A Comparative Study of Name Translation in Hong Lou Meng

A Comparative Study of Name Translation in Hong Lou Meng

By Mao Kewen

In partial fulfillment of the requirement

For the B. A. degree

Department of English

School of Languages and Cultures

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

May 2017

Acknowledgements

I am really grateful to my advisor Mr. Lu Huaguo for his guidance and helpful suggestions. His strict demands urged me to complete the paper in a timely manner. With his encouragement and guidance, I’ve learnt a lot and had a deeper understanding of translation. When I felt confused, Mr. Lu always gave me useful advice and when I made mistakes, he also pointed them out for me. The completion of the paper is inseparable from his help.

Contents

1. Introduction - 2 -

1.1 Background of the Research - 2 -

1.2 Purpose of the Research

1.3 Methods of the Research

1.4 Outline of the paper - 4 -

2. Methods of Name Translation - 4 -

2.1 Introduction to Two Common Methods for Name Translation - 4 -

2.2 Characteristics of Two Common Methods for Name Translation - 6 -

3. Names in Hong Lou Meng - 7 -

3.1 Classification of the Characters’ Names - 8 -

3.2 Characteristics and Cultural Connotation of Names - 8 -

4. Two Versions of Name Translation - 9 -

4.1 Comparison of Two Versions - 9 -

4.1.1 Comparison of Characters’ Names - 9 -

4.1.2 Comparison of Characters’ Aliases - 10 -

4.1.3 Comparison of Puns of Characters’ Names - 11 -

4.2 Methods Chose in Two Versions - 11 -

4.3 Cultural Losses Arisen in Two Versions - 12 -

5. Conclusion - 12 -

References - 13 -

A Comparative Study of Name Translation in Hong Lou Meng

Mao Kewen

Department of English

School of Language and Culture

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

Abstract: The names in Hong Lou Meng have both aesthetic significance and profound implications. Names not only help to describe character images more vividly, but also to promote the development of the story and suggest the endings of each character and express the theme of the work. Therefore, the name translation in Hong Lou Meng is of great significance to the dissemination of Chinese culture to the world. The English translation of Hong Lou Meng comes in several versions by different translators. Two of them are most famous and widely accepted. One is translated by David Hawkes and the other by Chinese translator Yang Xianyi in collaboration with his wife Gladys Yang. This paper will focus on name translations in these two versions, analyzing the translators’ strategies and methods and comparing their advantages and disadvantages.

Key words: Hong Lou Meng; name translation; comparative analysis

摘 要：《红楼梦》中的人物命名独树一帜，颇具匠心，不但具有美学意义，而且有着深刻的寓意。它们不仅帮助刻画了一个个鲜活的人物形象，还推动了故事情节的发展，暗示结局，渲染了作品主题。因此《红楼梦》的人名翻译在整书翻译、对外传播中国文化时有着极为重要的意义。《红楼梦》英译本包括不同译者翻译的多个版本。其中两个最有名的英文全译本，分别是英国牛津大学教授大卫·霍克斯译本和中国翻译家杨宪益和夫人戴乃迭的合译本。本文重点选取了这两个不同译本，分析了译者在翻译人名时选择的翻译策略与方法，分析比较不同译本人名翻译的优缺点。

关键词：《红楼梦》；人名翻译；对比分析

1. Introduction

1.1 Background of the Research

With the development of science and economy, cultural exchanges between countries are becoming more frequent. Therefore, the cultural works of various countries play an important role in cultural exchanges.

Hong Lou Meng as one of the four greatest Chinese novels is particularly vital in the dissemination of Chinese culture. Other countries can understand the feudal society and system in ancient China by reading Hong Lou Meng which describes the rise and fall of the nobility. There is no doubt that translation as a tool and bridge of communication is regarded as an essential part of cultural transmission. Thus, how to translate our Chinese excellent works precisely to show our outstanding of culture is deemed to be a momentous and fundamental task.

Chinese people have attached great importance to the culture of names since ancient times. No other country pays more attention to names than China. Chinese name culture with a long history is broad and profound.

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