The Application of Functional Equivalence Theory into the Translation of Rhetorical Devices
作者：Zhang Huahui Bo Ya-nan Yu Hongxia Cao Jianan
来源：《读与写·教育教学版》2017年第12期
        Abstract：This paper analyzes how to adopt the Functional Equivalence Theory to figure out some effective translation strategies when dealing with rhetoric devices， including simile， metaphor and hyperbole. With the help of relevant theories and related examples， it analyses the use of literal translation， free translation， domestication and foreignization in the translation of rhetorical devices in the hope of helping students to gain practical translation strategies and to improve their translation skills regarding rhetorical devices and to apply what they have learnt into practice flexibly.
        Key words：Functional Equivalence Theory， Rhetorical Devices， translation strategies
        中图分类号：H315.9 文献标识码：A 文章编号：reaction paper to metaphor1672-1578（2017）12-0001-02
        1 Introduction
        Nida pointed that there are two equivalences. The first one is Formal Equivalence. It attaches great importance on the information delivered， in terms of both form and content. Another equivalence is dynamic equivalence， which is called the closest natural equivalence. [1]
        Nida held the view that translation was to use the naturalist way to reproduce the information of the original， firstly to reproduce the meaning， secondly style. But this theory still emphasizes what requires the reproduce is not the literal meaning and the word order of the original， but the idea and intention of the original. Therefore， the initial target of the translation is still the equivalence in contents， or the equivalence in meaning. Besides， the equivalence in style should be taken into the consideration：“Translation is composed of the translated version with the closest equivalence of the original version， both of meanings and of styles.”[2]Functional Equivalence Theory does not refer to linguistic equivalence， but refers to the equivalence of linguistic function and psychologica
l reaction of readers. Best translation means when the readers read the translation， it seems that they does not read translation but the original version. In order to make this happen， it is necessary to slip the leash that the linguistic structure of original exerts on translation.
        2 Major Translation Techniques
        Literal translation is the translation method that maintains both the original content and the original form. Literal translation can completely preserve the style and ethnic characteristics of the original. But literal translation must be readable， that is to say， the translation does not result in misunderstanding and does not violate the correct way of expression. Literal translation can also be applied to translate the sentences containing rhetorical devices.[3] To some extent， literal translation can not only preserve the characteristics of the original， but also enable the reader to gradually accept the literary style of the original. ”[4]
        Different from the literal translation， free translation or liberal translation refers to the
translation of the original text， which does not translate word for word. We often apply liberal translation into the translation of sentences or larger groups of meaning， and free translation can be applied in the case of the cultural differences between the original version and the translated version. From the perspective of intercultural communication and the cultural system of the source language. Free translation can better reflect the language features of the nation.
        Domestication means the transformation of foreign culture， which is nationalization and localization. It takes the target culture as the ultimate goal. And it advocates that the translation should try to adapt to and take care of the target culture and the language translated to. It eliminates language and culture barriers for the readers and makes the translation smooth by narrowing the cultural differences as much as possible. [5]
        On the contrary， foreignization is to accept foreign culture or to become foreign. It is source culture oriented translation， which advocates that the translation should try to adapt to the culture of the source text and take care of the source language. Foreignization
is to try to retain the linguistic and cultural features of the source language， in order to achieve the purpose of cultural exchange. Through foreignization， readers can understand the characteristics of the exotic culture.[6] For example： “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the entire world， she walks out of mine.” The foreignization version would be：“这世上有那么多家旅馆，她终究还是走出了我的那一家。” While the domestication version would be：弱水三千，终究我已不是她那瓢中的一壶水了。Another example： Why is river rich？Because it has two banks.——为什么河流是富裕的？因为它有两个河岸。（foreignization / Literal translation）On the contrary，the approach of domestication would translate it into “为什么说河流是富裕的？因为它总是向前（钱）流。”
        Similarly，“What makes the road broad？The letter B.” Domestication version：什么东西可以使门变阔？“活”字。is definitely better than its literal translation. Another familiar example would be“Skyscrapers are springing up like mushrooms.” If the translator applies foreignization strategy to translate it into“高楼大厦犹如蘑菇般地涌现。” it will be difficult for Chinese readers， the target readers to accept or to understand， but translating “like mushrooms” into “雨后春笋”in the way of foreignization is in line with China’s customs and
habits of language expression.
        3 Rhetorical Devices
        Rhetorical devices or figure of speech means language or verbal modification. The original meaning of rhetoric is to modify speech， that is， a language activity that can be used as a means to receive the best possible expression in the process of using language. Good expression includes its accuracy， comprehensibility and appeal， and the proper and appropriate expression for the purpose of the expression. Rhetoric is characterized by the use of language as well as linguistic features. The author mainly focuses on the following semantic rhetorical devices， including simile， metaphor and hyperbole.

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