论文总字数：38497字

摘 要

近些年来，中国红色旅游在全国范围兴起并蓬勃发展，悄然成为外国游客瞩目的焦点。然而，目前红色旅游材料的英译情况不容乐观，良莠不齐的翻译质量易导致信息传递偏差和错误，从而产生文化误解。中国红色旅游是典型的跨文化活动之一，所以跨文化意识是翻译红色旅游材料时需要考虑的必要因素。

本文从跨文化交际角度分析中国红色旅游的翻译，指出影响翻译质量的因素和具体翻译要求，并提出具体的翻译策略，旨在提高中国红色旅游翻译的质量，正确地宣传我国的文化，让外国游客真正理解中国革命史，实现中国的对外交流与合作。

关键词：跨文化交际；红色旅游翻译；翻译策略

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 Intercultural Communication 2

2.2 Red Tourism and Red Tourism Translation 3

2.3Relation between Intercultural Communication and Red Tourism Translation 5

3. Translation Strategies of Red Tourism from Intercultural Perspective 7

3.1 Intercultural Factors Influencing Red Tourism Translation 7

3.2 Intercultural Requirements of Red Tourism Translation 9

3.3 Translation Strategies of Red Tourism 11

4. Conclusion 16

Works Cited 17

1. Introduction

China is a large country with its long history, rich culture and abundant tourism resources. The ancient oriental civilization is attracting an increasing number of foreigners to visit the wonderful sceneries of human and nature, of which some historical spots are attached much attention. In modern China, with the reinforcement of economic and cultural globalization, red tourism industry has become one of the most prevailing recreational and communicating activities. With the advent of heat of singing red songs, red tourism has enjoyed great popularity among foreign visitors.

The national work conference on the development of red tourism, held in 2005 jointly by 13 departments including the National Development and Reform Commission and National Tourism Administration, proposed to cultivate 12 key red tourist areas, improve 30 distinctive routes of red tourism and form 100 classic scenic areas. The year of 2005 was determined as the year of Chinese red tourism’s year. Since then, red tourism stepped into all-around development.

During the course of promoting red tourism, it is obvious that translation is one of the most important jobs which should be well done. However, there exist many problems of Chinese- English translation of red tourism. The foreign visitors are in need of the background information of Chinese revolution history. The lack of information and wrong translation are likely to lead the overseas visitors to misunderstand Chinese culture and to decrease the attraction of tourist spots. Therefore, it is necessary for us to further the study of translation of Chinese red tourism in order to improve the quality of translation and promote red tourism’s prospering.

This thesis analyzes translation strategies of Chinese red tourism from the perspective of intercultural communication. It is composed of four chapters. Chapter one briefly introduces the research background and the significance of the study. Chapter two involves the definition of the intercultural communication theory and red tourism translation. Chapter three is the most important part of the thesis. Some representative red tourism translation texts and cases are chosen to point out intercultural factors that influence translation and put forward some intercultural requirements of translation. It also proposes corresponding translation strategies in view of intercultural communication. Chapter four is the conclusion part of the thesis. In addition, some limitations and shortcomings during the course of this research are also mentioned..

2. Literature Review

2.1 Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication is a form of global communication. Xu Lisheng argues that the recognition of alien differences was found more than 2000 years ago. The need for intercultural communication is as old as humankind, but today’s intercultural encounters are far more numerous and of greater importance than in any previous time in the past (Xu Lisheng, 2009: 3). New technology, innovative communication systems, globalization of the economy and changes in immigration patterns contribute to the development of expanded intercultural contact.

Intercultural communication was derived from America, for America is a melting pot of nations and cultures in the world. Edward T Hall, the father of study of intercultural communication, first used “intercultural communication” (Hall, 2010: 89) in his book The Silent World in 1959. In the 1970s, intercultural communication became an independent subject of communication. Since then, many scholars attach much attention to the study of intercultural communication. Chen Guoming and William J. Starosta view intercultural communication as the communication among people from different cultures who talk and influence each other (Chen and Starosta, 1998: 28). Rogers and Steinfatt hold the view that intercultural communication is the exchange of information between individuals who are culturally unlike (Rogers and Steinfatt, 1999: 1). Samovar thinks that intercultural communication occurs when a member of one culture produces a message for consumption by a member of another culture. More precisely, intercultural communication is communication between people whose cultural perception and symbol systems are distinct enough to alter the communication event (Samovar, Porter and Stefani, 2000: 48). According to the definitions of intercultural communication, we can see that culture and communication are the two fundamental elements of intercultural communication, which can’t be separated from each other.

In China, most scholars used to be engaged in the research of foreign language teaching in terms of intercultural communication, so intercultural communication in China mainly refers to the communication of thinking and information between people from different languages, cultural backgrounds through language, signal, and writing. Hu Wenzhong claims that “intercultural communication occurs whenever a message sender is a member of one culture and a receiver is of another.”(Hu Wenzhong, 1988: 89) Jia Yuxin notes that intercultural communication is communication between different cultural backgrounds (Jia Yuxin, 1997: 37). He Weixiang argues that “Any time members from different cultural groups communicate they’re engaging in intercultural communication.”(He Weixiang, 2004: 93) Considering the nature，characteristic and requirements of EFL teaching，another idea was put forward: Intercultural communication is information transformation of code system，pragmatic system and culture system when people of different cultural backgrounds interact with each other (Zhao Aiguo amp; Jiang Yaming，2003: 134). Hu Wenzhong arranges the teaching contents in order of the importance of cross-cultural communication: cultural diversity and influence, similarity and difference between different ethnics and cultures, intercultural contact and cases, language, culture, teaching and translation, special culture pattern and its influence.etc. (Hu Wenzhong, 1999: 78) With the advent of urbanization and population migrants, many Chinese scholars tend to do research on intercultural communication, and try to use it to establish understanding, to dissolve contradiction and to create a harmonious world.

2.2 Red Tourism and Red Tourism Translation

2.2.1 Red Tourism

Recently, communist heritage tourism in current socialist countries has received increasing attention from the tourism academia (Henderson, 2007: 240). Communist heritage tourism in post-socialist countries in Europe is the latest expansion of heritage tourism (Coles, 2003: 217). For tourists, especially international tourists from western countries, communist heritage tourism offers a range of sites, objects and opportunities for exotic experiences and the desire for authentic communist history (Light, 2000: 157). Furthermore, the development of Communist heritage tourism communist heritage tourism provides an economic engine to prompt the transformation and privatization of tourism industry in those countries (Coles, 2003: 223). In view of the tremendous transition that happened in the Chinese society, scholars interested in Chinese nationalism studies argue that China is stepping into a new stage of nationalistic movement, which is to pursue economic development and social harmony in the domestic realm, and national independence and international cooperation with other countries in the international realm (Guo Yingjie, 2004: 67).

Red tourism is a special tourism form with Chinese characteristics. It is aimed at strengthening patriotism education and carrying forward the revolutionary spirit, and is based on red tourism resources. In the Planning Outline of Red Tourism Development from 2004 to 2010 issued by The General Office of Central Committee of the Communist Party and General Office of the State Council, red tourism is defined as a kind of thematic tourism activity. The carrier is the memorials and markers formed by the feats of Communist Party at the early stage of the revolution and construction. It organizes tourists to visit scenic areas to learn revolutionary history, revolutionary deeds and revolutionary spirits.

In The Study on Elementary Theory of Red Tourism, Zhou Zhenguo pointed out that the theme of red tourism includes inclusivity and concreteness (Zhou Zhenguo amp; Gao Haisheng, 2008: 33). Red tourism gives tourists patriotism education by the way of tourism, to carry forward the great national spirit, improve their ideology. Red tourism has a distinct directivity and inclusive, which reflects the eternal content of patriotic education. The remoteness and dispersion of red tourist attractions, as well as the time span of the long term, determines the concreteness of red tourism theme.

Red tourism has three functions: political education function, economic development function, and cultural transmission function (Fang Shimin amp; Yan Youbing, 2007: 50). Red tourism has successfully been transferred from the traditional single mode of political education to the mode of market operation. It has become a special carrier which covers three aspects, i.e. politics, economics and culture.

2.2.2 Red Tourism Translation

What is tourism translation? Chen Gang defined it as the translation (practice) for tourism activity, tourism major and tourism industry (Chen Gang, 2004: 59). Tourism text or tourist publicity is a variety of written materials regarding tourism. Besides, native people engaged in the task out of strong nationalistic enthusiasm always translate the publicity of this group (Newmark, 1982: 139). It is obvious that tourism translation is a branch of applied translation. The primary purpose of application translation is transferring information; at the same time, it pays more attention to the practical effect of conveying information (Jia Wenbo, 2003: 45).

In general, the measure of tourist attractions should start from the quality of service facilities and “soft environment”. The so-called scenic spots “soft environment” means the service capabilities and values that exist in the scenic area, demonstrated in the tourism development process (Li Leilei, 2008: 64). The important meaning of tourism English translation is to effectively enhance the service quality, to follow international tourism trend, and to be in line with international language and cultural practices (Liu Yang, 2010: 279).

Red tourism translation is the translation of revolutionary tourist attractions, names of place, brochures, maps, signs, advertisements, and slogans and so on, in order to convey the correct information of all aspects of revolutionary tourism spots to foreign visitors.

Red tourism translation should be serious and authentic, so it is noted that rhetoric should be avoided in the translation of red tourism, which is contrary to the common translation. As the readers of red tourism translation are overseas visitors, translators need to introduce the life, work and deeds of communist party of China.

2.3 Relation between Intercultural Communication and Red Tourism Translation

Language can’t exist without culture. Susan Bassnett, an English theorist on translation, once compared language to the heart of the body of culture by remarking that “As people can’t neglect other parts of the body when doing heart surgery, we can’t take the risk of separating language from culture when doing translation.”(Bassnett, 1990: 145) Intercultural communication is divided into three categories: interracial communication, interethnic communication and intercultural communication. Generally speaking, intercultural communication is usually used to describe the wide range of communication problems that naturally appear within an organization made up of individuals from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. The differences in language, culture, custom and values would give rise to confusion and misunderstanding in the contact between two groups.

Hu Wenzhong refers to Culturally-loaded words as culturally-loaded lexemes. As direct or indirect the reflection of national culture at the structure of lexemes, they “load with specific national cultural information and indicate deep national culture” (Hu Wenzhong， 1999: 64). Culturally-loaded words in Chinese are divided into two categories: (1) words with different conceptual meaning from that in English (2) words with different associative meaning.

Translation is one kind of intercultural communication. Richard. E. Porter pointed out that there are eight variables during the course of communication: (1) attitude (including world view, values, nationalism, prejudice and bias) (2) social organization (3) thinking pattern (4) prescription of role (5) language (6) arrangement and use of space (7) concept of time (8) non-verbal expression. (Samovar, Porter and Stefani, 2000: 168) Intercultural communication seeks to understand how people from different countries and cultures act, communicate and perceive the world around them. Translation is aimed at exchanging information in order to get mutual understanding and cooperation. Nida advocates that for truly successful translating, biculturalism is even more important than bilingualism, since words only have meaning in terms of the cultures in which they function(Nida, 2001: 81). In the process of translating Chinese tourism texts, translators as the mediators in intercultural communication have to consider both original texts producers’ intention and potential readers’ (Western tourists’) motivation and attitude towards Chinese culture. Translators need to make all efforts to retain the original favor of Chinese culture while at the same time make it understandable to the Westerners. (Liang Jinghua, 2012: 58).

To sum up, it is necessary to take intercultural communication into account when translating red tourism materials. When traveling in Chinese red tourism spots, foreign visitors need to get to know the information of revolutionary history and Chinese culture. With the help of proper translation, it is easy for overseas tourists to have a comprehensive and correct perception of China.

3. Translation Strategies of Red Tourism from Intercultural Perspective

3.1 Intercultural Factors Influencing Red Tourism Translation

It is obvious that increased contact with other cultures and subcultures makes it imperative for us to make a concerted effort to understand and get along with people who come from different groups and societies. However, in the process of intercultural communication, cultures and customs haven’t been well understood because of a persistent inability to understand and get along with others, whose beliefs and backgrounds may be vastly different. It gives rise to plenty barriers and obstacles in the work of red tourism translation. The following intercultural factors should be taken into consideration.

3.1.1 Different Language Styles of Tourism Materials

The different cultural backgrounds of Chinese and English lead to their own language styles and public patterns in tourism materials. The proper use of language translation also stresses that the proper use of language is one of the fundamental purposes of stylistic studies. Stylistics has close relationship with translation.

The aesthetics of Chinese nation shows its distinctive social experiences and cultural tradition. Chinese literature usually emphasizes romantic charm, soul and temperament. Chinese writers and poems are accustomed to expressing their inner and subjective feelings at the sight of the sceneries in front of them. On the contrary, western philosophy is focused on abstract thinking of reason. Westerners tend to choose objectivity rather than subjectivity.

In view of this, red tourism translation is rather different from literature translation. Since the readers are foreign visitors, its intention is to enable foreigners to naturally understand the translation materials, from which they are informed of local geography, history and manners. According to Stylistics and Translation, translation should be “In order to preserve effective communication, translators should modify or adjust the expressions in target language according to various styles”. (Liu Miqing, 2003: 56)

E.g. 起义时，贺龙等冒着枪林弹雨，在小楼的台阶上指挥战斗。临街的门楼上，至今弹痕犹在。这里陈列了大部份珍贵文物和小部分复制品。

During the uprising, stormed at with shot and shell，He Long commanded his warriors in battle on the stage of the building, the bullet marks still on the wall of the street not far away. It displays a large amount of valued relics and a smaller number of copy ones.

Translators must pay attention to the practicability and particularity of red tourism translation. If integrated into the style of Chinese tour language, the interpretation would be inconsistent with the attitudes of aesthetics and habits of appreciation for the people whose native language is English.

3.1.2 Different Traditions and Backgrounds of Cultures

Cultural diversity exists in every phase of human civilization. There is no doubt that the culture of one nation and country is distinct from that of others. In general, foreign tourists are short of the knowledge of Chinese cultural tradition and history, let alone the revolution of China.

Owe to different cultural values and emotive attitudes, simple Chinese-English translation is bound to fail to publicize the distinctive cultural resources of Chinese red tourism. In turn, it would give rise to disgusting emotion of foreign tourists. Take the word “red” for example. There is a wide gap in the comprehension between the speech community of Chinese and English. In China, “red” is a symbol of revolutionary and heroic spirits, as well as the wish of festivities and happiness. In contrast, westerners tend to believe that “red” demonstrates terror, atrocity and blood, such as “red rules of tooth and claw” and “red revenge”. In this sense, translators have to explain the differences from the perspective of intercultural communication.

In addition, the overseas tourists are in need of the information of revolutionary races and historical events. Translators need to introduce the cultural background of red tourism spots.

E.g. 革命运动早期从平山镇开始。在20世纪20年代大革命期间，共产党在这里成立了自己的组织机构。到1946年，有608个分支机构，共产党员人数已经从1931年的30人增加到19525人。共产党获得了草根人们群众的广泛支持。

Revolutionary activity started early in Pingshan county. During the period of the Great Revolution in the 1920s, the party set up its own organization here. By 1946, there were 608 branch offices, and the number of party members had increased to 19,535, from just 30 members in 1931. The party gained popular support at the grassroots level.

In this translation, “party” may bring about ambiguity and confusion, for foreign visitors may fail to make out which party it is. Besides, for foreign visitors, “Great Revolution” is too obscure to understand. Translators need to briefly explain the background information.

Only by flexibly dealing with the cultural gap, can translators avoid pragmatic failures and wrong interpretation to effect successful communication.

3.2 Intercultural Requirements of Red Tourism Translation

Red tourism materials include not only the introduction of revolutionary sites, signs of scenic areas, tour commentaries, brochures, maps, marks, advertisements, and slogans, but also the interpretation of revolutionary poems, epigraphs, documents, key speeches and historic events, where there inevitably exists a large number of cultural diversity. It is easy to see that red tourism translation is different from the general tourism translation. Its distinctive features bring about corresponding intercultural requirements as follows.

3.2.1 The Accuracy of Information

The introduction of information covers specific characters, time, place and numbers and so on, so red tourism commentary translation must be absolutely exact and accurate, to respect the bygone history and to enable foreign visitors to correctly know the detailed information.

E.g. 周恩来纪念馆位于古城淮安北门外夹城内的桃花垠, 距离周恩来故居约两华里。馆区由纪念岛、宽阔的水面和湖四周环形绿地组成。总面积有三十五万平方米，其中百分之七十为水面。岛上建有主馆和附馆，总建筑面积为3265平方米，其中主馆1918平方米，附馆1345平方米。

Zhou En-lai Memorial Hall is located in the folder outside the ancient city of Huai’an, about two kilometers away from the former residence of Zhou En-lai. The hall consists of the Memorial Museum Island, a wide lake and ring of green land. The total area is 350,000 square meters, 70% of which is water. The island is built with main museum and attached hall. The total construction area is 3265 square meters, of which the main hall 1918 square meters and attached hall 1345 square meters.

3.2.2 The Simplicity of Language

Generally speaking, tourism materials in china are described as gorgeous and splendid, which can show the extensive and profound Chinese language, while tourism materials in western countries are not. Peter Newmark pointed out three main functions of a text are: (1) the expressive function (2) the informative function (3)the vocative function (Newmark, 1982: 98). The main characteristics of red tourism material translation should be informative. There is no need to use fancy words and sentences to depict the revolutionary spots, or else it would lead to much confusion and mess for foreign tourists. Therefore, the introduction should be brief and to the point.

E.g. 雨花台，三国东吴时称石子岗、玛瑙岗、聚宝山；南朝时，佛教盛行，传说高僧云光法师在此设坛讲经，因说法虔诚所至，感动上苍，落花如雨，始得名。

Rain Flower Terrace was originally called Carnelian Hillock or Treasure Hillock. Since the Southern Dynasty, a legendary monk, Yunguang, preached the doctrines of Buddhism here. The monk was so eloquent that even the heavenly God was moved by his preach and flowers fall like a shower, hence the name “Rain Flower Terrace”.

3.2.3 The Explanation of Background

According to Functionalist Approach to Translation, all the translations are to produce a text in a target setting for a target purpose and target addressees in target circumstances. The most important element of translation target is addressee. Only when the texts are understood and accepted by addressees, can the translation be meaningful. Since most foreign visitors are lacking the knowledge about Chinese history, language, culture and society, translators are required to add the background information and at the same time adapt to the custom of target language.

E.g. 现在，在瑞金的叶坪、沙洲坝、乌石垅和云石山地区，保留下来180多个革命遗址和纪念性建筑物，像红军检阅台、红军烈士纪念塔、中央革命军事委员会旧址、沙洲坝的“红井”以及毛泽东旧居等。

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