Abstract

With the rapid development of Chinese economy, a growing number of visitors have come to China. As a result, traditional Chinese cuisine becomes more and more popular and plays a vital role in culture communication. With such strong culture flavors as well as historic connotations, cuisine name translation has aroused extensive attention at the beginning of this century. 

However, up to now, there are still plenty of problems in Chinese cuisine name translation. Although the papers came out now and then in the academic circle about the comparative study of cuisine cultures and the research on Chinese cuisine name translation, they lack systematic analysis based on theories, and the research horizons also need broadening. Therefore, to promote the previous views, this paper discusses the existing problems in Chinese cuisine name translation, translational aims and manipulative principles are also discussed. It explains what should be considered in Chinese cuisine name translation under the perspective of Gestalt theory. Based on the analysis of translation of typical Chinese cuisine names, a theory-based translating strategy will be provided.

Gestalt theory is a perceptional and organizational theory. Basically speaking, translation is the switching of two language codes and the movements of psychology between source text and target reader. The gestalt-based cuisine name translation requires that translator should put the psychology of target reader at the first place, taking reader’s Gestalt psychology into full consideration and adopting appropriate translation strategies in order to realize its function. 

The thesis is a new try to combine gestalt theory with cuisine name translation. This thesis will pay attention to the relationship of “Translator-Target Text (gestalt text)-Target Reader (gestalt reader)”. On the basis of the principles of Gestalt theory, the data are analyzed with the help of the model. Examples are given and analyzed and the specific principles, strategies and methods of solving the problem in detail are presented. The core part of the whole paper lies in the analysis of different cuisine name translation. And with those examples, a gestalt-based version of cuisine name translation will be given in order to offer a systematic approach to cuisine name translation.

Key Words: Gestalt theory; Translation strategies; Cuisine name translation

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Background-1

1.2 Significance and Purpose of the Thesis-2

1.3 Structure of the Thesis-3

2. Literature Review-4

2.1 An Overview of Gestalt Theory-4

2.1.1 Development of Gestalt Theory-4

2.1.2 Principles of Gestalt Theory-6

2.2 Gestalt Theory’s Application in Chinese Translation Studies-8

2.2.1 Previous Studies on Gestalt-Based Translation-8

2.2.2 The Current Development of Gestalt Theory in China-9

2.2.3 The Cuisine Name Translation Studies at Home-10

3. Application of Gestalt Theory into Chinese Cuisine Name Translation-12

3.1 Translation of Chinese menu based on Chinese Menu in English Version-12

3.2 Translating Strategies from the Perspective of Gestalt Theory-12

3.2.1 Holism-12

3.2.2 The Principle of Closure-15

3.2.3 The Principle of Simplicity-17

3.2.4 The Principle of Proximity-18

4. Conclusion-20

References-22