Chapter two is literature review. In this part, a brief introduction of Memories of Peking: South Side Stories and its English version are given. Meanwhile, the Functional Equivalence Theory and culture-loaded words are introduced.

Chapter three is the main body, in which the translation of three kinds of culture-loaded words in Memories of Peking: South Side Stories is illustrated and analyzed from the perspective of Nida’s theory. By listing specific examples of the translation of culture-loaded words, the translating strategies adopted in the English version are discussed, as well as the merits and demerits of the translation.

Chapter four is conclusion of the whole thesis. Besides, the major findings and limitations of the study are pointed out, and the suggestions for further studies are given.

2. Literature Review

2.1 Memories of Peking: South Side Stories

2.1.1 Lin Haiyin and Memories of Peking: South Side Stories

Memories of Peking: South Side Stories (Cheng Nan Jiu Shi) is a collection of autobiographical short stories written by a famous Chinese female writer, Lin Haiyin. This book is written on the basis of the author’s life experiences from six to thirteen years old, and it narrates several stories of the protagonist’s childhood and describes an image of people’s life in the 1920s in Peking through the eyes of the child, Ying-zi. The book consists of seven chapters, including one introduction, five stories, and one postscript, which are Introduction, Hui-an Hostel, Let Us Go and See the Sea, Lan L-niang, Donkey Rolls, Papa’s Flowers Have Fallen ---- And I Was No Longer a Child, and the last chapter, Winter Sun, Childhood Years, the Camel Caravan. With its playful language and vivid stories, Memories of Peking: South Side Stories is popular among readers, and it was also judged as one of the top 100 Chinese novel in the 20th century by Asia Week.

2.1.2 The English Version of Memories of Peking: South Side Stories

Up to present, there is only one English version of Memories of Peking: South Side Stories, which is translated by Qi Bangyuan and Yin Zhang Lanxi. In the 1970s, a part of the book was translated by Yin, which includes Hui-an Hostel, Let Us Go and See the Sea, Lan L-niang, and Winter Sun, Childhood Years, the Camel Caravan. And the other two chapters were translated by Qi in 1985. The English version was published by The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1992. Meanwhile, the version is widely accepted at home and abroad.

2.1.3 Previous Studies on Memories of Peking: South Side Stories at Home and Abroad

Although Memories of Peking: South Side Stories is such a great work deserves praise and appreciation, there is only one English translation for this book. Meanwhile, most of the studies on this book focus on its literary value or other aspects instead of its translation. However, the studies on the translation of the novel are few to be found. Therefore, the studies on the translation of the Memories of Peking: South Side Stories are far from adequate, and this paper will hope to contribute to the study of that.

2.2 Functional Equivalence Theory

2.2.1 Eugene A. Nida

Eugene A. Nida, a pioneer in the field of translation theory and linguistics, developed the famous functional equivalence theory. He put forward Functional Equivalence Theory in 1964. Since then, Nida, together with his theory, has made great influence on western translation field; and he has also become one of the founders of the modern discipline of translation studies. Nida has published several books of translation theory and linguistics, which include Bible Translating (1946), Toward a Science of Translating (1964), and The Theory and Practice of Translation (1969), etc.

2.2.2 Functional Equivalence Theory

Functional Equivalence Theory, which was put forward in 1964 by Nida, is the most famous translation theory among Nida’s translation theories. The definition of functional equivalence is that the target language receptors should have the same response to the translating text as the source language readers with the principle of functional equivalence.