Abstract：With the cultural blend of East and West, the accurate and complete transmission of Chinese culture is a top priority for the Chinese and bears extensive and profound social significance. Language is the carrier of culture, so the translation of Chinese-specific terms plays a critical role in the external publicity which is closely related to China’s image in the international stage. This thesis will explore the importance of the translation of Chinese-specific terms in the external publicity and analyze the untranslatability of expressions with strong Chinese characteristics. Under the framework of relevance theory, this article will utilize its explanatory power to translation to deal with the hot issue of domestication and foreignization.
Keywords: Chinese-specific terms; external publicity; translation strategy; relevance theory;
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
中文摘要
Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1
Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-2
Chapter Three AN OVERVIEW OF RELEVANCE THEORY-4
3.1 General Review-4
3.2 Rationale of Relevance Theory-5
Chapter Four AN OVERVIEW OF CHINESE-SPECIFIC TERMS AND
EXTERNAL PUBLICITY-6
4.1 Chinese-specific Terms and External Publicity-6
4.1.1 Definition of Chinese-specific terms-6
4.1.2 Characteristics of Chinese-specific terms-6
4.1.3 External Publicity-7
4.1.4 Importance of Translation of Chinese-specific Terms in EP-8
4.1.4.1 To spread Chinese cultural connotation in external publicity-8
4.1.4.2 To improve international communication and comprehension in external publicity-8
4.1.4.3 To strengthen China’s international status-9
4.2 Untranslatability of Chinese-specific Terms in External Publicity-9
4.2.1 Translatability and Untranslatability-9
4.2.2 Untranslatability of Chinese-specific Terms in EP-10
Chapter Five THE INTERPRETIVE FORCE OF RELEVANCE THEORY TO
THE TRANSLATION OF CHINESE-SPECIFIC TERMS-11
5.1 Relevance and Translation-11
5.2 Principles in Translating Chinese-specific Terms with Relevance Theory as Framework-12
Chapter Six- APPLICATION OF RELEVANCE THEORY IN THE TRANSLATION
OF CHINESE-SPECIFIC TERMS-14
6.1 Two Strategies in Translation: Domestication and Foreignization-14
6.2 Practical Translating Techniques-15
6.2.1Techniques used in domestic media-15
6.2.1.1Transliteration-15
6.2.1.2Transliteration with explanation-16
6.2.1.3 Literal translation-16
6.2.1.4 Literal translation with explanation or annotation-17
6.2.1.5 Free translation-18
6.2.1.6 Diversified Translation-18
6.2.2 Techniques used in foreign media-19
6.2.2.1Absolute transliteration-19
6.2.2.2 Transliteration plus explanation-19
6.2.2.3 Literal translation-20
6.3 A Dialectical Attitude towards Domestication and Foreignization in Terms of RT-21
Chapter Seven CONCLUSION-22
REFERENCES-23
