On the Translation of Death Euphemisms in Hong Lou Meng Based on the Theory of Translation Ethnics

On the Translation of Death Euphemisms in Hong Lou Meng Based on the Theory of Translation Ethics

By

Xue Yu

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Department of English

School of Languages and Cultures

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

May 21^th, 2017

Acknowledgements

The completion of my essay is under my professor’s great support and careful guidance. His strict scientific attitude and scholarship, continually improving work style inspire me greatly. From the selection of subject to the completion of this essay, he gives me guidance and advice all the time patiently. It makes me achieve great improvement in writing my essay. At the same time, it reveals my professor’s highly professional dedication and responsibility. Therefore, I will thank my professor sincerely and give my best wishes to him.

Meanwhile, I also appreciate my lovely classmates, living together for four years and those respected teachers. Owing to your assistance and support, I can overcome these problems and difficulties. And at last, I succeed in finishing my essay.

At last, I show my respect sincerely to our teachers. And I want to thank every teacher who spends time checking my essay, commenting and participating in my thesis oral defense.

On the Translation of Death Euphemisms in Hong Lou Meng Based on the Theory of Translation Ethics

Xue Yu

Department of English

School of Languages and Cultures

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

Abstract: Euphemism is an important means of language communication in creating a harmonious atmosphere of mutual friendship, the coordination of interpersonal relationships. It is a language phenomenon widely used in human language, adapting to the cultural traditions of social norms, customs, habits and the psychological mind of the speaker, which is formed by the speaker who don't say the things or their intents directly. They choose to replace them with some words whose meanings and contents are similar. As a cross-cultural communication, translation has perfectly dealt with the conflicts between domestic and foreign culture by the guidance of Ethics. Hong Lou Meng, is a classic novel, which is full of euphemisms. This passage uses death euphemisms as the object and analyzes them from some aspects such as, the origin, categories and their traits. It is based on the theory of Chesterman Andrew’s Translation Ethics which has five modes. It analyzes and compares the euphemisms in two versions written by Yang Xianyi and David Hawkes and finds out which mode and strategy are used and its reason.

Key words: Hong Lou Meng, death euphemisms, comparison, translation ethics

摘 要

委婉语是在协调人际关系时使用的一种重要语言交际手段。它普遍存在于人类语言中，在特定的语言交流环境制约或作用下，为适应社会的文化传统规范，风俗，习惯和说话人的心理需要所形成的一种语言现象，即说话者不直言其事或其本意，而选用与内容含义相同的语言来替代，表达。翻译，作为一种跨文化活动，通过伦理学的指导，正确处理了翻译中遇到的人际关系以及协调本和外来文化之间的冲突。《红楼梦》一书中含有丰富的委婉语，本文以死亡委婉语为研究对象，从以下方面来分析死亡委婉语，如出现的原因，分类以及特点等。同时文章在切斯特曼的五大翻译伦理模式的理论下，用《红楼梦》两大译本——杨宪益和霍克斯中的死亡委婉语作对比，分析在两者的译本中采用了哪种伦理模式，翻译策略以及其原因。

关键词：红楼梦；死亡委婉语；比较；翻译伦理

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 The Background of the Study 1

1.2 The Aim of the Study 1

2. Euphemisms 2

2.1 Definition of Euphemisms 2

2.2 The Origin of Euphemisms 2

3. The Death Euphemisms in Hong Lou Meng 2

3.1 The Reason of Using Euphemisms 2

3.1.1 The Rational Perspective 2

3.1.2 The Additional Perspective 3

3.2 The Classification of Death Euphemisms in Hong Lou Meng 4

3.3 The Characteristics of Death Euphemisms 4

3.3.1 Diversity 4

3.3.2 Complexity 5

3.3.3 Diachronism 5

4. The Introduction of Chesterman’s Translation Ethics 6

4.1 The Importance of Translation Ethics 6

4.2 Five Modes 6

4.2.1 Ethics of Representation 6

4.2.2 Ethics of Service 7

4.2.3 Ethics of Communication 7

4.2.4 Ethics of Norm-based 7

4.2.5 Ethics of Commitment 7

5. Translation of Death Euphemisms in Hong Lou Meng Based on Translation Ethics 8

5.1 Examples of Ordinary Death Euphemisms 8

5.1.1 Analysis 8

5.2 Examples of Religious Death Euphemisms 9

5.2.1 Analysis 9

5.3 Examples of Culture-loaded Euphemisms 10

5.3.1 Analysis 11

5.4 Examples of Specialized Death Euphemisms 11

5.4.1 Analysis 12

5.5 Examples of Physiological Death Euphemisms 13

5.5.1 Analysis 14

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