摘 要：自从严复提出了翻译的“信、达、雅”原则后，译者进行翻译工作时便都以此为标准，在忠实于原文思想内容的基础上，尽可能地使译文通顺流畅。而修辞由于其手段种类繁多且蕴含文化背景，故成为翻译中的重点和难点。本文以修辞手段的翻译为研究对象，通过分析英语中各种修辞手段的特征，提出英汉翻译中修辞翻译的主要策略，以期给译者的翻译工作提供建议，从而更好地促进中西方的交流沟通以及文化融合。

关键词：英汉翻译；修辞；翻译策略

Abstract：Since Yan Fu put forward the principle of translation, namely, faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance, translators have taken it as a standard to make the translation smooth and fluent on the basis of being faithful to the content and idea of the original. Because of their varieties and the cultural backgrounds, rhetorical devices have become the key points and difficulties in translation. Taking rhetorical devices in English-Chinese translation as the main study object, this paper analyzes the characteristics of various rhetorical devices in English, and proposes the main strategies for their translation in order to provide translators with some suggestions to deal with rhetorical devices well in English-Chinese translation and better promote the communication and cultural integration between the East and the West.

Keywords：English-Chinese translation; rhetorical devices; strategies for translation

Contents

摘 要 i

Abstract ii

I. Introduction 1

II. A Brief Retrospection of Rhetoric 2

2.1 Definition 2

2.2 Changing Process in History and Status Quo 3

2.3 The Analysis of the Specific Figures of Speech 3

2.3.1 Simile 4

2.3.2 Metaphor 4

2.3.3 Hyperbole 5

2.3.4 Euphemism 5

2.3.5 Pun 6

2.3.6 Transferred Epithet 6

III. The Main Strategies in English-Chinese Translation 7

3.1 Literal Translation 7

3.2 Free Translation 8

3.2.1 Shifting the Figures of Speech 8

3.2.2 Extending the Meaning 9

3.2.3 Adding Words 9

3.3 Substitution 9

IV. The Retaining and Loss of Rhetorical Effects in English-Chinese Translation 10

4.1 The Retaining of Rhetorical Effects in English-Chinese Translation 10

4.2 The Loss of Rhetorical Effects in English-Chinese Translation 12

V. Conclusion 13

Bibliography 15

Acknowledgements 16

On Rhetorical Devices in English-Chinese Translation

I. Introduction

Globalization makes communication more frequent, contact closer, and makes translation more important thanks to the development of economy, science and technology. The purpose of translation which is a combination of art, skill and science is to understand each other, eliminate differences and strive for unity. Translation activities at all times and in all places play a role in exchanging ideas between different cultures and spreading native cultures. Therefore, until today translation makes contribution to the development of world, but rhetorical devices is the key points and difficulties in translation. It is impossible to make the translation truly unified owing to the differences of culture, thought, and rhetoric in different language. Instead of it, the translation should accurately convey the content and culture of original as far as possible in translating activities, in another word, translation is going after faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance. And as both languages have a long history and are spoken by millions of people, English and Chinese, which respectively belong to the Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan language family, also vividly represent the Oriental and Western culture. With China’s accession to the World Trade Organization and China’s opening to the outside world, the speed of global integration has become faster and international circulation of commodities has become more frequent. Therefore, the translation has to be studied in this world. No matter which method is chosen, the goal of this paper is clear, that is, to look for a better way to deal with rhetorical devices in English-Chinese translation, so as to better promote the communication and cultural integration between the East and the West.