A Comparative Study Of Translation Strategies On The Cultural Connotations Of Appellation Words In Shui Hu Zhuan

Shui Hu Zhuan, as one of China’s four great classics as well as the first Chinesevernacular novel, has great artistic value. Chinese appellation words, as a part of Chineselanguage, are culture-specific and embody plenty of cultural connotations. Its Englishversions play a vital role in the spread of Chinese classics. Some scholars have conductedresearch on the appellation words of Shui Hu Zhuan, including social appellations,nicknames etc., but research on its cultural connotations are rarely presented. Few papersfocus on the comparative study of translation strategies that adopted in disposing thecultural connotations of appellations in Shui Hu Zhuan.German functionalist translation theory was not appeared until1970s and it focuseson text and text function. Based on different text functions and communicative purposes,Christiane Nord puts forward two kinds of translation process, documentary translationand instrumental translation. This thesis attempts to apply functionalist translation theoryto literary translation study. The three full English translation versions (namely Pearl S.Buck’s All Men Are Brothers, J. H. Jackson’s Water Margin and Sidney Shapiro’sOutlaws of the Marsh) are selected as the research object; and their different translationstrategies on disposal of appellation words and their cultural connotations are largelydetermined by translation brief, target-text functions, communicative purpose etc. It hasbeen found that Pearl S. Buck adopted documentary translation; J. H. Jackson usedinstrumental translation; Sidney Shapiro gave priority to instrumental translation.This thesis is composed of three chapters. In chapter one, through the source textanalysis of Shui Hu Zhuan, it has been found that the dominant function of Shui HuZhuan is expressive, and it also has referential and appellative function. Based on Nord’sText Analysis in Translation, we will analyze the lexis in the intratextual factors of sourcetext analysis. Therefore, the appellation words in Shui Hu Zhuan and their culturalconnotations will be analyzed. Chapter two focuses on the reasons for the three Englishversions’ different text function and three translators’ expected translation effects andpurposes on transmitting cultural connotations of the appellation words. Pearl S. Buck aims at representing the original flavor of Shui Hu Zhuan and reproducing the Chineselanguage form and Chinese culture, the intended text function of All Men Are Brothers isreferential. J. H. Jackson intends to praise the revolt spirit of108heroes and refresh theEnglish literature, the intended text function of Water Margin is appellative. SidneyShapiro means to spread Chinese culture required by Foreign Language Bureau, theintended text functions of Outlaws of the Marsh are expressive and referential. Chapterthree explores the translation methods of appellation words in the three English versions.Buck mainly adopts literal translation and exoticizing translation; Jackson mainly usesfree translation and omission; Shapiro mainly adopts free translation, literal translationand equivalent translation to achieve the functions of target text.