A Comparative Study on Cultural Differences and Translation Strategies
--Analysis of Two English Versions of Lin Daiyu’s Elegy on Flowers
Abstract: Poetry, as a literary form of human emotional expression and thought, is the embodiment of national languages and rich cultural contents. To some extent, it can be defined as the highest and most artistic expression of particular cultural content. Therefore, poetry translation is not only an activity of language translation, but also of cultural communication. Different nations have their own distinctive cultures, which contribute to the cultural difficulties while translating.
“Lin Daiyu’s Elegy on Flowers” is a famous poem carried in Dream of the Red Chamber, which is beautiful in wording and sophisticated in writing skills. This poetry translation involves literary allusion, angle of person, tone, etc. These defy translation. This paper is a comparative study of two English translations of the poem. The discussion is also made on the basis of respective cultural difference and strategies of translation, in addition to the difficulties mentioned above.
Key Words: poetry translation；cultural difference；translation strategies；Lin Daiyu’s Elegy on Flowers
论诗歌翻译的文化差异与翻译策略
--从《林黛玉葬花辞》的两个英译本谈起
摘 要：诗歌，作为一种表达人类情感、思想的文学形式，是民族语言的精粹，凝聚着丰富的文化内涵，是一种凝聚了特定文化精髓的高度凝练的语言艺术表达。因而诗歌翻译既是一项跨语言，也是一项跨文化的交际活动。不同民族有自己独特的文化，因而造成翻译中的文化障碍。本文要探讨的《林黛玉葬花词》是《红楼梦》中的诗作名篇, 文辞优美，手法娴熟。此诗在翻译过程中，涉及了典故、诗歌用语、人称、口气等诸多微妙而不易传达的方面。
该文章主要对《林黛玉葬花词》两种英译文进行了比较，除着眼于以上难点外，还讨论了中西方两种文化差异产以及文章中所体现的翻译策略。
关键词：诗歌翻译；文化差异；翻译策略；林黛玉葬花词
CONTENTS
Introduction: 1
1. The cultural differences in poetry translation 2
1.1 The definition of culture and its diferences 2
1.2 The clarification of culture and its differences 4
1.2.1 The difference of thoughts 4
1.2.2 The differences of literary allusion in Eastern and Occidental society 5
1.2.3 The differences of cultural images… 6
1.2.4 The differences of tone and the angle of person 7
2. Translation strategies in poetry translation…………………………………….8
2.1 The definition of translation and its functions… 8
2.2 The nature of literary translation 9
2.3 Clarifications of translation strategies 10
2.3.1 Literal translation and liberal translation…………………………………………10
3. Conclusion 13
Reference: 17
