Abstract

Culture-loaded words refer to words, phrases and idioms that present a particular thing in a culture. They directly reflect the gradual accumulation of a particular nation in the long history. It is a unique way to differ their activities from other nations. It is an important carrier that reflects a nation’s unique features of culture. The translation of culture-loaded words plays an important role in intercultural communication. 

This thesis mainly discussed the translation of culture-loaded words from the perspective of the Skopos theory. On the definition of culture-loaded words, referring to Nida's classification of culture-loaded words, the culturally- load words are divided into five categories: social culture, material culture, ecological culture, linguistic culture and religious culture. This article mainly focuses on the analysis of linguistic culture, material culture and social culture-loaded words. Secondly, this paper also discusses the translation strategies of culture-loaded words, focusing on literal translation, liberal translation and domestication and alienation, and contrasts the effects of different translation strategies.

Through the research of this thesis, the author finds that there a great deal of C-E translation of culture-loaded words in the book A Guide to Sichuan Tourist Sites. Different kinds of translation strategies are used in the text, including literal translation and liberal translation, domestication and foreignization, which contributes to helping foreign tourists to understand Chinese culture and improve intercultural communication.

Key Words: Culture-loaded Words; Tourism Text; Translating Strategies; Skopos Theory; Intercultural Communication

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1  Introduction-1

2  Definition and Significance of Culture-loaded words-1

2.1 Definition of Culture-loaded Words-1

2.2 Significance of the Translation of Culture-loaded Words in the Tourism Text-2

   2.2.1 Promotion of Intercultural Communication by Culture-loaded Words-2

   2.2.2 Attraction to Foreign Visitors on Translation of Culture-loaded Words-3

3  Literature Review and Theoretical Foundation-3

3.1 Researches in the Translation of Culture-loaded Words in Tourism Text-3

3.2. Theoretical Foundation-4

   3.2.1 Brief Introduction of the Skopos Theory-4

   3.2.2. Historical Overview of Skopos Theory-5

   3.2.3. Principles of Skopos Theory-5

4  The Classification of Culture-loaded words in Tourism Text-7

    4.1 Linguistic Culture-7

4.2 Social Culture-8

4.3 Material Culture-9

5  Applying Skopos Theory to the Translation of Culture-loaded words-10

5.1 The Significance of Skopos Theory to Translation of Culture-loaded Words-10

5.2 Methods of the Translation of Culture-loaded Words-10

   5.2.1 Literal Translation-10

   5.2.2 Transliteration Without Explanation.-11

   5.2.3 Transliteration With Explanation-11

   5.2.4 Liberal Translation-12

   5.2.5 Domestication and Alienation-13

6  Conclusion-16

6.1 Findings-16

6.2 Suggestions-16

Bibliography.-18

Acknowledgments-19