The Governing Function Of Topic Chains In C-E Translation Of Chinese Classics

The related research indicates that a topic plays a significant role on the semantic projection in the Chinese paragraph organization.When a topic chain is established,it will be projected to the neighboring clauses in the form of the original NP,deformed NP(i.e.pronouns and synonyms)and zero-NP.In English discourse,however,a topic can only be projected as a clause subject in a form of the original NP and deformed NP.Therefore,the translation of Chinese classics alternates with the differences between the constructing mechanisms of topic chains in both Chinese and English one way or another.Based on the practical translation of Chinese classics,this thesis reasonably elaborates the governing function of topic chains in C-E translation of Chinese classics,illustrating how to deconstruct and reconstruct topic chains.This thesis makes an attempt to describe and explain the characterization of topic chains in C-E translation of Chinese classics,taking both Chinese and English topic chains as the research object,exploring their constructing mechanisms,and elucidating their regular patterns and differences with the help of the recent research achievement in cognitive linguistics.This thesis is composed of six chapters.Chapter 1 is an introduction to the background for the research subject,the research questions,the research significance,and the research methods.Chapter 2,Chapter 3,Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 respectively serve as the kernel parts of this thesis.Chapter 2 is about the difference between the subject in Chinese and that in English.It is found that the subject can be ideally identified in the discourses,and demonstrated that there is a complicated relationship between subject and topic.Chapter 3 is a summery of the past research on topic.As a part related to Chapter 2,it shows that the cognitive access between a topic and a subject cannot do without cognitive metonymy,cognitive reference point and aboutness.Chapter 4 is a focus on the constructing mechanism of topic chains,and it can be concluded that this mechanism is mainly influenced by anaphora,the Principle of Economy and the Accessibility Theory.Reviewed from the perspective of topic chains,the ellipsis of a subject is brought about by the invisibility of discourse topics.Chapter 5 takes the translations of The First Memorial to the King before Setting off for War and The Second Memorial to the King before Setting off for War as examples for a detailed analysis of the governing function of topic chains in practical translation,providing strategies and methods for the translation process.Chapter 6 is the conclusive summary of this research.It is hoped that this thesis will be of some help to cognitive linguistics,translation studies,and the like.