On Translation Variation In Ku Hongming’s English Version Of Zhongyong Based On Skopos Theory

The translation of Zhongyong has played a huge role in spreading traditional Chinese culture.Ku Hongming’s English version of Zhongyong is full of rewriting,interpretation,and adaptation strategies.According to traditional translation concepts,his English version is considered to be an unfaithful translation.However,Ku Hongming’s translation was deeply loved by Western readers at the time and had a great impact on society.This phenomenon can not be explained by traditional translation concepts,but Hans Vermeer’s skopos theory can provide theoretical support for it.Skopos theory holds that the skopos determines the whole translation procedure.In the translation process,the translator’s translation strategies must be determined by the intended purpose or function of the translation.Ku Hongming’s English translation of Zhongyong aims to spread the Chinese outstanding culture and change China’s image in the West.However,translation is a cross-cultural communicative behavior,and not just a process of conversion between languages.Translators must face the problem of language differences caused by cultural differences.In view of this situation,the translation variation strategies adopted by Ku Hongming are in line with three rules of skopos theory,namely skopos rule,coherence rule and fidelity rule.At present,there are many studies on skopos theory,Ku Hongming’s English translation of Zhongyong and translation variation,but there are few studies that combine all three.Based on Huang Zhonglian’s research results of translation variation,this thesis attempts to reclassify seven translation variation methods from three aspects: rewriting strategy,adaptation strategy and interpretation strategy.This thesis takes skopos theory as the theoretical framework,and analyzes Ku Hongming’s English translation of Zhongyong by using skopos rule,coherence rule and fidelity rule combined with rewriting strategy,interpretation strategy and adaptation strategy of translation variation.Observing Ku Hongming’s translation version from the perspective of skopos theory and the current translation variation strategies,it is studied that Ku Hongming’s translation not only conforms to the expression of the target readers,but also faithfully reproduces the content and style of the original text.It has reached the harmony between the original author and the target readers and achieves the purpose of translating and promoting the traditional Chinese culture to the West.This thesis is only based on the case study of the phenomenon of translation variation in Ku Hongming’s English translation of Zhongyong to effectively explore the spread of Chinese cultural classics and promote the exchange of different cultures.