Abstract

Within the framework of the Skopos theory, this paper examines the translation of puns which are applied in the verdict poems of the beauties in Jin Ling as well as in the dialogues among characters in the two full text English versions of A Dream of Red Mansions—one is translated by Yang Hsienyi and Gladys Yang, the other by David Hawkes and Minford. Since the factors beyond the text cover many aspects and boast the value for a more comprehensive study on the two versions, the Skopos theory offers us a rewarding access to the translator’s subjectivity and its influence on the translation.
It argues that the translator’s subjectivity from the perspective of Skopos theory is closely related to the translation strategies he or she adopts in the translation of puns. According to the clarification of the Skopos theory on the translator and translation process, the paper is intended to examine how a translator’s subjectivity influences the choice of his or her translation strategies of puns.  It is supposed to clarify in four parts within two categories, including the initiator (the objective category), the translator’s personal purposes, the understanding of the source text by the translator, and the ability of using both source and target languages (the subjective activities).
By analyses on these aspects and the related examples, the paper aims to give a profound insight into the term “a translator’s subjectivity” and to examine the two English versions of A Dream of Red Mansions from a rewarding perspective. In addition, it provides some suggestions on the criticism of translation versions, which has always been a heated topic for long and needs further study.

Key words: Skopos theory, a translator’s subjectivity, the translation of puns, A Dream of Red Mansions

摘要

本文旨在目的论的框架之下研究《红楼梦》判词和对话中的双关修辞格是如何在两个英文全译本中得到再现的，一个是由杨宪益戴乃迭夫妇翻译，另一个由霍克斯及闽福德译成。由于这两个译本之外的各种因素涵盖很多方面，而且对于研究和比较译本有着不可忽视的价值，因此功能流派的目的论就为我们提供了一个有效的途径，去探究译者主体性及其对英译《红楼梦》的影响。
本文认为目的论视角下的译者主体性与译者在翻译双关的过程中所采取的策略有着密切关系。本文将研究译者主体性中的两个方面，且分为四个部分，一个是客观性方面的翻译发起人，一个是译者翻译目的、理解以及个人能力等三个主观性方面。
根据目的论对于译者以及翻译过程的论述可以发现，这些因素影响着两位译者处理这部小说中双关翻译的策略。通过这几个方面的研究，本文旨在更为深入的阐释“译者主体性”这一概念，同时对于《红楼梦》英译的研究提供一个有效视角和途径。此外，本文也为翻译批评标准和模式提出了建议，当然，译本的评判标准历来是热点话题，也是值得我们进一步研究的领域。

关键词：目的论，译者主体性，双关的翻译，《红楼梦》