A Systemic Functional Study Of 150 Masterpieces In Yuan Qu-Poetry And Its English Translation

Tang poetry,Song lyrics and Yuan Qu-poetry are three important milestones in the history of Chinese literature.In terms of the study of poetry translation,scholars more concentrate on Tang poetry and Song lyrics,so the translation study of Yuan Qu-poetry appears insufficient.Two main factors cause the situation.One is that the number of Yuan Qu-poetry is not comparable with that of Tang poetry and Song lyrics;the other one lies in the unique form of Qu-poetry.Furthermore,the trend of poetry translation study long inclines to literary criticism and study.Later on,the approach turns to linguistic field.However,Yuan Qu-poetry translation in linguistic approach is still rare,especially in systemic functional linguistic approach.In the 1960s,systemic functional linguistics started to be applied into translation study.From then on,different aspects of systemic functional linguistics are applied into translation field.According to systemic functional linguistics,there are three metafunctions of language,namely experiential function,interpersonal function,and textual function.The fact is that many translation studies based on the three metafunctions have been unfolded,which rightly shows the practicality and necessity of application of the three metafucntions in translation study.The present thesis attempts to systematically analyze some Chinese Qu-poems as well as their English translations in 150 Masterpieces in Yuan Qu-Poetry translated by Gu Zhengkun.It is to describe the original Qu-poems and the translated Qu-poems respectively from the three metafunctions of language.The aim is to reveal how the original meaning is realized in its translation,find out the relevant factors influencing the functional choice in translation,and summarize the characteristics of Yuan Qu-poetry translation at last.The research shows that the translator as much as possible keeps consistent with the three matefunctions of the original Qu-poem in his translation.However,certain adjustments are necessary in translation.One factor naturally lies in the inherent differences between the two languages;the most influential factor lies in the characteristics of Qu-poetry itself,i.e.,the rhyme scheme in Qu-poetry.That is to say,the translator has to change the original function in his translation in order to achieve a neat rhyme scheme.As a result,it shows that the translator gives priority to rhyme scheme in his translation through the analysis of the three metafunctions.