On Translation Strategies and Cultural Effects of Chinese Menu in English Version——An Analysis from the Perspective of Reception Theory

Reception theory stresses reader's activeness.Translation of Chinese Menu in English Version reveals the universal principles of transnational strategies and methods of menu translation.Through analysis of Chinese Menu in English Version,the article studies its text and examines the linking mechanism between reception theory and menu translation.A comparative conclusion shows that in menu translation attention is paid to the accuracy of the target text by translators,who are simultaneously aware of the paradox between expectation and acceptance of individual readers.

On Mencius' Key Philosophical Term-Ren C-E Translation in the Perspective of Reception Theory

With the guidance of reception theory, based on the corpus of James Legge, the LCC and D. C. Lau's versions of Mencius, a comparative study will be conducted on the key philosophical term: Ren. After comparison, reasons for the differences will be stated. Targeting at missionaries, James adopted the 19 century old English and strived for faithfulness. Lau's translation work is of high academic value and receives good comments popularly in western sinology circle, being considered as the exemplary work for translating Chinese classics into English. Zhao et al. translated Mencius for modern readers, who might have acquired more knowledge of China and want to learn something about Mencius. Quantitative analysis shows that Ren appears 157 times in Mencius, and"benevolent/benevolence"gains a dominant position in these three versions.

On Translation of Cultural Images in Chang Hen Ge from the Perspective of Reception Theory

Based on concepts of horizon of expectation and indeterminacy in reception theory,this paper reports a comparative analysis of Chang Hen Ge,a narrative poem written by Chinese poet Bai Juyi in the Tang Dynasty,and its English translations by William John Bainbrigge Fletcher,Herbert Allen Giles,Xu Yuanchong as well as Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang.Results are as follows:1)Xu’s translation is the best in that he adds annotations and combines literal and free translations so as to explicate cultural connotations and underlying implications of images while meeting and broadening target readers’horizon of expectation.In addition,he tries to replicate figurative characteristics and transform rhetorical techniques of original cultural images to retain the source text’s indeterminacy and aesthetic value and to provide target readers with intense aesthetic experience.2)There are inappropriate and inaccurate translations of cultural images in all the four English translations,and they are caused by differences in ethnic history,religious belief,mode of thinking,features of English and Chinese as well as the subjectivity of translators.

A Study on the Reproduction of Artistic Conception in Translation of Chinese Classical Poetry from the Perspective of Reception Aesthetics Theory

Chinese classical poetry has long been known for its unique artistic conception of mixture of sentiments andscenery, the conception beyond image and the refinement out of rhyme. From the perspective of receptionaesthetics theory, this paper analyzes translation strategies of the classical poetry, probes into the problems thatretaining “indeterminacy” and satisfying the readers “horizon of expectations” when translate Chinese classicalpoetry. It is necessary to keep enough aesthetic space, and to give full play to the translator’s aesthetic creativitywhen translate Chinese classical poetry, so as to reproduce the artistic conception of Chinese classical poetry.

On retranslation of famous book from the perspective of aesthetics of reception： The comparison of two translated versions of The old man and the sea

According to aesthetics of reception, the reception of literature can be divided into two patterns, that is, vertical reception and horizontal reception. The former means determining the original text＇s meaning from the perspective of historical development. Readers in different history periods have different explanations and conclusions of certain writer or original text because of their different social and cultural backgrounds. The author of this thesis combines the viewpoint and the translation of famous book, holding that famous book has special aesthetical value and its explanation shouldn＇t be limited by certain translated version. Retranslation can keep and enrich the aesthetical value of the famous book and should be encouraged.

The Impact of Socio-Cultural Contexts on the Reception of Contemporary Saudi Novels

This paper examines how the socio-cultural contexts have affected readers＇ responses to particular Saudi novels. It draws on Fish＇s concept of ＂interpretive communities＂, which argues that interpretation is an institutional practice, and that consequently readers hold shared prior assumptions that constrain their interpretive strategies （Fish 1980）. Not surprisingly then, some responses to Saudi authors are based on the ideological belief that their novels consist of acts of rebellion against a conservative culture. A close reading of the conflict between Saudi novelists and the social responses to their works can reflect how cultural and social contexts shape the reception of contemporary Saudi novels, and can also help to construct public attitudes toward these texts. Saudi novelists have faced a number of social constraints and factors which have affected the development of the novel in Saudi Arabia. For example, works by al-Gosaibi, Munif, Khal, al-Hamad, al-Mohaimeed, Alsanea, and al-luhani have all been banned because they were seen to pose a major threat to the dominant, patriarchal Saudi ideology. While the social controversy around these writers was raging, some other writers applied self-censorship to avoid touching upon what were perceived to be the most sensitive issues.