Abstract

As economic globalization proceeds, China has constantly enhanced her international status and her foreign exchanges with other countries have been considerably expanded, meantime her cultural exchanges are becoming increasingly in-depth development. Therefore, a detailed introduction to the world China’s outstanding cultural works becomes more and more necessary. A Dream of Red Mansions is a typical representative of Chinese traditional culture, playing an important role in the manifestation of China’s traditional culture. On the basis of Skopos Theory, this paper focuses on the translation of “congee” in A Dream of Red Mansions translated by Yang Hsien-Yi and Gladys Yang, analyzing the cultural loss from four aspects that are the origin of congee, the taste of congee, the function of congee and the religious elements involved in congee, and effective improvements are presented from names including ingredients, names including cooking method, names including notes, which have great meaning in introducing to the world Chinese excellent cultural works.

Key words: A Dream of Red Mansions ; congee; cultural loss

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction1

2 Literature Review.2

  2.1 Skopos Theory2

  2.2 A Dream of Red Mansions and Dietary Culture.2

  2.2.1 Brief Introduction to A Dream of Red Mansions3

  2.2.2 Western and Chinese Dietary Culture.3

  2.3 Cultural Loss4

3 Translation of “congee” in A Dream of Red Mansions5

  3.1 Literal Translation5

  3.2 Free Translation6

4 Cultural Loss of Translation of “congee” and Suggested  Translations.7

  4.1 Culture Loss of Translation of “congee’’.7  

  4.1.1 Origin of Congee8 

  4.1.2 Taste of Congee.8

  4.1.3 Function of Congee.9

  4.1.4 Religious Elements Involved in Congee.10

  4.2 Suggested Translations. .10

  4.2.1 Names Including Ingredients.11

  4.2.2 Names Including Cooking Method.11

  4.2.3 Names Including Notes .12

5 Conclusion .12

References.