Transliteration in the Translation of The Classic of Tea: Problems and Solutions

Abstract

The Classic of Tea, authored by the Tea Sage Lu Yu, encompasses over 400 entries related to tea names, names of tea utensils, personal names, place names, dynastic titles, titles of literary works, Chinese units of measurement, and other uniquely Chinese terms such as the Five Elements and the Bagua. During translation, it is often challenging to find exact lexical equivalents for these names in the target language, necessitating the use of phonetic transliteration. Phonetic transliteration is a common method in the translation of Chinese classics. However, improper use of phonetic transliteration can present reading difficulties for readers, impede subsequent cultural exchange, and is particularly problematic in works like The Classic of Tea, which require extensive use of this method. This paper examines the application of phonetic transliteration in the English translation of The Classic of Tea from the perspective of reader comprehension. It identifies issues such as excessive use of transliteration, difficulties for Western readers in pronunciation, and ambiguity in reference. To address these issues, strategies such as reducing transliteration, adjusting information layout, re-annotating phonetically, adding Chinese characters, and inserting hyperlinked audio files are proposed. These strategies aim to alleviate the reading burden and enhance the effectiveness of phonetic transliteration.