A Study Of Cultural Default And Translation Compensation In The English Version Of Tales Of Hulan River

Translation plays an essential role in cross-culture communication, which has experienced multiplex development with the coming of “cultural turn”. Translation is not only the exchange of two different languages, but the exchange of two different cultures. The present author chooses cultural default and translation compensation to make a further study. The differences of culture between two nations inevitably result in the cultural default, which is defined as the omission of the shared cultural background. In the process of translation, the translators have to compensate for cultural default to help target-language readers experience the exotic culture and reach the aim of cross-culture communication.Based on Susan Bassnett’s culture translation theory as theoretical framework, the thesis discusses the cultural default and compensation methods applied in the English version of Tales of Hulan River. The study discovers that, in the process of translation, cultural elements are translated in the methods of annotation within text and outside text in company with transliteration. In addition, the author further looks into the cultural factors influencing translator’s choice of translation strategies and summarizes principles of translation compensation. Also, the thesis maintains that compensation in translation is reasonable and feasible, providing a new approach for translation practice and the practical support for further studies of compensation.The application of translation compensation could make up the misunderstanding places the target readers have and fill in their cultural background vacancy. The author hopes that this thesis will give out hints for the translation of Hsiao Hung’s works abroad and Chinese literature abroad.