Abstract

The context plays a very important role in both comprehension and application. Different occasions will produce different understandings even with the same expression, which needs the concrete context as a judge. There have been various classifications and definitions about context from abroad as well as at home. However, the thesis will use the concept of context put forward by the famous linguist, Hu Zhuanglin. From the perspective of linguistic context, situational context and cultural context, the thesis will stress the importance of context in translation under the analysis of translation of Pygmalion.

Key Words: context;  translation;  Pygmalion

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction.1

  1.1Research Background.1

  1.2Purpose for the Research1 

1.3Organization of the Paper1

2. Literature Review2

  2.1 An Overview of Context.2

  2.2 Theoretical Basis of Context.3

 2.2.1 J. R. Firth’s Semantic View of Context3

 2.2.2 Michael Halliday’s Contribution to Context4

 2.2.3 John Lyons’s Structural Semantic View of Context.4

  2.3 Hu Zhuanglin’s Concept on Context.5

 　2.3.1 The Linguistic Context.5

　　  2.3.2 The Situational Context6

　　  2.3.3 The Cultural Context6

3. Context in Translation — A Case Study of Pygmalion.6

  3.1 The Linguistic Context. 6

  3.2 The Situational Context.8

  3.3 The Cultural Context.10

4. Conclusion.10