Abstract

Relevance theory is a pragmatic theory put forward by Sperber and Wilson in 1986. It was initially to study people’s cognitive activities when they communicate with others. In relevance theory, communication is an ostensive-inferential activity. To make the communication successful, people must obey the optimal relevance. Gutt further developed relevance theory, and introduced it into translation study. Relevance theory is very effective in guiding the translation and it pointed out a new way for translators 

Bian Cheng, the work of famous writer Shen Congwen, has beautiful language and Chinese characteristics. It has abundant culture-loaded words. The translation of culture-loaded words is the difficult part in the translation field, but also the base for successful cultural transmission.

The aim of the thesis is to analyze two versions of Bian Cheng by Gladys Yang’s and Jeffrey C; Kinkley’s under the guidance of relevance theory. Analyze their specific translation strategies to find a better way for translation. We can see, they both have their translation feathers. Kinkley tended to literal translation and added many notes to help western readers to understand. And Gladys tended to free translation to promote understanding. They both met the optimal relevance. When translating culture-loaded words, we should pay special attention to the original context and readers’ cognitive environments and transfer flexibly between the two translation strategies and other methods to obey the optimal relevance. 

Key words: relevance theory     optimal relevance     culture-loaded words  

Bian Cheng     translation 

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Research Significance-1

1.2 The Purpose of the Research-2

1.3 The Methodology-2

1.4 The Overall Structure-3

Chapter two: Literature Review-5

2.1 Study on the Translation of Culture-loaded Words-5

2.1.1 The Domestic Study of Culture-loaded Words-5

2.1.2 Study of Culture-loaded Words Abroad-5

2.2 Studies on the Relevance Theory-6

2.2.1 Study on the Relevance Theory at Home-6

2.2.2 Study on Relevance Theory Abroad-6

2.3 The Summary-6

2.4 Brief Introduction of Shen Congwen and Bian cheng-7

2.5 Two Translators-------Jeffery C. Kinkley and Gladys Yang-8

Chapter Three: Relevance Theory-10

3.1 Relevance Theory by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson-10

3.1.1 Derivation of Relevance Theory-10

3.1.2 The Definition of Relevance-10

3.2 The Communication-----Ostensive-Referential Process-11

3.3 Cognitive Environment and Mutual Manifestness-12

3.4 Cognitive Principle and Communicative Principle-13

3.5 The Optimal Relevance-13

3.7 Translation Strategies----- Free Translation and Literal Translation-15

3.8 Conclusion-16

Chapter Four the Translation of Culture-Loaded Words in Two Versions-17

4.1 Translation of Ecological Culture-Loaded Words-17

4.2 Translation of Culture-loaded Words in Material-19

4.3 Translation of Culture-Loaded Words in Religion-21

4.4 Translation of Culture-loaded Words in Custom-24

4.5 The Translation of Other Culture-Loaded Words-26

Chapter Five Conclusion-29

5.1 Findings-29

5.2 Limitations-31

References-32