Gain and Loss: An Analysis of the English Translation of Chinese Ci from the Perspective of SDRT Theory

Abstract

Chinese Ci, a classical Song Dynasty lyric genre, relies heavily on syntactic economy and zero anaphora (ZA) to achieve a compact and highly accessible coherence grounded in vivid imagery and shared scene schemas. This implicit mode of cohesion stands in tension with Segmented Discourse Representation Theory (SDRT), especially its Right Frontier Constraint (RFC), which expects explicit, accessible referents for coherent discourse attachment. Using Su Shi’s “Riverside Town” (1075) and Xu Yuanchong’s English translation as a case study, this paper demonstrated that translating Ci into English necessitates inserting overt pronouns, connectives, and subordinate clauses to “repair” the implicit references. These changes alter the discourse structure of the poem, increase RFC compliance and resolve attachment ambiguities, but at the cost of narrowing the poem’s aesthetic openness and imaginative space. The analysis highlights a fundamental trade-off in classical Chinese poetry translation—a gain in clarity and cohesion versus a loss in subtlety and interpretive freedom—and underlines the need for translation strategies that balance logical coherence with poetic integrity. This research thus offered valuable insights for translation practice, illuminating the inherent yet necessary trade-offs in bridging profound cultural and poetic divides.