Research on Prose Translation from the Perspective of Relevance Theory

Taking 108 Excellent Prose Works as an example

Abstract

In today’s globalized communication, international communication has become commonplace, and translation between languages is inevitable. Translation is one of the oldest activities in human history and society, and plays an inestimable role in promoting the exchange of world literature, philosophy and art as well as maintaining the peace and stability of the world. Prose translation has a long history and has always been an important research object of translation studies, as well as one of the sources of earliest theoretical understanding of translation. Translation of prose plays an important role in cultural exchange. However, due to the differences in cultural customs and language habits, Chinese and English prose texts have their own characteristics. Many scholars have tried their best to bridge the differences between English and Chinese prose texts, studying different characteristics and translation strategies of Chinese and English prose texts from different perspectives. Despite that, there is limitation in the dissemination of prose translation and the global cultural communication and dissemination because of the limited level of translators and the obvious lack of research in prose texts. In order to better promote the development of translation and facilitate the communication and dissemination between different cultures, this paper explores the prose translation strategies and translation techniques by taking 108 Excellent Prose Works as an example. It clarifies the definition and development of relevance theory and the relationship between relevance theory and translation. This paper also discusses the characteristics, functions and principles of prose texts. Under the guidance of relevance theory and its analysis, this paper analyzes example sentences selected from 108 Excellent Prose Works, studying two translation methods, literal translation and free translation as well as translation techniques such as amplification, omission and substitution, so as to promote the translation of prose and even the communication and dissemination of global culture.