On Chinese-English Translation Of Sense Verbs

Chinese sense verbs are widely-used in daily communication for expressing subjective feelings and evaluations.Previous studies on sense verbs are mostly conducted from the aspects of semantics and grammar which belong to the category of cognitive linguistics.However,these verbs are rarely discussed from a translator’s perspective.This thesis selects two high-frequency sense verbs juede(觉得)and yiwei(以为)as the research objects,analyzes how translators deal with the translation of juede(觉得)as psychological verbs and non-psychological verbs,and yiwei(以为)as non-factive verbs and counter-factive verbs.Through exploring Na Han and Pang Huang by Lu Xun and their two translations by Yang Xianyi and Julia Lovell,this thesis solves two questions:What are the translation strategies for translating Chinese sense verbs by native Chinese and English translators?What are the reasons for choosing similar or different translation strategies?This thesis finds that both translators translate juede(觉得)and yiwei(以为)by adopting translation strategies of direct transfer and condensation strategy,in which the condensation strategy includes implication,deletion and addition.However,the proportions of translation strategies adopted by Yang Xianyi and Julia Lovell are different.Compared with Yang Xianyi,Julia Lovell is more inclined to adopt the condensation strategy in translation.It is concluded that native Chinese translators and native English translators adapt to the target language and culture to varying degrees at the macro and micro levels when translating Chinese sense verbs.Macroscopically,there are differences in the thinking mode,aesthetic view,ethical values,and pragmatic orientation of different native language translators.Microscopically,there are differences in textual,syntax and lexical levels.And Julia Lovell’s translation is more adaptable to the target language context than Yang Xianyi’s.Comparing the translation of Chinese sense verbs by different native language translators has great significance for studying the influence of Chinese and Western thinking modes differences on C-E translation.The thesis provides a theoretical and practical reference for the research,practice,and teaching of C-E translation of Chinese sense verbs and helps second-language learners to better distinguish synonyms.