Names of Chinese Ceramic Relics Translated into English： A Case Study Based on Skopos Theory of the Collected Ceramic Relics in Liaoning Provincial Museum

【摘要】Abstract： This study conducts a case study research on names of collected Chinese ceramic relics translated into English in Liaoning Provincial Museum. Under the guidance of Skopos Theory， it points out some problems existing in names of ceramic relics translated into English and tries to put forward some feasible strategies.

【關键词】Key words： Skopos Theory； translation of names of ceramic relics； Liaoning Provincial Museum

【作者简介】程宇飞（1996-），女，满族，辽宁沈阳人，辽宁大学外国语学院，英语语言文学，硕士生。

1. Skopos Theory

In the 1970s， German scholars believed that translation is not only a linguistic activity， but translation behaviors based on the source text. Skopos Theory takes the target text as the center， which is the most important standard for the translators behaviors. The representatives are Katharina Reiss， Hans J. Vermeer， and Christiane Nord. Skopos Theory believes that translators should follow three important rules， namely， Skopos rule， coherence rule and fidelity rule. Focusing on the function of the target text， Skopos Theory offers a new view for translation study.

2. Main Problems Exist in Translation

2.1 Chinese-style English Translation

“甜白瓷暗花碗明永乐” is translated into “Sweet-white bowl with anhua molded decorations Yongle reign， Ming dynasty”. But I propose a better translation “lovely white glaze”. “甜白” is a kind of white glaze produced by Yongle kiln. The white glaze like jade gives an impression of a “lovely” feeling； hence the name “lovely white” appears. In addition， the white glaze is called “lovely white glaze” because it is related to sugar used in cooking. When tasting sugar， people will feel happy and lovely from the deep heart besides a lingering taste in their mouths.

2.2 Overuse of Transliteration

A majority of ceramic relics in Liaoning Provincial Museum are directly translated by using pinyin. For example， “青瓷虎子” is translated into “Celadon Huzi”. In Chinese culture， “虎子”is a kind of piss pot made of bronze or porcelain. The piss pot is named “Huzi” because it is processed artistically on the original model of the tiger. 2.3 Omission of Culturally-loaded Words

“红绿彩人物纹诸葛碗明嘉靖”is translated into “Red-and-green glazed Zhuge bowl with human figures Jiajing reign， Ming dynasty”. Zhuge bowl is the vessel for sacrifice， and its modeling derives from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In order to baffle the enemy， Zhuge Liang deliberately used a double-layer bowl. Apparently， he ate a large bowl of rice， but actually only the upper layer of the bowl was stuffed with rice. Later generations called it Zhuge bowl. Without any explanation， people will completely miss the historical and cultural significance.

3. Strategies about the Translation

3.1 Transliteration

Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one script to another by representing the sounds of the original. “斗彩” is translated into “doucai” in English， which has already been widely recognized and accepted by the western world. For example， “斗彩蟠螭纹尊清雍正” in Liaoning Provincial Museum is translated into “Doucai Zun-shaped vases with coiled dragons design Yongzheng reign， Qing dynasty”.

3.2 Transliteration plus Explanation

Transliteration plus explanation refers to add some explanations on the basis of transliteration. For example， “豇豆红釉团螭纹太白尊” is respectively translated into “Kidney Bean Red glaze Taibai Zun （wine vessel） with Stylized Hornless Dragon Design”. “尊” mostly refers to wine vessels or sacrificial vessels. If it is directly translated into “Zun”， foreigners cant understand. So “尊”can be translated into “Zun vesse” by employing transliteration plus explanation.

3.3 Literal Translation

“霁红釉蒜头瓶清乾隆” is translated into “Vase in jihong glaze Qianlong reign， Qing dynasty”. “蒜头瓶” is one of the bottle shapes， which is modeled after the bronze ware of Qin and Han dynasties. It is named after the shape of garlic because its mouth is like garlic. According to literal translation， it can be translated into “garlic-head”.

3.4 Free Translation

A free translation is a translation that reproduces the general meaning of the original text. Free translation can be used to translate some culturally- loaded words or abstract nouns. For example， “白釉礬红彩福寿纹盘清雍正” is translated into “White-glazed plate with decorations in overglaze iron-red enamel to celebrate prosperity and longevity Yongzheng reign， Qing dynasty”. “福寿” refers to a long and happy life， so it can be translated into “prosperity and longevity”.