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A Functionalist Approach to Humor Translation

Author: ShengNa
Tutor: LiShaoMing
School: Shandong University
Course: English Language and Literature
Keywords: Humor Functional Translation Theory Humor -oriented translation Non- humor -oriented translation
CLC: I046
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2007
Downloads: 778
Quote: 4
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Abstract

There is a saying in the translation industry, humor translation as hopeless as poetry translation. The poetry translation difficulty is already a well-known fact, and even humor translation of difficult poetry translation comparable to, enough for us to recognize that indeed there are many problems in the process of translation humor. In the previous humor translation studies, humor is generally divided into a scene of humor and non-scene humor. In general, the simpler scenario humor translation because such humor not subject to the constraints of language or cultural background. The rather than scenario humor generally need to achieve a humorous effect with the writing skills or cultural background knowledge, thus causing difficulties to the translator. In dealing with the translation of non-scene humor, naturalization and annotation commonly used translation strategies. Specifically, if the literal derived President can not generate the same sense of humor and the source text, you can use naturalization strategy to create a similar sense of humor in the target language, similar humorous effect can not be achieved, the available annotations, so the purpose of the recipient of the text, at least in the annotation help understand the humor of the source text. Found in the review of previous research on humor translate, no matter what methods and strategies used in the course of the study, the research focus has always been how to create humor in the purpose of the text effect. The authors put forward the question: If the source text is humorous, the purpose of the text must be humorous? If the a humorous purpose of text in certain scenarios can not effectively achieve its communicative function, whether the need to retain the humorous elements of the source text? Function translation theory provides a theoretical basis for the authors questioned. Functional translation theory, the source text only play a role in providing information, the so-called translation, the translator function according to the purpose of the text from the source text, select the appropriate information constitutes the purpose of the text to achieve its specific function. The authors vivid metaphor of this process as the building blocks of the game. Source text for translation color different shapes of wood structures into what shape pieces of wood and then select from the source text asked which scenario decided by the translator. Therefore, we tried to jump out of the shackles of humor proved to create a humorous effect is not humor translation focus, in the framework of a functional translation theory, the key lies in whether the purpose of the text can achieve their communicative function in a particular scenario of the culture of the target language. Paper, the authors also bold attempt to humor-oriented and non-humor-oriented humor translated into two broad categories. The translation of the so-called humor-oriented is the main function of the purpose of the text is to amuse and entertain. In this type of translation, draw the text because of cultural barriers or language barriers literal translation can not have this feature, you can consider using translation strategies of naturalization or comment asked to for the purpose of readers to accept and reproduce humorous effects. It is worth mentioning, because readers to reflect such translation key, which requires the translator in the choice of translation strategies readers have some predictive. Non-humor-oriented translation is the main purpose of the text function is not to amuse and entertain. Therefore, such humor translate the focus should be how to effectively achieve its main function. Under this category, the authors assume that the two scenarios: 1. Humor functions to achieve its main function of the realization of conflict; 2. The humor function to achieve its main function to achieve consistent. In the first scenario, the emergence of humorous elements does not meet the expectations of the target audience, and thus affect the realization of its main functions. The authors believe that this case, the humorous elements should be abandoned, asked to be taken to the target audience expected to achieve its main function. In the second scenario, humor, although the main function of not translations, but can contribute to the realization of its main functions. In other words, the humor is a means to achieve its main function or way. If we can achieve the main function in a humorous manner, and will be the perfect state; humor functions can not be realized because of cultural barriers or language barriers, the authors suggest sacrificing humor functions take other way to guarantee the effective implementation of its main function . This paper analyzes the idea of ??a new attempt in humor translation studies, there must be a lot of inadequacies, to be further studied.

A Functionalist Approach to Humor Translation

Abstract

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