Comparative Analysis of Xu Yuanchong’s and W.J.B. Fletcher’s Translation of Culture-Loaded Words in Chang Hen Ge

Abstract

Chang Hen Ge is a Tang poem written by Bai Juyi in the light of the love story of emperor Xuan Zong and his concubine Lady Yang. With the touching story and beautiful lyrics, it has long attracted many scholars, domestic or abroad, to translate it into English. Chang Hen Ge is also rich in culture-loaded words, which are the key for the readability and understandability of the translated text. Based upon the translation strategy — domestication and foreignization, and some translation methods, such as literal translation, transliteration, paraphrase, etc., the paper mainly attempts to do a comparative analysis on Xu Yuanchong’s and W.J.B. Fletcher’s translation verses of Chang Hen Ge. All culture-loaded words in Chang Hen Ge will be categorized into 5 groups: social institutions, place names, materials, cultural allusions and appellations. Besides, detailed analyses on translation strategies and methods as well as evaluations of each translation verse will be presented.