Translation From The Perspective Of Reception Aesthetics-Exemplified By The Translation Of A Companion To Aesthetics

The concept of reception aesthetics was proposed in 1967 by Hans Robert Jauss, a professor in the Art School of Kangcitansi University in Germany. The core of reception aesthetics is to consider the function of a work from the perspective of target readers. Similarly, reception aesthetic-based translation theory which derives from Juass’very concept attaches great importance to acceptability on the part of target readers. This thesis aimed to adopt reception aesthetic-based translation theory to find some specific rules of translating excerpt from chapter two in A Companion to Aesthetics. Three principles were highlighted in this thesis, namely horizon of expectation, response-inviting structure and readers’subjectivity. Meanwhile, this thesis tried to analyze the source text and find some suitable translation strategies so as to ensure a version as close to the original as possible.There are four parts in the thesis which read as follows. The first part is to introduce the source of the task, some background information of the book A Companion to Aesthetics and some preparation work for this translation activity. The second part is a brief account of the reception aesthetic-based translation theory. The third part mainly talked about translation strategies applied to translating the experts of A Companion to Aesthetics. The last part is the conclusion, which contains reflection gotten in this translation activity.