An Analysis of the Translation of Chinese Culture-loaded Words in Fortress Besieged from the Perspective of Reception Aesthetics

Abstract

Culture-loaded words are phrases and idioms that reflect unique national cultural characteristics and can directly reflect the historical uniqueness of a country. This paper discusses the translation of culture-loaded words in Fortress Besieged from the perspective of reception aesthetics, and analyzes the translator’s translation methods according to the similarities and differences between the source language culture and the target language culture. It also analyzes the feasibility of the translation of culture-loaded words under the guidance of reception aesthetics and the quality of the translation under the guidance of the two main theories of reception aesthetics (reader’s horizon of expectation and the implied reader). The main findings of this study are as follows: Firstly, translators adopt some translation methods and selectively meet readers’ directional and creative expectations. For different cultural transplanting phenomena, translators adopt different translation strategies to cater to readers’ receptivity and needs. Secondly, the implied reader plays an intermediary role in literature, connecting the creator and the audience, so that the work can be interpreted and experienced in a variety of contexts.