A Study On The English Translation Of Ethnic-themed Novel The Last Quarter Of The Moon

Ethnic literature is an important embodiment of national history and culture.It plays a unique role in the overseas dissemination of Chinese ethnic culture.Chi Zijian’s book E Er Gu Na He You An(2005),published by the People’s Literature Publishing House,is the first novel describing the survival status and hundreds of history of the nomadic Evenki people in the northeast China.The work tells the Evenki people’s tenacious perseverance and cultural changes,and expresses the pursuit of the ideal human spirit such as their respect for life,reverence of nature and adherence to their faith.Due to her exquisite skill in style,artistic conception,ideology and artistry,she won the 7th Mao Dun Literature Award in 2008.Chi Zijian’s You An has been translated into French,Japanese,Korean and Spanish.The English version,The Last Quarter of the Moon(2013),was translated by Bruce Humes,a young Sinologist.The English version was later translated into Dutch.This study takes the English translation as the research object with Christiane Nord’s Functional Approach: Translation-oriented text analysis as a theoretical tool,first provides the basic information about the writer,the original book,the English translation and the translator,and then compares the original novel with the English translation in terms of language,culture and communication so as to discuss the characteristics of translation and translation principles.Specifically,this thesis explores the translation strategies that the translator adopted at the linguistic level in terms of five aspects: Evenki proper nouns and idiomatic expressions,the dialogue of main characters,figures of speech and text.Then the thesis explores the translation strategies in translating Evenki folk customs,sacrifices,totemism and ceremonies from the aspect of ethnic culture.Finally,the translator’s translation principles are analyzed from the aspect of ecological civilization which is the theme of the work.The research hold that most Evenki proper nouns are transliterated,which is closeto the pronunciation of Evenki language;Idiomatic expressions are translated in a flexible way through direct translation and free translation,basically retaining the form of the original idioms;the quotation of the dialogue tends to be converted according to the context so as to make the characters prominent.In terms of text structure,paragraphs are arranged to meet the reading habits of Western readers;the metaphor in the original work is retained during his translation.At the cultural level,literal translation,transliteration,and transliteration with notes are often adopted when translating Evenki folklore;in translating sacrifices,totem worship,and religious ceremonies,both the original language style and form are retained,faithful to the original.At the level of communication,the original intention is respected and the theme of the original text is reproduced based on the understanding of the original text and the purpose of communication is achieved at last.The thesis shows much importance is attached to the linguistic features and cultural connotations of the original work both at the linguistic and cultural level.The translation accurately and faithfully conveys the essence of the novel,successfully attracts the attention of western readers and promotes the spread of Evenki culture.The translation also makes a comprehensive analysis of the surface and deep meanings of the original text,effectively conveys the theme of the original work,and further promotes the “going out” of ethnic literature to the world..