1、iAcknowledgementsThis thesis has taken me almost half a year to turn it from conception to the final completion. A number of people have been wonderfully helpful in my doing research as well as completing the thesis. So I especially wish to acknowledge the following people.First of all, I would like
2、 to express my heartfelt appreciation to my supervisor Liu Yanfen for her long and lasting patient and constructive instructions on my thesis writing. Secondly, my many thanks also go to my Translation Teacher Ms Qiao who let me have an interest in Translation.Thirdly, I would like to thank all the
3、teachers who teach me and give me help.At last, my thanks go to my roommates who give me confidence to accomplishing this thesis.iiAbstractTranslation is a communicative activity. The Functionalist Approaches give a definition that translating is a purposeful activity. The main principles of Functio
4、nalist Approaches are Skopos Rule and Loyalty principle. This thesis discusses the literal translation and free translation adopted in English songs translation, and tries to find out whether these two translation methods conform to the Functionalist Approaches principles: loyalty principle and skop
5、os rule, so that the translation of English songs can be better presented under the Functionalist Approaches.Key words： Functionalist Approaches, translation of English songs, translation methods, Functionalist Approaches principlesiii摘要翻译是一种交际活动。德国功能派翻译理论把翻译定义为一种有目的的行为。本文在德国功能派翻译理论原则的透视下，讨论英文歌曲翻译采用
6、直译和意译的翻译方法是否达到功能派翻译的目的准则和忠诚原则，旨在用理论来指导翻译歌曲的实践活动，以达到较好的翻译效果。关键词： 德国功能派， 英文歌曲翻译， 翻译方法，功能派原则ivContentsAcknowledgements.iAbstractii摘要 iii1 Introduction .12 Literature Review23 On the Translation of English Songs from the Perspective of Functionalist Approaches . 43.1 Functionalist Approaches 43.1.1 The
7、Development, Conception and Essence of the Functionalist Approaches .43.1.2 The Principles of the Functionalist Approaches63.2 Translation Methods Used in English Songs Translation 83.2.1 Literal Translation83.2.2 Free Translation93.3 Observation of the Translation Effect through the Functionalist A
8、pproaches Principles .113.3.1 Skopos Rule.113.3.2 Loyalty Principle13v4 Conclusion15Bibliography 161On the Translation of English Songs from the Perspective of the Functionalist Approaches1 IntroductionLife without music is dull. An American poet named Henry W. Longfellow said that music is a univer
9、sal language of mankind. The musicians from all over the world compose many different kinds of music which make our life more vigorous，relaxing and meaningful. With the world economic developing, China has a close connection with the western countries. English songs as a carrier of musical culture a
10、re translated by us and make us learn more about western culture. Besides, many good English songs which bring the fun and inspiration to us are popular in China and they are sung by most people. Yet there are many difficulties in translating English songs, such as culture differences, the style of
11、songs, the qualifications for a translator, and for better translation, the translation of English songs not only needs to convey the inner feeling and sense of the original songs, but also needs to be close to music rhythm. For a long time, faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance are the most inf
12、luential and popular standard of translation. As to the translation of English songs, which principles should we follow? The translation of English songs is an activity to make communication with western culture. The most meaningful significances of Functionalist Approaches are: functional category
13、of translation criticism, skopostheorie and beyond, the 2theory of translation action, and function plus loyalty. Hans Vermeer sets up the Skopostheory. The key conception of the Skopostheorie is that the translation method and strategy must depend on the skopos of the source-text. According to this
14、 breakthrough of Functionalist Approaches, skopos rule was developed. Later on, Christine Nord develops function plus loyalty. Skopos rule and loyalty principle can observe the methods and strategies we use in translating English songs to see whether they get to the demands for target audience. Lite
15、ral and free translations are two methods often used in English songs translation. This paper wants to talk about the translation methods used in English songs translation on the theoretical basis of the Functionalist Approaches skopos rule and the loyalty principle.2 Literature ReviewIt is not easy
16、 to translate English songs, especially when we want to express the original meaning of the songs appropriately, and make the target language translation able to sing. For those reasons, those researches into songs translation are scanty. Some talk about the standard and method of English songs tran
17、slation. Some are on the research of the difficulty and necessity of the translation, and other few authors share their individual opinions in the translation of English songs. There are still some people studying on the English songs translation through the Nidas equivalence theory. But most of the
18、m talk about the clarification, rhetorical devices and methods of English songs 3translation. Xue Fan, an experienced translator wrote a bookExploration and Practice of Song Translation, which has made a comprehensive and systematic summary to his long-life experience of song translation including h
19、is ploughing and weeding, harvest, exploration and lesson for his garden of translation. He talked about the feasibility, particularity and necessity of English songs. In addition, the metre, rhythm and tone of English songs translation were also mentioned. As for the principle of the translation of
20、 English songs, he refers that sometimes the literal translation is adopted, and sometimes free translation is used, and more often “equivalent translation” is used. For “equivalent translation”, the translation purpose of songs aims at substantially keeping the original texts romantic charm as well
21、 as making the target receiver feel the same artistic effect. We still have not form a systematic theory to conduct us to translate English songs. It seems that the study of English songs translation is very necessary in that field. From the perspective of the Functionalist Approach to translation,
22、we want to make it possible for us on this activity to do it better. There are several methods in English songs translation. Literal translation and free translations are frequently used. For these translation methods, there is a problem that is whether they fit for the standard of the translation E
23、nglish songs. Though some translators consider this problem when they translate songs, there is no systemic theory to conduct them. Based on Functionalist Approaches, this paper wants to talk about the translation methods in English songs translation to see whether they get to the two principles of
24、Functionalist Approaches, namely, 4skopos rule and loyalty principle, so that in later research of English songs translation, we can conclude the experience, and get more achievement on the translation of English songs. 3 On the Translation of English Songs from the Perspective of Functionalist Appr
25、oachesThis part is what we will mainly discuss. First, it is an introduction to the Functionalist Approaches and its principles. Then the translation methods adopted will be discussed, and finally this chapter observes the translation effect through the Functionalist Approaches principles.3.1 Functi
26、onalist ApproachesFunctionalist approaches are the theoretic basis of this paper. It aims at the principles of it, but first it is necessary to know the development and the essence of this theory.3.1.1 The Development, Conception and Essence of the Functionalist ApproachesFunctionalist approaches to
27、 translation were not invented in the twentieth century. It has roughly developed through three stages. Katharina Reiss was regarded as the beginner for the functionalist approaches. In 1971, she introduced a functional category into her “objective approach to translation criticism”. Her book Possib
28、ilities and Limits of Translation Criticism refers to the function that target text should be as a standard of translation criticism. 5According to Reiss, the aim of the ideal translation would be equivalence on the conceptual content and communicative function between the target language and the so
29、urce language. Hans J. Vermeer has gone much further in trying to bridge the gap between theory and practice. He breaks through the limit of equivalence, and develops the main theory of functionalist approaches: skopostheory. He defines the translation action as intentional and purposeful behavior w
30、hich decides the ways of translation. The intention or purpose depends on the initiator of the process of translation. Skopos rule is one rule of the skopostheory, and another two are coherence rule and fidelity rule. The third period is Juata Holz-Mantari. She points out that “translation is define
31、d as a complex action designed to achieve a particular purpose ”. (qtd.in Holz-Mantari and Vermeer, 1985:4) The purpose of translational action is to transfer messages across culture and language barriers by means of message transmitters produced by experts. The purpose of the translator is to trans
32、mit appropriate message from the source text. Christine Nord as the new second-generation functionalist approaches represent actively comes up with the function plus loyalty as to consider the fidelity rule subordinate to skopos rule. She attaches greater importance to the source-text author, thus i
33、mproving the functionalist approach to translation. The functionalist approaches essence to the translation contains three aspects: First, the target text has the functions; second, the target text is related to the source text. For their relationship, it is decided by the purpose of the translation
34、; the third, the translation must solve the impediments in language and 6culture. Translation is not only a purpose activity, but also a social action. Functionalist approaches think the participants of the process of translation have five types: initiator, commissioner, translator, source-text prod
35、ucer, target-text receiver, and target-text user. The translator plays an important role in the process, because he takes the translation purpose as a conduct to decide to take which ways on translation and accomplish the translation work. The target-text receiver is a crucial element, for he can af
36、fect the translators judgment and the accomplishment of the purpose of translation.3.1.2 The Principles of the Functionalist ApproachesFor this paper would like to talk about the translation methods in English songs translation to see whether they get to the two principles of Functionalist Approache
37、s, so the principles should be paid more attention to. Skopos rule and loyalty rule are the two main rules through the translation process.Skopos rule got its name from the Greek word “skopos” which means purpose and was introduced into translation theory by Vermeer. He postulates that as a general
38、rule it must be the intended purpose of the target translation that determines translation methods and strategies. According to this postulate, Vermeer derives skopos rule. We can distinguish between three possible kinds of purpose in the field of translation: the first is the translators simple pur
39、pose, maybe for a living; the second is the communicative purpose which the translation work should have such as communicating cultures; the third is the purpose for introducing a new production or its structure. The translation of 7English songs could be regarded as a purposeful activity, and the p
40、urpose can be for the communicative purpose. The communicative purpose of a song is to make the song known by other countries people and convey the inner feeling and sense of a song. Vermeer explains the skopos rule in the following way:Each text is produced for a given purpose and should serve this
41、 purpose. The skopos rule thus reads as follows: translate/interpret/speak/ write in a way that enables your text/translation to function in the situation in which it is used and with the people who want to use it and precisely in the way they want it to function. (qtd.in Vermeer 1989a:20,my transla
42、tion)Nord finds two flaws of the skopostheory. One is the culture-specificity of translational models; the other is the relationship between the translator and the source-text author. Though skopostheory has fidelity rule, it subordinate to skopos rule. So Nord adds a loyalty rule. Loyalty means tha
43、t translator translating the target-text should be compatible with the original authors intentions. It commits the translator bilaterally to the source and the target sides. The loyalty principle takes account of the legitimate interests of the three parities involved: initiators, target receivers a
44、nd original authors. Original authors have a right to demand respect for their individual intentions and expect a particular kind of relationship between their text and its translation. If there is any conflict between the interests of the three partners of the translator, the translator has to medi
45、ate and, where necessary, seek the understanding of all sides. (Nord 128) Loyalty principle makes sure that the translator would not only translate the source text based on his own expectation but he considers more about the participants involved in the process of translation.83.2 Translation Method
46、s Used in English Songs TranslationBecause of the features of English songs and many difficulties existing in translation, the translation standard is different, so are the translation methods. Here are two translation methods which are often used in English songs translation: literal translation an
47、d free translation. 3.2.1 Literal TranslationLiteral translation is a very important method used in translation. It can convey the meaning of the source-text and keep the style of the source-text. So it is widely used by translator. In the translation of English songs, this method is also used. Lets
48、 see a song Donna Donna, translated by Zhang Zhenfang.English lyrics: On a wagon bound for marketThere a calf with a mournful eyeHigh above him theres a swallow winging swiftly thro the skyHow the winds are laughingThey laugh with all their mightLaugh and laugh the whole day thro and half the summer
49、s nightChinese Translation: 有只小牛满脸忧伤 被车运到市场有只燕子在它上面轻快飞翔在天空上风儿正在狂笑, 那笑声真响亮笑呀笑呀成天笑， 又笑了半个晚上9In this translation both the meaning and the sense of song are the same as the source-text except that the word summer is not translated. Another example:Doe, a deer, a female deer, ray, a drop of golden sunMe, a name I call myself, far, a long long way to runSew, a needle pulling thread, la, a note to follow sewTea, a drink with jam and bread, that will bring us back to doeHere
