Critical Thinking of Applying Nida’s Functional Equivalence to Poetry Translation: A Study Based on English Versions of Lu Zhai by Wang Wei

Abstract

Based on the notion that poetry is translatable, this paper will analyze the pros and cons of applying Eugene A. Nida’s functional equivalence theory to the translation of Lu Zhai, written by a famous Chinese poet Wang Wei in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). Because poetry translation requires translators to transmit both the meaning and beauty of the original poem to the target readers to achieve the similar response. This requirement is consistent with Nida’s functional equivalence. But there are still limitations.

The paper is composed of an introduction, the main body and the conclusion. Chapter One is the introduction of the research goal and significance, and a general introduction of Nida’s functional equivalence theory, and the Chinese poet Wang Wei as well as his poem Lu Zhai. Chapter Two shows a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of applying Nida’s functional equivalence theory to the English versions of Lu Zhai. Chapter Three is the conclusion of this paper, which summarizes the relation between translation theories and practice.