Abstract

Numerals are widely used in natural language and literature works, and they play important roles in calculating and stating viewpoints. However, due to different culture backgrounds, religious beliefs, geographical environments and some other factors, numerals bear different cultural connotations and functions in different countries. Because of the importance of numerals and diversity of their functions, the researches on numeral translation have been developing rapidly in recent 20 years. As we know, numerals can be precise, but usually used with fuzzy meanings in literary works. Therefore, when taking cultural connotations and fuzziness of numerals into consideration, we can not simply translate the numerals literally from Chinese into target language.

     Though there are a lot of researches to on numeral translation both at home and abroad, these studies mainly focus on the translation of numerals in idioms, proverbs or some literatures in general. Moreover, when analyzing the translation of numerals, researchers do not do a deep study about the cultural connotations behind the numerals. Thus, the results and suggestions of these researches are in generalization. In this paper, the author will concentrate on the numeral translation in Chinese classical poetry from the Functional Equivalence Theory to do an in-depth and careful study. What’s more, in this study the features and characteristics of the numerals in Chinese classical poetry will be discussed. Then the author will analyze the functions of the numerals in Chinese classical poetry. Finally, the study provides some translation strategies according to the different functions of these numerals in Chinese classical poetry to improve the translation quality.

Keywords: Fuzziness; numeral translation; Chinese classical poetry; Functional Equivalence Theory

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the study-1

1.3 Organization of the Thesis-2

2. Literature Review-2

2.1 Related Studies on Numeral Translation in Chinese Classical Poetry-2

2.2 Functional Equivalence Theory-3

3. An Overview of Numerals in Chinese Classical Poetry-5

3.1 The Classification of Numerals in Chinese Classical Poetry-5

3.1.1 Numerals used to count-6

3.1.2 Numerals used not to count-6

3.2 The Function of Numerals in Chinese Classical Poetry-6

3.2.1 Function of statement-7

3.2.2 Function of intensifying emotion-7

3.2.3 Function of visualization-7

3.3 The Differences of Numeral Cultures between the West and the East-7

3.3.1 Numeral preference differences-8

3.3.2 Distinct numeral taboo-9

3.4 The Numerals Frequently Used in Chinese Classical Poetry-10

4. The Strategies of Numeral Translation in Chinese Classic Poetry-11

——— From The Functional Equivalence Perspective

4.1 Strategies of Numeral Translation for the Function of Statement-11

4.2 Strategies of Numeral Translation for the Function of Intensifying Emotion-14

4.3 Strategies of Numeral Translation for the Function of Visualization-15

5. Conclusion-17

References-19