Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Chinese-English Translation of Curse Words in A Dream of Red Mansions: Literal Versus Free Translation

Received: 16 April 2024     Accepted: 6 May 2024     Published: 17 May 2024
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Abstract

This research paper delves into the translation strategies for curse words from Chinese to English within the context of literary works, specifically focusing on "A Dream of Red Mansions," a classic Chinese novel. The study acknowledges the cultural aversion to curse words due to their offensive nature and association with negative emotions. However, it emphasizes the importance of these words in literature, where they contribute to the authenticity and expressiveness of the text. The paper is structured into three main sections. The first section provides a comparative analysis of curse words in English and Chinese, highlighting their common offensive traits and the cultural nuances that differentiate their usage. The second section presents a detailed examination of various translation strategies applied to curse words in the novel, including literal translation and free translation. The third section discusses the challenges translators face when bridging cultural barriers and offers recommendations for achieving faithful and expressive translations. The study underscores that curse words extend beyond their everyday negative connotations and are integral to the literary expression. It concludes that translators must possess a deep understanding of both the source and target languages' cultural contexts to effectively translate curse words. The recommended approach involves understanding the literal and extended meanings of curse words, considering the context, and employing a combination of literal and free translation strategies to maintain the essence and emotional impact of the original text.

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 12, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11
Page(s) 34-41
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Curse Words, Translation Strategies, Cultural Barriers, Literary Works, Faithfulness, Expressive Translations

References
[1] Andersson, L., and Trudgill, P. (1990). Bad language. Oxford: Blackwell.
[2] Beard, W. (2014). Dirty Words in “Deadwood”: Literature and the Postwestern. Western Historical Quarterly, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 191-192.
[3] Cao, XQ. (1988). A Dream of Red Mansions (in Chinese). Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House.
[4] Fernández Dobao, A. (2006). Linguistic and cultural aspects of the translation of swearing: The Spanish version of pulp fiction. Babel, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 222-242.
[5] Güvendir, E. (2015). Why are males inclined to use strong swear words more than females? An evolutionary explanation based on male intergroup aggressiveness. Language Sciences, vol. 50, pp. 133-139.
[6] Hajare, R. (2018a). Route evaluation of domestic violence and epileptic seizure (“fit”) experience among recently married women residing in slums communities’ pharmaceutical institutions in Pune District, India. Arc Org Inorg Chem Sci, vol. 3, no. 2, AOICS.MS.ID.000158.
[7] Hajare, R. (2018b). Co-Relation of Domestic Violence and Epileptic Seizure (“Fit”) Experience among Recently Married Women Residing In slums Communities’ Pharmaceutical Institutions in Pune District, India. Res Inves Sports Med, vol. 3, no. 3, 000562.
[8] Hatim, B. (2001). Teaching and Researching Translation. London, New York etc.: Longman.
[9] Hawkes, D. (1974). The Story of the Stone. London: Penguin Classics.
[10] House, J. (2017). Translation: The Basics. London & New York: Routledge.
[11] Jacob, B. (2006). Dirty words and ‘fancy trash’: translating French obscenity. French Studies Bulletin, vol. 27, no. 101, pp. 103-106.
[12] Jay, T., and Janschewitz, K. (2008). The pragmatics of swearing. Journal of Politeness Research-Language Behaviour Culture, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 267-288.
[13] Lakos, W. (2010). Chinese Ancestor Worship: A Practice and Ritual Orientated Approach to Understanding Chinese Culture. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
[14] Ljung, M. (2011). Swearing: A cross-cultural linguistic study. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
[15] Munday, J. (2016). Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications. London and New York: Routledge.
[16] Pym, A. (2014). Exploring Translation Theories. London and New York: Routledge.
[17] Valdeón, R. (2015). The (ab)use of taboo lexis in audiovisual translation: Raising awareness of pragmatic variation in English-Spanish. Intercultural Pragmatics, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 363-385.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Chen, Y. (2024). Chinese-English Translation of Curse Words in A Dream of Red Mansions: Literal Versus Free Translation. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 12(3), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11

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    ACS Style

    Chen, Y. Chinese-English Translation of Curse Words in A Dream of Red Mansions: Literal Versus Free Translation. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2024, 12(3), 34-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11

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    AMA Style

    Chen Y. Chinese-English Translation of Curse Words in A Dream of Red Mansions: Literal Versus Free Translation. Int J Lit Arts. 2024;12(3):34-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11,
      author = {Yang Chen},
      title = {Chinese-English Translation of Curse Words in A Dream of Red Mansions: Literal Versus Free Translation
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
      volume = {12},
      number = {3},
      pages = {34-41},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20241203.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20241203.11},
      abstract = {This research paper delves into the translation strategies for curse words from Chinese to English within the context of literary works, specifically focusing on "A Dream of Red Mansions," a classic Chinese novel. The study acknowledges the cultural aversion to curse words due to their offensive nature and association with negative emotions. However, it emphasizes the importance of these words in literature, where they contribute to the authenticity and expressiveness of the text. The paper is structured into three main sections. The first section provides a comparative analysis of curse words in English and Chinese, highlighting their common offensive traits and the cultural nuances that differentiate their usage. The second section presents a detailed examination of various translation strategies applied to curse words in the novel, including literal translation and free translation. The third section discusses the challenges translators face when bridging cultural barriers and offers recommendations for achieving faithful and expressive translations. The study underscores that curse words extend beyond their everyday negative connotations and are integral to the literary expression. It concludes that translators must possess a deep understanding of both the source and target languages' cultural contexts to effectively translate curse words. The recommended approach involves understanding the literal and extended meanings of curse words, considering the context, and employing a combination of literal and free translation strategies to maintain the essence and emotional impact of the original text.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
    JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
    JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
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    AB  - This research paper delves into the translation strategies for curse words from Chinese to English within the context of literary works, specifically focusing on "A Dream of Red Mansions," a classic Chinese novel. The study acknowledges the cultural aversion to curse words due to their offensive nature and association with negative emotions. However, it emphasizes the importance of these words in literature, where they contribute to the authenticity and expressiveness of the text. The paper is structured into three main sections. The first section provides a comparative analysis of curse words in English and Chinese, highlighting their common offensive traits and the cultural nuances that differentiate their usage. The second section presents a detailed examination of various translation strategies applied to curse words in the novel, including literal translation and free translation. The third section discusses the challenges translators face when bridging cultural barriers and offers recommendations for achieving faithful and expressive translations. The study underscores that curse words extend beyond their everyday negative connotations and are integral to the literary expression. It concludes that translators must possess a deep understanding of both the source and target languages' cultural contexts to effectively translate curse words. The recommended approach involves understanding the literal and extended meanings of curse words, considering the context, and employing a combination of literal and free translation strategies to maintain the essence and emotional impact of the original text.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 3
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