The Application of Functional Equivalence Theory into the Translation of Rhetorical Devices

Zhang+Huahui+++Bo+Ya-nan+++Yu+Hongxia+++Cao+Jianan

Abstract：This paper analyzes how to adopt the Functional Equivalence Theory to figure out some effective translation strategies when dealing with rhetoric devices， including simile， metaphor and hyperbole. With the help of relevant theories and related examples， it analyses the use of literal translation， free translation， domestication and foreignization in the translation of rhetorical devices in the hope of helping students to gain practical translation strategies and to improve their translation skills regarding rhetorical devices and to apply what they have learnt into practice flexibly.

Key words：Functional Equivalence Theory， Rhetorical Devices， translation strategies

中圖分类号：H315.9 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1672-1578（2017）12-0001-02

1 Introduction

Nida pointed that there are two equivalences. The first one is Formal Equivalence. It attaches great importance on the information delivered， in terms of both form and content. Another equivalence is dynamic equivalence， which is called the closest natural equivalence. [1]

Nida held the view that translation was to use the naturalist way to reproduce the information of the original， firstly to reproduce the meaning， secondly style. But this theory still emphasizes what requires the reproduce is not the literal meaning and the word order of the original， but the idea and intention of the original. Therefore， the initial target of the translation is still the equivalence in contents， or the equivalence in meaning. Besides， the equivalence in style should be taken into the consideration：“Translation is composed of the translated version with the closest equivalence of the original version， both of meanings and of styles.”[2]Functional Equivalence Theory does not refer to linguistic equivalence， but refers to the equivalence of linguistic function and psychological reaction of readers. Best translation means when the readers read the translation， it seems that they does not read translation but the original version. In order to make this happen， it is necessary to slip the leash that the linguistic structure of original exerts on translation.

2 Major Translation Techniques

Literal translation is the translation method that maintains both the original content and the original form. Literal translation can completely preserve the style and ethnic characteristics of the original. But literal translation must be readable， that is to say， the translation does not result in misunderstanding and does not violate the correct way of expression. Literal translation can also be applied to translate the sentences containing rhetorical devices.[3] To some extent， literal translation can not only preserve the characteristics of the original， but also enable the reader to gradually accept the literary style of the original. ”[4]endprint

Different from the literal translation， free translation or liberal translation refers to the translation of the original text， which does not translate word for word. We often apply liberal translation into the translation of sentences or larger groups of meaning， and free translation can be applied in the case of the cultural differences between the original version and the translated version. From the perspective of intercultural communication and the cultural system of the source language. Free translation can better reflect the language features of the nation.

Domestication means the transformation of foreign culture， which is nationalization and localization. It takes the target culture as the ultimate goal. And it advocates that the translation should try to adapt to and take care of the target culture and the language translated to. It eliminates language and culture barriers for the readers and makes the translation smooth by narrowing the cultural differences as much as possible. [5]

On the contrary， foreignization is to accept foreign culture or to become foreign. It is source culture oriented translation， which advocates that the translation should try to adapt to the culture of the source text and take care of the source language. Foreignization is to try to retain the linguistic and cultural features of the source language， in order to achieve the purpose of cultural exchange. Through foreignization， readers can understand the characteristics of the exotic culture.[6] For example： “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the entire world， she walks out of mine.” The foreignization version would be：“這世上有那么多家旅馆，她终究还是走出了我的那一家。” While the domestication version would be：弱水三千，终究我已不是她那瓢中的一壶水了。Another example： Why is river rich？Because it has two banks.——为什么河流是富裕的？因为它有两个河岸。（foreignization / Literal translation）On the contrary，the approach of domestication would translate it into “为什么说河流是富裕的？因为它总是向前（钱）流。”

Similarly，“What makes the road broad？The letter B.” Domestication version：什么东西可以使门变阔？“活”字。is definitely better than its literal translation. Another familiar example would be“Skyscrapers are springing up like mushrooms.” If the translator applies foreignization strategy to translate it into“高楼大厦犹如蘑菇般地涌现。” it will be difficult for Chinese readers， the target readers to accept or to understand， but translating “like mushrooms” into “雨后春笋”in the way of foreignization is in line with Chinas customs and habits of language expression.endprint

3 Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices or figure of speech means language or verbal modification. The original meaning of rhetoric is to modify speech， that is， a language activity that can be used as a means to receive the best possible expression in the process of using language. Good expression includes its accuracy， comprehensibility and appeal， and the proper and appropriate expression for the purpose of the expression. Rhetoric is characterized by the use of language as well as linguistic features. The author mainly focuses on the following semantic rhetorical devices， including simile， metaphor and hyperbole.

A simile is a figure of speech that is a comparison between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common. Similes often use explicit connecting words （such as like， as）. While， it is well-known that similes are usually used in forms of poetry the purpose of humor and comparison. [7] Such as， as mute as a fish（噤若寒蟬）， as cool as a cucumber （泰然自若），etc.

Example 1： 他挥霍无度。

Translation 1： He always spends a lot of money.

Translation 2： He always spends a lot of money，like water.

Example 2： Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass.

Translation：没有目标的生活就犹如航行没有指南针一样。

Example 3： Shes a tiger mom， treating her child like a tiger.

Translation： 她是一位虎妈，对待自己的孩子像老虎一样凶狠严厉。

In terms of example 1， it is obvious that translation 2 is more vivid and full of life， because “like water” triggers readers imagination and shows the charm and power of language. When analyzing the translation of simile， it seems that it is easier to reach maximum equivalence for the translation of simile. Literal translation or foreignization translation tactics would simply make the target text coincide with the original text.

A metaphor is an implicit figure of speech， which refers to one thing by mentioning another thing with veiled and implicit similarities between these two in order to produce a rhetorical effect. Such as， Failure is the mother of success.（失败是成功之母。）He has a heart of stone.（他心如坚石。）He lives in that match-box of a house.（他住在火柴盒那么大点的房子里。）

Example 4： Whenever I have a speech in front of the public， I have butterflies in my stomach.

Translation： 每当我在公众面前演讲时，会变得心慌意乱，忐忑不安。

If it is literally translated as“每当我在公众面前演讲时，我都有蝴蝶在我的胃里”， the target reader will get lost. In fact， it means somebody is very nervous or excited. The translation strives to maintain the equivalence within the extent of maximum equivalence and minimal equivalence according to Nidas functional equivalence theory； the translation of metaphor is on a lower equivalent level， but it can be kept within the minimum equivalent by applying liberal translation and domestication translation strategies to deliver the real meaning of the source language. Nida classifies two levels of Functional Equivalence： the minimal level and the maximal level.The definition of the former is “the readers of a translated text should be able to comprehend it to the point that they can conceive of how the original readers of the text must have understood and appreciated it”； while， that of the latter would be “the readers of a translated text should be able to understand and appreciate it in essentially the same manner as the original readers do”.[8]endprint

Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as figure of speech， which is meant to create strong feelings. The meaning of hyperbole can not be simply understood literally. Such as， I havent seen you for ages.（好久不见啊。）What he said made my blood freeze.（听了他的话，我的血都凝固了。）The woman shed a flood of tears.（那女人泪流满面。）You are the whole world to me. （你是我的全部。）I was scared to death. （吓死我了！）My stomach is killing me. （我肚子痛死了！） A decade has passed by in a twinkle. （眨眼间，十年如白驹过隙般流逝了！）

Example 5： He fancied her like mad.

Translation： 他像疯了一样喜欢她。

Example 6： There was hell to pay.

Translation： 我为此付出了沉重代价。

Based on the analysis above， it is found that when it came to hyperbole， literal translation will help he form， the meaning， the flavor， “the feeling” and the style conform to that of the original better. It is the literal translation that makes the translated and the original texts equivalent in style， flavor， content and functions.

4 Conclusion

In brief， from the angle of the Functional Equivalence Theory， it is very hard to say which translation technique is better when translating source languages possessing rhetorical devices. The translator had better comprehend the original meaning of the source language thoroughly and correctly， and then consider whether foreignization / literal translation can better deliver the original meaning faithfully or the domestication / liberal translation would be more qualified for satisfying target readers understanding， comprehension and acceptability. The ultimate goal of translation is to make the meaning be faithful to the original text. Therefore， if necessary the two kinds of methods can be used alternately or combined so as to make the readers have the same understanding and emotion effect as they read the original when they read the translation.

References：

[1] Nida， E.A.Toward a Science of Translating[J]. Leiden： E.J.Brill.1964.

[2] Nida，E.A and Taber， C.R.The Theory and Practice of Translation[J]. Leiden： E. J. Brill.1982.

[3] 郭著章.汉互译实用教程（第4版）（英语）[M].北京：北京大学出版社，2010.

[4] Nida，E.A. Language， Culture and Translating[M]. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.1991.

[5] Venuti， Lawrence. The Translators Invisibility[M]. New York： Routledge.1995.

[6] Gile，Daniel.Basic Concepts and Models forInterpreter and Translator training. Amsterdam Philadelphia： John Benjamins Pub. Co. 2009：251-252.

[7] Murfin， Ross； Ray， Supryia M. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms（2nd ed）.Bedford/St. Martins.2003：447-448.

[8] Nida， Eugene A. Language and Culture——Contexts in Translating[M]. Shanghai： Shanghai Foreign Languages

Education Press.2001.

作者簡介：张华慧，女，大连外国语大学高级翻译学院副教授，英语语言文学硕士，研究方向：口笔译。

薄亚男，女，英语语言文学硕士，研究方向：口笔译。

于红霞，女，大连外国语大学国际商务学院副教授，英语语言文学硕士，研究方向：教学方法。

曹佳男，男，大连外国语大学高级翻译学院，研究方向：口笔译。endprint