从功能对等理论看委婉语翻译

摘  要：委婉语是人类使用语言过程中的一种普遍现象，是人们谈论那些令人不快或尴尬的事情时所使用的较为礼貌的说法。随着跨文化交际日益频繁，委婉语翻译势必越来越重要。本文介绍了委婉语和奈达的功能对等理论，并试图应用奈达的功能对等理论来指导委婉语的翻译。功能对等理论注重于读者的反应，在很大程度上丰富了中外翻译研究。在奈达的功能对等理论的指导下，灵活地应用不同的翻译方法使委婉语翻译达到原语与目的语之间的对等。这一理论在委婉语翻译中的应用不仅帮助译者更有效地进行委婉语的翻译，而且使目标读者真正的掌握原文中委婉语的意思。
关键词：委婉语；功能对等理论；翻译

EUPHEMISM TRANSLATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENCE THEORY
Abstract: Euphemism is a common phenomenon in language use, which is a fairly polite way to express something unhappy or embarrassing. With the development of intercultural communication, translation of euphemism is getting more and more important. This thesis introduced euphemism and Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory and discussed euphemism translation by employing Eugene A. Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory which mainly emphasizes reader’s response and greatly enriches translation studies at home and abroad. Under its guidance, different translation strategies are used flexibly to achieve equivalence between the source and target languages. The application of the Functional Equivalence Theory in euphemism translation may help the translators deal with the euphemism translation more effectively and language learners get the true meaning of euphemism.

Key words: Euphemism; Function Equivalence Theory; Translation

Contents      9000字
Abstract    1
Key words    1
Introduction    2
1  A general review of euphemism    4
1. 1 Definition of euphemism    4
1. 2 Characteristics of euphemism    5
1. 2. 1 Nationality    5
1. 2. 2 Universality    6
1. 2. 3 Vagueness    6
1. 3 Social communicative functions of euphemism    7
1. 3. 1 Avoiding taboos    7
1. 3. 2 Avoiding vulgarity    8
1. 3. 3 Showing politeness    8
1. 3. 4 Disguising the truth    8
2  Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory    9
2. 1 Definition of Functional Equivalence Theory    9
2. 2 Core content of Functional Equivalence    10
2. 2. 1 Reader’s response    10
2. 2. 2 Priority of content over form    11
2. 3 Feasibility of Functional Equivalence Theory    12
3  Strategies of euphemism translation from the perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory    13
3. 1 Literal translation    13
3. 2 Free translation    15
3. 3 Adaptations    16
3. 3. 1 Adding notes    16
3. 3. 2 Transplant    17
3. 3. 3 Transliteration    17
3. 4 Meaning elevation    17
3. 5 Understatement    18
3. 6 Fuzzy translation    19
Conclusion    19
Notes    21
Bibliography    22
Acknowledgements    23