Abstract

Shui Hu Zhuan, one of the four classics in China, enjoys a great reputation both at home and abroad. It is significant in Chinese literature and vividly reflects the society and culture at that time. 

In this novel, nickname plays an important role in describing and shaping characters and revealing social conditions. As a special name for a figure, nickname comes from the figure’s unusual appearance, characteristics, abilities, etc., and vividly reveals some conditions about the figure it names. Besides, it is also enriched with social and cultural connotations. In ancient Chinese novels, nicknames can be found everywhere and make novels more wonderful. 

At the end of 1970s, cognitive linguistics appeared. Along with its rapid development, especially after the publication of Metaphors We Live By written by Lakoff ＆ Johnson, more and more scholars have been attracted to this field. The research on metaphor also attracts much attention, remarked by the word “Metaphormania” (Wang, 2006, p.402). 

From the perspective of nicknames’ construction, they are usually metaphors or metonymies. For metaphors, nicknames are mainly connected with ghosts, animals and historical figures. For metonymies, nicknames are mainly based on occupations, appearances and weapons. From the perspective of nicknames’ applicative significance, they are also a phenomenon of cognition and social culture. These provide a basis for this study on nicknames translation in Shui Hu Zhuan from the perspective of cognitive linguistics.-

This paper attempts to sort out the nicknames of 108 heroes and compare two well-accepted versions of Shui Hu Zhuan, namely, All Men Are Brothers(translated by Pearl S. Buck ) and Outlaws of the Marsh(translated by Sidney Shapiro ), to study the differences in translating nicknames. Guided by the cognitive linguistics translation, the author analyses the differences. Apart from this, the author will also compare the two English versions with the original work to search out the phenomenon of culture loss in nicknames translation. 

Key Words: Cognitive Linguistics    Nicknames     Shui Hu Zhuan       Translation Strategies    Culture

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

  1.1 Research Background and Research Questions-1

  1.2 Significance of the Research-2

  1.3 Structure of the Paper-3

Chapter Two Literature Review-4

  2.1 Cognitive Translation-4

  2.2 Study of Nicknames Translation in Shui Hu Zhuan-5

Chapter Three Research Methodology-7

  3.1 Data Collection-7

  3.2 Data Analysis-7

Chapter Four Results and Discussions-9

  4.1 Discussion between Two Versions-9

4.1.1 Same Translations of Nicknames in Two Versions-9

4.1.2 Similar Translations of Nicknames in Two Versions-12

4.1.3 Totally Different Translations of Nicknames in Two Versions-18

  4.2 Discussion between the Original Work and Two Versions-23

4.2.1 Culture Loaded in Nicknames-24

4.2.2 Culture Loss in Nicknames Translation-24

Chapter Five Conclusion-27

  5.1 Findings-27

  5.2 Limitations-28

References..30