communication further. And transferring vehicle image is a process of seeking similarities betweenSL and TL. Therefore, the significant value of the present thesis is that the aesthetics of reception theory andmetaphor theory, as the new angles and inspirations, are adopted to explore the key problem to metaphortranslation, and an attempt is made to make up for the principles to evaluate whether the vehicle image isproperly transferred..