Abstract

Advertisement is an important marketing form in business activities. Through advertisements, consumers can have better understanding on certain products or the related services. In addition, through rich methods, advertisements can promote the purchase desire of consumers and inspire their curiosity, which can truly realize the purpose of business marketing. This thesis would probe into the application of six rhetorical devices, such as simile, metaphor, personification, pun, rhetorical question and rhyme in English-Chinese translation of business English advertisements with reference and detail analysis to some translation practices. And the conclusion indicates that rhetorical devices of advertisements translation have the function of transferring commodities information, and have significant effects to improve marketing strategies.

Key words: English advertisements; rhetorical devices; translation

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature review-2

2.1 Related studies at abroad-2

2.2 Related studies at home-2

3 Introduction of business advertisements and their translation methodologies-4

3.1 The definition and functions of advertisements-4

3.1.1 Definition of advertisements-4

3.1.2 Functions of advertisements-5

3.2 The introduction of translation of business English advertisements-5

3.2.1 Domestication-5

3.2.2 Foreignization-6

3.2.3 Adaptation-7

4 Analysis of rhetorical devices in English-Chinese translation of business advertisements-8

4.1  The introduction of rhetorical devices-8

4.2  The significance of the application of rhetorical devices-9

4.3  The specific rhetorical devices in English-Chinese translation of business advertisements-10

4.3.1 Simile-10

4.3.2 Metaphor-11

4.3.3 Personification-12

4.3.4 Pun-12

4.3.5 Rhetorical Question-13

4.3.6 Rhyme-14

5 Conclusions-16

References-17