Cultural Connotation and Translation of Chinese Zodiac开题报告

1. 研究目的与意义

Animals play an important role in our daily life. Among those animals, Chinese Zodiac has an essential influence on both Chinese and English society. Chinese Zodiac is a symbolic culture of Chinese tradition. Different translations of Chinese Zodiac between China and English-speaking countries reflect the cultural differences. Analyzing the cultural connotations of Chinese Zodiav can help us better translate and use those animal words correctly.

2. 研究内容和预期目标

My thesis will focus on analyzing the cultural connotations of Chinese Zodiac and try to use three simple methods to translate those twelve animals. The first part will introduce the definitions and relationship of cultural connotations and translation. Then, the thesis will discuss the cultural connotations of Chinese Zoodiac in four aspects. Finally, the translation methods will be futher explored in the next part.

3. 国内外研究现状

There have been many researches on the introduction of cultural connotations of Chinese Zodiac and their translation made by Chinese scholars. For example, Contrast ofChinese and Foreign Culture and Translation Strategy in Chinese Zodiac(《从十二生肖看中西文化对比及翻译策略》) was written by Lin Xiaojun in China.

Because of the frequent use of animal words in the cross-cultural communication and some translation practices, we should pay more attention to the cultural connotations of Chinese Zodiac and the techniques to translate them. That is why I attempt to make a research on this topic.

4. 计划与进度安排

i. introduction

throughout the history of evolution, animals play an important role in human activities, in which men and animal keep a frequent contact with each other. therefore, animals have a great influence on our daily life. however, due to the different historic backgrounds, customs, religious beliefs and other aspects, the westerners simply have different understanding of cultural connotations of animal words from us. so understanding the cultural connotations of animal words, especially chinese zodiac has an essential influence in the process of translation.

ii. literature review

5. 参考文献

[1] newmark, peter. a textbook of translation [m]. shanghai foreign language press, 1988.

[2]nida, e. a. on translation. 北京：中国对外翻译出版公司，1984.

[3] robertson, ian. sociology, 2nd ed [m]. shanghai foreign language press, 1981.