On Yuanqu Poems Translation from thePerspective of Relevance Theory

李丹

Abstract The rich and distinctive cultural connotations in Yuanqu poems pose great challenges to translators. Translators have always been faced with the problem that the external and internal properties of original work cant be reproduced simultaneously in Yuanqu poems translation. For the present， few people attempt to analyze or evaluate the quality of Yuanqu poems tranlation with relevance theory. Therefore， It ventures to explore an effective way for Yuanqu poems translation from the perspective of relevance theory， by analyzing the three poems in An English Translation of 200 Yuanqu Poems.

Key words relevance theory; Yuanqu poems translation; aesthetic representation; new perspective

中图分类号：H315.9 文献标识码：A  DOI：10.16400/j.cnki.kjdkz.2015.03.077

0 Introduction

Yuanqu poems， together with Tang poetry and Song Ci， are excellent heritage of Chinese literature. As for the manifestation and genre， Yuanqu poems have a relatively stronger flexibility than Tang poetry and Song Ci， which makes it have more instabilities in Yuanqu poems translation. Relevance theory can offer a more powerful explanation for Yuanqu poems translation and its instability， for the criteria of relevance translation theory is based on interpretive resemblance and optimal relevance instead of traditional equivalence. A case study on three classical poems in An English Translation of 200 Yuanqu Poems will be analyzed from four aspects： interpretive resemblance， optimal relevance， contextual effect， processing effort.

1 Brief introduction to Yuanqu Poems

Yuanqu poems play an important role in the history of Chinese literature. As far as its unique genre and its artistic merit are concerned， Yuanqu poems are comparable with Tang poetry and Song Ci. Differently， Yuanqu poems have a relatively stronger flexibility no matter in rhyme-scheme or in the number of words， which break the traditional meter that the level and oblique tones in poetry cant be rhymed staggered. Theoretically， to some extent， its flexibility and uncertainty in its artistic presentation makes it easier to translate than that in Tang poetry and Song Ci. Translators do not have to follow fixed and regular meters. The rich and distinctive cultural connotations in Yuanqu poems pose great challenges to translators. And translators have always been confronted with the problem that the external and internal properties of original work cant be revived simultaneously in poetry translation， especially in Yuanqu poems because of its unique artistic merits.

2 Brief introduction to relevance theory

Relevance theory was first formally proposed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson who focused on interpretive resemblance and optimal relevance in order to achieve a better communication. They regard the translation practice as a dynamic reasoning process. Ernest Augest Gutt developed relevance theory and pioneered the application of relevance theory to translation in his book Translation and relevance： Cognition and Context. He argues that translation is by nature communication and a translations success depends on the achievement of optimal relevance.

3 A Case Study on Three Poems

A good translation of Yuanqu poems plays an important role on spreading our culture and literature. The book An English Translation of 200 Yuanqu Poems is written by Zhou Fangzhu， who has been devoting himself to translation studies and translation teaching. He selects 200 classical works and translates them into English. As far as the quantity is concerned， this book is the maximum version in the domestic and overseas at present. As far as its themes are concerned， it covers a wide range of subjects. Zhou Fangzhu holds that Yuanqu poems have the translatability and he presents many excellent selected translations to us.

3.1 Appreciation of Autumn Thought

Autumn Thought only uses five lines with 28 simple words to describe desolate and lonely scenery of autumn. The title is autumn thought， however， there is no any words talking about thought. There are no any logical relations and clear expressions in the whole verse. Its core vocabulary is the primary and basic foundation for understanding semantics and indulging imagination.

The first sentence “Withered Vine， old Tree， a raven at dusk crows” is very similar to the original work. It similarly list three simple sceneries： vine， tree， raven. The following four sentences adopt the same approach to present contextual effect. Differently， the word “crows” is used to specify the logical relationship and connections among these three sceneries. Western people emphasize on logic and analysis and prefer clear expressions. The five lines use “crows， flows， slows， glows， grows” to fulfill the target readers expectation. The original work only one verb and the norms are cores of the whole verse， while the verbs are the most important in its English translation. This kind of expression corresponds with western ways of thinking. However， on the whole， the whole translation is inclined to be similar to Chinese patterns.

3.2 Appreciation of Meditation on the Past at Tongguan

The original work was written by Zhang Yanghao when he walked past Tongguan. At that time， people are suffering starvation. The poet meditated on the past and expressed his extreme worries for people that whether the empire raised or fell， the populace always suffered a lot.

The English translation verse of Meditation on the Past at Tongguan is different from the first poem in subject. The first two lines of original work are easier to translate than that of the third line. “Peaks seem gathering， Waves seem roaring”presents the picture vividly. The optimal achievement of relevance is well accomplished with less processing effort and its contextual effect. However， the third sentence “Tongguan fortress is topographically impregnable” seems that it cant represent the aesthetic effect of original work. Tongguan is a geographic name. It cant be translated into other things no matter what kind of translation strategy is used. And the target reader rarely can understand the meanings it contains.

3.3 Appreciation of Ode to Bamboos

This is a poem written by Ma Qianzhai who aims to express his personality through his admiration for bamboos. Similar to the above two Yuanqu poems， every stanza are rhymed and it is a bit difficult to translate because of its rich and distinctive cultural connotations.

In this poem， Ma Qianzhai made use of bamboos to express his ambition and ideal. This work is different from the previous two poems in manifestations. The words “Wei River”， “Wen Tong”， “phoenix” are unique things in China. And Chinese phoenix and western phoenix have distinct cultural connotations. The translator has to use similar word that target readers use to express the unique things in order to achieve the optimal relevance in the process of Chinese-English translation. The first sentence “your verdant appearance never varies with snow” in its original work means the moral integrity of bamboos doesnt change despite of the invading of wind and snow. However， as far as its internal meanings are concerned， the translation version seems not to completely expression its meaning.

4 Conclusion

The case study on three poems in An English Translation of 200 Yuanqu Poems shows that the translator attempts to represent the patterns of original works in order to offer enough imaginary space for the target readers. However， the degree of relevance in translation is a bit lower than that of original works so that it adds some difficulties for readers. Moreover， from the foregoing discussion， conclusion can be also deduced that relevance theory can be an available way in directing cross-cultural translation which provides a new perspective for Yuanqu poems translation： the criterion for translation should not be of any fixed standard but interpretive resemblance in accordance with the principle of relevance. And the optimal relevance can be the principle and theoretical underpinning of translation quality assessment. Relevance theory also promises a much larger scope for the translation of Yuanqu poems than that allowed by the ideal notion of equivalence.  elevance theory offers a more powerful explanation for Yuanqu poems translation， which promises greater freedom for the translators.

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