Abstract

Many Chinese dishes are named after animal and plant vocabularies. Under the circumstance that English translation of Chinese food menu has taken an important role in the catering industry and has built up a bridge for cultural communication between China and western countries, it is of great significance to providing splendid menu translation for foreign diners. However, it is very difficult to translate these vocabularies well due to the difference of languages, cultures of China and western countries, and the factors of the translator themselves. According to the theory of Translation Memetics, some memes of animal and plant vocabularies are lost or gained or changed in the English version of Chinese food menu. Hence, analyzing memes contained in these vocabularies and keeping balance of the loss and gain of these memes can support for the menu translation task.

Based on the Translation Memetics, this dissertation aims to solve two problems:①What are lost or gained in the English translation of animal and plant vocabularies in Chinese food menu;②What techniques can be applied into this kind of translation. By analyzing and comparing some typical menu translation examples, the results is that generally memes of color, shape and image for those vocabularies are lost or changed in the English version, while memes of ingredient and cooking method are gained. Then some techniques are introduced for five specific types of menu containing animal and plant vocabularies. Through them, adding notes and attaching pictures on the menu are two important methods. And suggestions are given both for the government and the translator. The government should publish books for standard menu translation, in which memes of animal and plant vocabularies and different connotative meanings of these words between China and English speaking countries should be discussed. For the translator, they should have a good command of translation skill and culture knowledge.

Keywords: Chinese food menu; memes; the lose and gain; translation; animal and plant

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

2.1 Broad Viewpoint of the Menu Translation-2

2.2 Scattered Theories-2

2.3 Translation Memetics-3

2.4 Translation Process from the Viewpoint of Memetics-4

3. Analysis of the Loss and Gain of Memes for Animal and Plant Vocabularies-6

3.1 Reasons for Loss and Gain-6

3.2 The Loss of Shape, Color and Image-6

3.3 The Gain of Cooking Method and Ingredient-9

4. Techniques for English Translation of Animal and Plant Vocabularies in Chinese Food Menu-10

4.1 Translation Principles-10

4.2 Guidance Principle and Theory-11

4.3 Specific Techniques-11

4.3.1 For Abstract or Associative Dish Names-11

4.3.2 For Dish Names From Natural Scenes-12

4.3.3 For Dish Names Loaded with Culture-12

4.3.4 For Dish Names Existing Lexical Gap or Meaning Conflict-13

4.3.5 Dish Names with Shape-14

5. Conclusion-15

5.1 Suggestions for Animal and Plant Vocabularies Translation-15

5.2 Limitations-16

5.3 Prospect for Further Study-16

References-17