A Report On The Translation Of Web Fiction Joy Of Life(excerpts)

Chinese online literature has been well received by large numbers of overseas readers in recent years,which has gradually been a window into Chinese culture.How to accurately convey the rich Chinese cultural elements in Chinese online literature is a major cultural barrier to be overcome and a difficulty in translation.This report takes Joy of Life,one of the best-selling online novels written by Mao Ni,as translation material and focuses on the translation methods for different types of culture-loaded words.Inspired by Nida’s classification of culture,the translator first divides the culture-loaded words of Joy of Life into four kinds: social culture-loaded words,linguistic culture-loaded words,ecological culture-loaded words,and material culture-loaded words.Secondly,based on Newmarks’ semantic translation and communicative translation theory,the translator adopts translation methods including literal translation,literal translation plus addition,transliteration plus addition,paraphrase,and idiomatic translation to deal with different types of culture-loaded words,and then the translator makes a summary and analysis of the translation methods adopted by different kinds of culture-loaded words.Figures show that translation methods including literal translation and literal translation plus addition are suitable for the translation of social culture-loaded words and material culture-loaded words to maintain the essence of Chinese traditional culture.Paraphrase is appropriate for the translation of linguistic cultural-loaded words and ecological culture-loaded words to ensure the fluency of the target text and to cater to overseas readers’ reading habits.The report wishes to provide references for the translation of Chinese web fiction to better spread Chinese culture.