An Analysis of Translations of "Shuidiaogetou-mingyuejishiyou" from the Perspective of Construal Theory

Abstract

Song poetry is a kind of literature with rich imagery, often omitting details in order to present Song poetry’s beauty, which makes translation more difficult. In addition, most scholars pay attention to the translation of Tang poems but few studies on the translation of Song Poetry (Ci) from the perspective of Construal Theory. Su Shi's "Shuidiaogetou-mingyuejishiyou" is a classic work in Song poetry. Different translators have different translation methods, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. This paper selects six representative translations of "Shuidiaogetou-mingyuejishiyou", analyzes the translation from four dimensions: scope/background, perspective, salience and specificity to study the translation strategies, translation effects and explore the reasons behind them. In this way this paper can provide inspiration for domestic and foreign translators to translate Chinese classic poetry, and spread Chinese culture to foreign countries better.