Abstract:In 1986, Sperber and Wilson had Relevance: communication and cognition published, putting forward a series of relevant principles of pragmatics. Several years later, their student, Gutt, brought it to a higher standard by putting forward the Relevancy Translation Theory. Ever since then, such aspects as culture, contextual environment and readers have been broadly discussed and researched by translators as well as linguistic researchers both at home and abroad, gradually drawing people’s attention into the readers’ perspective and cultural context from the old-fashion bilateral relationship of translator and writer, known as a brand new point of view of translation. This essay mainly introduces the Relevance Translation Theory on the basis of analyzing Mo Yan’s Red Sorghum in the readers’ perspective. Through the integration of readers’ perspective and cognitive context, we can expect much progress in  Chinese literary translation as well as the translation teaching.

Keywords: Relevancy Theory; translation; readers’ perspective; cognition; context

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Research-1

1.2 Significance of the Research-1

Chapter 2 Literature Review-3

2.1 Relevancy Theory at Home and Abroad-3

2.2 Relevancy Theory and Literary Translation-4

Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework-7

3.1 Cognitive Environments and Mutual Manifestness-7

3.2 The Relevance of Communication, Cognition and Context-7

3.3 Reader’s Intentions, Thoughts and Reactions as Ostensive Information to the Translator-8

Chapter 4 Readers’ Perspective in Literary Translation—A Case Study of the Translation of Red Sorghum from Relevancy Theory-9

4.1 A Brief Introduction of Red Sorghum-9

4.2 Analysis of Relevance in Communication—Cognition and Context in the Translation of Red Sorghum-9

4.3 The Reflection of Reader's Perspective in the Translation of Red Sorghum and Advice for Improvement-12

Chapter 5 Conclusion-15

5.1 Summary-15

5.2 Contributions and Limitations of the Research-15

References-17

Acknowledgments-18