ABSTRACT

Kinship terms are the names for relatives. They are used by family members or relatives to address each others. The kinship terms are important linguistic signs to reflect the complexity of human relationship and culture features of the time. HLM is the great work of literature in China with complicated characters and rich plots. There are a large great number of address terms in the book and the kinship terms are too numerous to list. This paper focuses on two English versions (Yang’s version and Hawkes’ version), and by doing some comparative analysis, tries to find out the different characteristics of and strategies adopted by the two translators in the process of translation. This paper has the academic significance for translation study of HLM. And what’s more, it will not only contribute to know the culture connotation of China and foreign countries but promote cross-culture communication. 

Key word:  kinship terms; HLM; translation; culture 

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 An Overview of Address Terms-3

2.2 Studies of Kinship Terms by Foreign Scholars-4

2.3 Studies of Kinship Terms by Chinese Scholars-4

Chapter Three  KINSHIP TERMS-6

3.1 An Overview of Kinship Terms-6

3.2 Comparison between Chinese Kinship Term System and English Kinship  Terms-6

3.2.1 Similarities-8

3.2.2 Differences-8

Chapter Four  COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF THE TRANSLATION OF KINSHIP TERMS IN THE TWO VERSIONS OF HLM-10

4.1 A Brief Introduction of the Two English Versions of HLM-10

4.2 Kinship Terms Used In HLM-11

4.2.1 Classification of kinship terms in the novel-11

4.2.1.1 Respectful terms-12

4.2.1.2 Honorific terms-12

4.2.1.3 Disparaging terms-12

4.2.1.4 Self-abasing terms-12

4.2.2 Culture background of kinship terms in HLM-13

4.3 Comparative Analyses of Translation Strategies for Some Typical Terms-13

4.3.1 Translation strategies for Shenzi-14

4.3.2 Translation strategies for Jiejie-14

4.3.3 Translation strategies for Meimei-16

4.3.4 Translation strategies for Saosao-17

4.4 Characteristics of the Two Versions of HLM-18

4.4.1 Strategies and characteristics in David Hawkes’ version-19

4.4.2 Strategies and characteristics in Yang Hsien-yi’s version-20

Chapter Five  CONCLUSIONS-21

REFERENCES-23