Literature review of different name culture in Chinese and western countries 文献综述

Literature review of different name culture in Chinese and western countries

Key word : name translation Hong Lou Meng

1.1 With the great development of mass-media, people have much more opportunities to keep touch with foreign language culture. Name is one of obvious differences in our daily communication. A name is a word or item used for identification or distinguishing from others .name can identify a class or category. A personal identities a specific unique and identifiable individual person ,and may or may not include middle name. Thus, attention must be paid when translating, for there are many ways that one language may prefer one type of name or another, or misunderstanding will be led.

1.2 Hong Lou Meng, or A Dream of Red Manson, or The Story of Stone , is a master work and

a remarkable story about Chinese feudal society .Meanwhile , the names of main characters are modestly and cautiously selected .Thus , when translate the name ,one must pay enough patience and consideration to it unless the whole novel will be ruined and unsatisfied for non-native Chinese learners.

2.1 In the Comparison of English and Chinese Name Culture ,the author chooses several names and analyzes them from traditional Chinese view point and western standpoint in details .

2.2 Some are transliterated(宝玉Bao-yu、林黛玉Lin-Daiyu) ,some are freely-translated(袭人Aroma、平儿Patience) .

Some of names are well-translated, such as The Ladyship Dowager(nee shi) refers to the grandpa of Bao-yu . It not only shows her respectful status but also makes it clear that only distinguished Chinese women can get herself titled her maiden family name. Some are not well-translated since the translator almost ignore the culture differences between Chinese and western countries as well as the different connation in different outlook. For example, Lin Daiyu’s pen name 潇湘妃子is translated into River Queen or Queen of Bamboo ,which doesn’t reveal the characteristics of mottled bamboo and its unique Chinese culture phenomenon .In addition , the pen name of Bao-yu 怡红公子is translated into the Happy Red Prince .However ,the color red refers to anger , violence and blood though it means happy event and lucky thing .Thus , foreign people may can’t fully understand the style of the Hong Lou Meng.

2.3 In conclusion, while translating names, we can combine transliteration and free translation together ,and pay enough attention to cultural differences between dissimilar countries in order to let people from other countries totally enjoy archetypal Chinese literature.

3.1 A simple name hold an ocean of cultural connotation and are worth being probed into. If only we try exploring some tiny question,we are able to get extensive knowledge and profound scholarship.

2011级仁济英语一班

1119080019

刘霞霞Anne