Eugene A. Nida
Functional equivalence theory advocates using the most natural expression to realize the equivalence between the original text and the translation in function, so that the original readers and the target readers have roughly the same response.
Good afternoon, dear professors and teachers. Thank you for attending my graduation thesis defense. I am Zhong Ping.
The title of my thesis is “The Application of Functional Equivalence in Literature—A Case Study of the Novel Gone with the Wind.”
I’d like to introduce my thesis from the following four parts.
Part one: background and significance
Part two: structure and main content
Part three: research process
Part four: conclusion
Now, let me show you the part one.
Here comes the background. Many domestic scholars misunderstand functional equivalence theory, and one of the major disputes is whether it is applicable to literary translation.
So, the thesis has great research significance.It may contribute to eliminating some misunderstandings and guide literary translation.
Part two: structure and main content
My thesis includes four chapters.
Chapter two and Chapter three are the main contents.
Chapter two is a literature review. I’ve introduced functional equivalence theory, its research at home and abroad and its current application domestically.
Also, I’ve introduced the novel Gone with the Wind and its research at home and abroad.
In chapter three, I’ve analyzed the theory reflected in the translation of the novel. Typical cases are analyzed at lexical, semantic and cultural levels.
Part three is the research process.
First, the research methods are literature research method and case analysis method. Second, the research perspectives include lexical, semantic and cultural equivalences.
Part four is the conclusion, which includes the findings and the limitations of my thesis.
There are mainly two findings.
FET has great applicability in literary translation.
And equivalence at lexical, semantic and cultural levels can be considered if literal translation is not appropriate.
There are also mainly two limitations.
One is that typical cases and research perspectives are limited.
Another is that the theory and the translation version by Ma Yingchun have their deficiencies.
That’s all my presentation. Thanks for your listening. Welcome some questions and suggestions.
