Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

1.3 The Structure of the Thesis-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Introduction of Six Chapters of a Floating Life and Its English Translation-3

2.2 Previous Studies on Six Chapters of a Floating Life-4

2.3 Previous Studies on the Cultural Factors That Affect Translation-4

Chapter Three Analysis on the Cultural Factors That Influence Translation-6

3.1 Three Major Cultural Factors That Influence Translation-6

3.1.1 Different Modes of Thinking of China and the West-6

3.1.2 Cultural Differences in Traditions-7

3.1.3 Cultural Orientation of the Translator-9

3.2 Translation Strategies Lin Chose Because of Cultural Factors-11

3.2.1 Literal Translation or Foreignization-11

3.2.2 Transference-12

3.3.3 Functional Equivalent Translation-12

Chapter Four Conclusion-13

4.1 Findings-13

4.2 Limitations and Further Research-13

References-15

Abstract

Following the progress of reform and opening, more and more foreigners would like to learn Chinese cultures. In the meantime, cooperation and exchange in the fields like politics, economic, culture, and so on, between China and other countries is increasingly growing as the trend of globalization becomes inevitable. However, the culture pattern that “western culture is more influential than Chinese culture” remains unchanged, the cultural influence and cultural communication power of China are still limited. To elevate the Chinese culture’s soft strength, we should know better methods to promote Chinese culture. Therefore, the importance of translation and translator is undoubtable. 

The aim of this thesis is, from the perspective of the relationship between translation and culture, to cite and analyze some examples in Lin Yutang’s translation of Six Chapters of a Floating Life written by Shen Fu, a Chinese author of Qing Dynasty, to elucidate the great influence of cultural differences such as the differences between source language and target language, between eastern and western thinking modes and translators’ different cultural orientation on translation, and to find out the fittest translation strategies so as to retain the depth of Chinese culture and to popularize it across the world. Lin Yutang is a Chinese translator who is knowledgeable about both Chinese culture and western culture, his translation of his favourite Six Chapters of a Floating life surely serves as a good example.

The significance of this study lies in analyzing culture factors like the differences between source language and target language, the differences between eastern thinking modes and western thinking modes and translators’ different cultural orientation on translation, at the same time, finding out that translators, under the influence of these factors, should adopt various translation strategies, such as domestication and foreignization on right occasions.

Keywords:  cultural differences  thinking modes  cultural orientatio