A Comparative Study On Two Chinese Versions Of Walden From The Perspective Of Nida’s Functional Equivalence

This thesis analyzes Xu Chi’s and Dai Huan’s version of Walden to explore the positive effect of functional equivalence on literature translation.Walden has rich vocabulary, complex and diverse sentence structures, with flexible smooth discourse features, and the use of various rhetoric which produces translating difficulties. Based on Nida’s functional equivalence theory, this thesis compares Xu Chi’s and Dai Huan’s versions of Thoreau’s Walden from two aspects of context and rhetoric, to expound the important guiding role of the theory of functional equivalence in translation. The study of context is divided into three parts: the desinganative meaning and associative meaning of lexemes, the structures and meaning of syntax, and the impact and appeal of discourse. Then the thesis focuses on rhetoric from metaphor, personification and pun. Through the comparative study, the author finds that Xu Chi’s version is focused on the original and the form, and some words and expressions in his version are already modified or abandoned today. With reference to Xu Chi’s versions, Dai Huan’s version has great flexibility in translation, it focuses more on the expression of associative meaning and the impact of discourse. The author thinks that too much literal translation will make readers confused or even misunderstanding of the original text, which is contrary to the functional equivalence. While too much free translation embodies the translator’s color too strongly, which will cause deviation of reader’s understanding the overall structure and the message conveyed in the original text.There is no translation that can achieve the maximum equivalence and perfectly show the original text in the world, only more translators keep trying constantly, can they provide readers with translations more close to the original ones. As the saying goes that, going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short.Therefore translators should pay special attention to the degree during the translation process.