The Application of Functional Equivalence in Translation Based on Artistic Devices

【Abstract】Ancient Chinese poets embody their feelings and aspirations in stuff like flowers. When translate these things， a translator should take flowers connotation consideration and find equivalent ones that carry almost the same meaning. In translation studies， functionalists propose that translation is a type of human action， an intentional， purposeful behavior that take place in a given situation， which coincide with the translators purposes towards this text.

【Key words】plants; meanings; functional equivalence; artistic devices

【作者簡介】杜鑫淼，江蘇師范大學。

Functional equivalence， developing on the basis of Skopos Theory， emphasizes the function is the same for both ST and TT. Since The Book of Songs， fu， bi and xing have been three chief artistic devices Chinese scholars have concluded in practice. Fu is used to frankly and implicitly express ones feelings， often accompanied by certain emphases while bi and xing indirectly by using specific objects with special meanings to show the gracious characteristics and to express the emotion and anger. In Tale of Woe， the writer uses plants to show his conditions， characters and wishes.

In a broad sense， these plants selected in the source text belong to herb featuring special fragrance and medicinal properties. In this aspect， Qu Yuan highlights that what he does is for the people and the nation as well as his gracious characteristics. Besides， the growth of these herbs requires different living conditions， which shows that Qu can comprehensively enhance his skills in different areas. In the target text， these plants are translated into certain names under the guidance of functional equivalence.

1. Fu

哀眾芳之蕪穢

Besides， theyd been devastated midst Weeds and Dirt！

In the source text， “眾芳”“蕪穢” these two objects with opposite meanings， forming a contrast， shows darkness and Qus sorrow because of kings blindness. It describes that those who are honored and aspired are not worthy of that. In the target text， these are translated into “Weeds” and “Dirt” which express almost the same meaning——uselessness and danger to the society. Words in the source text emphasize that through making a comparison while in the target text through repetition. However， the original order was broken in the target text. The former begins with “哀” to emphasize it，showing his devastation firstly. This can exacerbate the sorrow. The latter does not put “devastated” at the first place， which cannot highlight his pains.

2. Bi

2.1 扈江離與辟芷兮

For Selinea and Angelica I care

“辟芷” in ST is known as gentleman， lives in damp， mountainous areas which emphasizes his tough conditions in that society. Its growth requires warmth and enough sunshine， representing his desire for his nation and its entire plant with aroma can be used to benefit people， showing that his doings are for people and nation. Besides， he uses its entire aroma to show that he is very gracious both externally and internally. Angelica lives in the same conditions and its entire aromatic plant can also be used to provide relief to patients and is considered to have the ability to ward off evil spirits which is just like gentleman who tries to save people from the darkness of the society. With the same living conditions， characteristics and functions， “辟芷”and “Angelica” expresses the same sense and represents the same image.

2.2 攬茹蕙以掩涕兮

With the Sweet-Grass leaves I wipe my tears of distress

“蕙”represents a comfort amid the peril of his life. The country is governed by incompetent men， the nation is in darkness and he is also been exiled. Amid grievance and lamentation， he finds “蕙”which possesses similar gracious characteristics as a great relief， showing that in his country， no one except is gracious. Sweet-Grass， from its literal meaning， makes a contrast with his hard conditions， sweetening himself， which appropriately convey the function of the mentioned herb. As an herb， Sweet-Grass is a sacred grass of the indigenous people of the United States. As mentioned before， Qu considers that only people of the sagely and saintly grade should be chosen to dominate this sacred land， which expresses that land will become sacred under the governance of sages. Sweet-Grass not only refers to his comfort， but also the gentlemen of his kind. Sacredness is another similarity between the original and the translated.

3. Xing

3.1 雜申椒與菌桂兮，豈維紉夫蕙茞。

Good use of Sweet Grass and Angelica they made， And heed to Cassia and Ash they also paid.

“申椒”“菌桂” here refers to gentleman who can offer some useful and effective advice to national governance for national prosperity and constantly reminds the king of being righteously pure and upright and loving his people. Angelica is considered one of the most powerful herbs and life-saving foods. Used here， it shows its great power in bringing order out of chaos and its usefulness in saving painful people from the darkness and offering them bright and hope. As an herb， Sweet-Grass is a sacred grass of the indigenous people of the United States. Qu considers that only people of the sagely and saintly grade should be chosen to dominate this sacred land， which expresses that land will become sacred under the governance of sages. They are similar in the way that they can address bad “diseases”， make people survive difficult conditions and leads the next story——how different governance affects a nations future. “蕙” describes knowledgeable gentleman with purity and beauty. Cassia is an evergreen tree and possesses beauty all year round. It contains many medicals with health effects which is similar to a gentleman with knowledge. These three plants refer to different kinds of gentlemen that are useful for the country.

3.2 又樹蕙之百畝

And planted Melilotus of a hundred mu

“蕙” means he has nurtured several elites who are good for the future of his country and hope that them can reverse the current situation and create a bright future for the nation and the people. However， his country is still in darkness. Referring to that， he shows his wishes and great desire. Melilotus is often used as a green manure， can be turned into the soil to increase its nitrogen and organic matter content. It is especially valuable in heavy soils because of its deep rooting. So it can be explained as it can greatly change the corruptive and other inappropriate systems of a society， then develop a nation and make the nation grow stronger. That is why Qu mentioned“蕙”and planted it——He wants to alter the current backwardness through the nurture of a new generation.

In the translation of plants， functional equivalence is often used as the guided theory. When translate， one needs to figure out the deep meaning of the source text， take different cultural backgrounds into consideration and then find the same image or different image with similar sense， or translate as much as possible the sense behind the image. Its aim is to produce on readers in target text an effect as close as possible to that obtained on the readers of the original.

References：

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