Abstract:Vagueness is one of the particular characters of language in literature works. What is worth mentioning is the unique beauty of the language in Chinese ancient classic works, which is featured by being rich in connotation and meanings. It is the richness in connotation and the vagueness of the language expression that make it possible for the readers to go through the aesthetical experience in all dimensions. The value of one literature work lies both in the creation of the writer and the appreciation of the reader, however, in terms of translation of Chinese classic works into English, the maintenance of the aesthetic sensibility of the vague Chinese language always challenges the translator. Thus, this paper aims to seek for a suitable way or a few proper principles for translation of Chinese classic works into English. 

Based on the theory of receptive aesthetics, this paper will firstly research the theoretical support for the translation principles with the maintenance of the aesthetic sensibility of the vagueness of the Chinese language in the ancient classic works. Next, taking the translation of Book of Poetry for example, this paper will mainly analyze the characteristics of the vague language in Book of Poetry, the aesthetic value of the work and the phenomenon of the lost of the aesthetic value in translation. Besides, this paper will focus on the research for the better translation principles under the direction of the theory of receptive aesthetics without sacrificing the aesthetic value of the original Chinese words. Conclusion will include the summary of the research and the analysis of the practical possibility of the results of the research on both advantage and disadvantage sides.

Keywords: receptive aesthetics; vague language; translation aesthetics; classic works translation

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter1 Introduction-1

1.1 Background-1

1.2 Relevant theoretical research-1

1.3 Research task and the structure of the thesis-2

Chapter2 Significance and Aesthetic Feature of Vague Language of Book of Poetry-5

2.1 Culture and literature significance of Book of Poetry translation-5

2.1.1 Culture significance of Book of Poetry translation-5

2.1.2 Literature significance of Book of Poetry translation-5

2.2 Definition of Vagueness (Fuzziness) in Language-6

2.3 Aesthetic features of vague language in Book of Poetry-6

2.3.1 Images in Book of Poetry-6

2.3.2 Pi-hsing in Book of Poetry-7

2.3.3 Summary-7

Chapter 3 Theory of receptive aesthetics-9

3.1 An overview of the theory of receptive aesthetics-9

3.2 Literary value creating under the mechanism of receptive aesthetics-9

3.3 Visions of recipients extending under the effect of receptive aesthetics-10

3.4 Translation of literature works under the guidance of receptive aesthetics-10

3.4.1 Translator as a recipient of the source language literature-10

3.4.2 Translator as the creator of the version in target language-11

3.5 The limitations of the theory of receptive aesthetics-11

Chapter4 Study on translation of Book of Poetry-13

4.1 Translation loss of Book of Poetry-13

4.1.1 Translation loss of images-13

4.1.2 Translation loss of the mood expression of Pi-hsing-14

4.2 The causes of the loss in translation of classic works-15

4.3 Translation strategy study in the case of Book of Poetry-15

4.3.1 The translation of images in Book of Poetry--in saving the beauty in sense-15

4.4 Summary-18

Chapter 5 Conclusion and expectations-21

5.1 Conclusion-21

5.2 Limitations and expectations-21

References-22

Acknowledgements-23