| Abstrakt: |
The theory of pragmatic presupposition can be employed to analyze how a translator treated the author’s background assumptions. Previous attempts at applying the theory in translation studies tend to be prescriptive, trying to ask for “pragmatic equivalence” in the translation. This paper proposes a descriptive approach to studying pragmatic presuppositions in translation, equipped with a self-developed analytical model. A case study of “The True Story of Ah Q” rendered into English by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang indicates that in most cases the translators could decipher the author’s presupposed knowledge and they employed such techniques as literal translation, free translation, substitution, rewriting and literal translation plus footnote to treat pragmatic presupposition, guided by their assumption about the general English reader’s ability to comprehend such knowledge. It is also observed that the Yangs tended to opt for literal translation which sometimes leads to inadequate transference of presupposed knowledge. The translators’ decisions and choices are explained by considering their cultural identity, the principle of translation they observed, and the cognitive environment of the assumed target readership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
