从许渊冲三美论分析《琵琶行》的两个英译本_英语论文

A Comparative Study of the Two English Versions of Pipaxing —— From the Perspective of Xu Yuanchong’s Three- Beauty Principle

摘要

中国是诗的国度，中国的古典诗词是中华传统文化中一颗璀璨的明珠，世界人民都应当有机会感受到中国古典诗歌的独特魅力。汉诗英译是向全世界介绍中国诗歌文化的一条重要途径，优秀的英译诗词作品，会为中国的诗歌文化添光溢彩。总体看来，现有的英译诗词并非件件都是精品，并且中国译界关于诗歌英译的理论并不系统。在众多的翻译理论中，目前较为流行的就是许渊冲老先生提出的关于诗歌翻译的“三美论”原则。许渊冲先生在诗歌翻译理论和实践方面的成就为中国古诗英译的发展做出了巨大贡献。

本文将以中唐时期著名诗人白居易的《琵琶行》为案例，从“三美论”角度分析《琵琶行》源于许渊冲和杨宪益的两个英译本，比较两个译本的优与劣，并探讨许渊冲 “三美论”在诗歌翻译中的适用性。

关键词：许渊冲；杨宪益；“三美论”；《琵琶行》

Abstract

China is a gold state of poetry; its classical poetry has composed an important part of traditional Chinese culture. People all around the world should have the opportunity to feel the unique charm of classical Chinese  poetry. And the translation of it is an important way to introduce the Chinese poetry culture to the whole world. The excellent translation works would undoubtedly win the classical Chinese poetry a great influence around the world. 

Generally speaking, the existing translation works are imperfect and the theories of English translation of classical Chinese poetry are not in system. Among many translation theories, the relatively popular one is the Three-Beauty Principle proposed by Mr. Xu Yuanchong. His achievements of both translation theory and practice are great contributions to the development of the translation of classical Chinese poetry. 

This thesis will primarily focus on Pipaxing written by Bai Juyi, a famous poet of Middle Tang Dynasty. Based on the comparative study of the two English versions by Xu Yuanchong and Yang Xianyi, the thesis explores the gains and losses in the two translations and the feasibility of Three-Beauty Principle in poetic translation.      

Key words: Xu Yuanchong; Yang Xianyi; Three-Beauty Principle;Pipaxing            

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

2.1 Researches on English translation of Chinese poem 1

2.2 Researches on Pipaxing 2

3. Xu Yuanchong and His Three-Beauty Principle 4

3.1 A brief introduction to Xu Yuanchong 4

3.2 Three Beauty Principle 5

4. A Comparative Study of the Two English Versions of Pipaxing from the Perspective of Three-Beauty Principle 7

4.1 A introduction to the two English versions 7

4.2 Beauty in sense 7

4.3 Beauty in sound 10

4.4 Beauty in form 13

5. Conclusion 14

Works Cited 16