浅析中国传统相声的翻译困境与发展Word格式文档下载.docx

1、Supervisor.An Essay Submitted as a Partial Requirement forthe Degree of B.A in EnglishSchool of Foreign LanguagesYibin University May, 2015摘要：中国几乎没有人不知道相声，不喜欢相声。相声是语言的艺术，它的表演要求语言精炼流畅，活泼犀利又幽默含蓄。相声是一种让人发笑的艺术，但并不是引发人们肤浅无奈的笑，它是一种深沉的幽默，使人听来有捧腹之乐，且回味无穷（王文章，1）。近年来，相声舞台上逐渐出现了一些红头发蓝眼睛的穿着中国传统大褂的外国人，他们给处于瓶颈的相声

2、注入了新的活力，这些外国人并不是借用他们的异域风情随便糊弄观众，而是用他们的实力表演中国相声，让我们意识到外国人是真的喜欢相声，激励了我国艺术家们将相声传播海外的斗志。可是，翻译却成了拦路虎。本文第一章为导言，第二章将更近一步了解相声，第三章列举相声翻译中最常见的几个翻译困境，第四章将为总结部分，就目前相声的局势，分析其发展趋势，提出四点相声发展前路。关键词：相声； 翻译困境； 相声发展 AbstractXiangsheng is one of the most popular and influential types of traditional arts. It can be said

3、that nobody in China does not know and like it. Xiangshengis the art of languagerich in content and succinct in style, which requires its performance refined and fluent, lively and also astringent, humorous but implicit at the same time. Xiangsheng is a kind of art to make people laugh, but it is no

4、t the kind of art causing peoples shallow superficial laughter, it is a deep sense of humor making people burst out laughing first and leaving endless aftertastes （Wang 1）.In recent years, more and more foreigners with red hairs and blue eyeswearing traditional Chinese gown become lively in the Xian

5、gsheng stage. Instead of fooling audiences by their exotic but speaking standard Mandarin to performance Chinese Xiangsheng, which inspired our artists to spread Chinese Xiangsheng out of China.However, translation has become a stumbling block in the development of Xiangsheng. Chapter one introduces

6、 Xiangsheng. Chaptertwowill explain Xiangsheng in detail and represents the situation of todays Xiangsheng; Chapter three specifies the untranslatability of Xiangsheng; Chapter four is the conclusion and discusses the current situation of Xiangsheng and offers four-point personal views ofits develop

7、ment.Key words:xiang sheng; translation difficulties; development of xiang shengAcknowledgements First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor.Without her help, it would be much harder for me to finish my study and this paper.During my writing time, she gives me valuable suggestions a

8、nd critical comments. Her rigorous and careful, meticulous style has always been my examplework and study, and her patience and eclectic ideas gives me endless inspiration.Secondly, I would like to thankall university teachers. Their profound knowledge and diverse experience really will help me a lo

9、t in my future life.I am also very grateful to my family, classmates and friends. They give me a lot of support and encouragement during my writing this thesis.Contents中文摘要.Abstract. Acknowledgements. Introduction.1. A Literature Review of Xiangsheng. 3A. Definition of Xiangsheng. .3B.Xingsheng in E

10、nglish.3C. Comparison of Xiangsheng, Talk Show and Stand-up Comedy.4D. History of Xiangsheng.5 1. The Formation of Xiangsheng.5 2. The Evolution and Development of Xiangsheng .6E. Todays Xiangsheng.7 1. Foreign Xiangshengat Home.8 2. Chinese Xiangsheng Abroad.8. Translation Difficulties of Xiangshen

11、g.10A. Linguistic Untranslatability.111. Homophonic Pun.112. Deconstruction of Chinese Characters.143. Riddle.154. Tongue Twisters.175. Drama.176. Dialects.18B. Cultural Untranslatability.19C. Translation of Xiangsheng.20IV. Conclusion.21Works Cited.23. IntroductionXiangsheng is one of the most popu

12、lar and influential types of arts. However, the audience of Xiangsheng is shrinking today. Many young people in the twentieth Century are systematically understanding and falling in love with this art only after hearing Guo Degang crosstalk. However, owing to the classical crosstalk has not been wel

13、l performed, and outstanding new works are really few while the demand of the crosstalk is great, there comes out a steam of shoddy works which makes comic fans disappointed.In recent years, more and more foreigners become lively in the Xiangsheng stage, and Chinese like Joe Wrongs comedy succeed in

14、 other countries, which inspires our artists to spread Chinese Xiangsheng out of China.However, translation has become a stumbling block in the development of Xiangsheng. Works like “Borrow Arrows with Thatched Boats” One Wife and One Concubine and Pearl Jade White Jade Soup may obtain the same laug

15、hter and get the same effect after translating, but scripts like Drama and Dialects “Tongue Twisters and “Bachelor Xie” with many unique Chinese culture makes it difficult to translate. Xiangsheng is the art of language, the art of humor, if not a vivid translation of the original work, it is diffic

16、ult to be accepted by the public. This essay will specify the untranslatability of Xiangsheng.In fact, the translation of Xiangsheng not only refers to the English-Chinese translation, or the Spanish-Chinese translation, bringing forth the new through the old works is also a kind of translation. The

17、 excellent traditional Chinese comic dialogue is a treasure of our country, so we could not lose the essence in order to pursue innovation. This paper puts forward four-point views on the development of Xiangsheng according to its current situation:Firstly, we must pay attention to inherit the tradi

18、tional excellent Xiangsheng, adhere replay the outstanding traditional scripts just like we do to a teleplay. Secondly: Collecting, sorting out and drawing up the immature crosstalk, taking the essence and discarding the dregs. Thirdly: actively creating new works to keep pace with the times, reflec

19、ting the reality of the problem.Last but not least: increasing the intensity of the translation, and actively exploring the way out of the country; whats more, expanding both the subjects and eyes, integrating with the world.Literature Review of XiangshengA. Definition of Xiangsehng Xiangsheng （trad

20、itional Chinese: 相聲; simplified Chinese: 相声; pinyin: xingsheng; literally: face and voice）, is a traditional Chinese comedic performance （Rowswell 5）. Xiang shengis one of the most popular and influential types of Quyi. It can be said that nobody in China does not know and like it. Xiangsheng is hum

21、orous and highly satirical by nature. It is revered as a form of language art. More than simply telling jokes, Xiangsheng relies heavily on word play, tongue twisters, double extenders and rapid fire banter. Generally speaking, Xiangsheng is made up of four skillsspeaking （simplified Chinese:说）, imi

22、tating （学）, teasing （逗）, and singing （唱） （5）.There are three forms of Xiangsheng: The earliest one called Dankou Xiangsheng was performed by one person. Its contents were mostly jokes and humorous stories, for example, Bachelor Xie”, Borrow Arrows with Thatched Boats”and so on.Later, Duikou Xiangshe

23、ng performed by two persons appeared. One man was called Penggen（捧哏）, and the other, Duogen（逗哏）. Most of the time, Duogen is the primary talker while the Penggen side chimes in, for example, The Dishes” Tooth Extraction”.The third form of Xiangsheng performed by more than two persons is called Qunko

24、u Xiangsheng.It calls for one to say funny things,while others chime in.Of the three forms,Duikou Xiagsheng was the most popular and widespread one, for example,Expert Guidance and All Men Are Brothers in 2011 CCTV Spring Festival Gala （6）.B. “Xing sheng” in English“Xing sheng”, many dictionaries tr

25、anslate it as crosstalk, but when we look for “crosstalk” in those dictionaries, we can easily find that crosstalk is far from Chinese “xing sheng”.Firstly, Xiangsheng is a traditional Chinese art combining four basic techniques: speaking, imitating, teasing, and singing. It is in the form of a dial

26、ogue between two performers or group performers, and also can go on as a solo monologue. And what is crosstalk?In “Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary” and “AHD - American Heritage Dictionary”, we can find that crosstalk is: n. 1. Electronics Undesired signals or sounds,in a telephon

27、e or other communications device as a result of coupling between transmission circuits. 2. Ancillary, incidental conversation.How could we stand our great Xiangsheng be an unwanted crosstalk?Others translate Xiangsheng as comic dialogue, for example, the New Age Chinese-English Dictionary. Then what

28、 is comic dialogue? Comic: n. a professional performer who tells jokes and performs comical acts; while a dialogue mostly refers to the conversation between two persons.As we can see, though comic dialogue is already similar to the meaning of Xiangsheng, it ignores the solo monologue. Whats more, it

29、 is more like a talk-show. Xiangsheng is a kind of unique Chinese art, there is no equivalent art in other countries at all, so why cannot we just directly translate it as Xiangsheng? （Liu 21）C. Comparison of Xiangsheng, Talk Show and Stand-up ComedyA talk show or chat show （as is known inUK） is a kind of television programming or radio programming genre in which one person （or group of people） discusses various topics put forth by a talk show host（1）. Usually, the guests consi