Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads

Jing Zhou; Weichao Wang

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads

Jing Zhou, Weichao Wang

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 9, Issue 6)

Received: 10 October 2021 Accepted: 11 November 2021 Published: 27 November 2021

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Abstract

Tujia folk songs are created and spread in the work and life by Tujia people through ages, which condense the vitality of Tujia people and reflect the unique aesthetic concept and spiritual outlook of them. Tujia folk songs are all orally inherited. Enshi Tujia folk songs play a very important role in China’s folk songs, and the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs is of great significance to the Chinese Culture’s Going Global. The social semiotics translation method pursues the goal of "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" (functional equivalence) between the source language and the target language, which is especially suitable for the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs. In the light of social semiotics, this paper tries to make a commentary on the translation of two widely circulated Enshi Tujia folk songs --In Lunar October Comes Minor Spring and A Field-weeding Song, and make a critical interpretation of their English versions from the referential meaning, linguistic meaning and the pragmatic meaning. It is pointed out that "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" at multiple levels of referential meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning can be ensured in the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs by the application of relevant translation strategies.

Published in	International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 9, Issue 6) This article belongs to the Special Issue Translation and Interpretation of 28 Chinese Tujia Minority Ballads
DOI	10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
Page(s)	360-366
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tujia Folk Song, Translation, Social Semiotics, Enshi, Functional Equivalence

References

[1]	The People’s Government of Enshi Tujia & Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi in a Nutshell, http://www.enshi.gov.cn/zq_50192, 2021.
[2]	Zeng Kangyou, Ranking of the Total Population of All Ethnic Groups in China, https://www.chachaba.com/news/html/peixun/zxxue/20180817_397577.html, 2019.
[3]	Whlhm, The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Enshi, Hubei in 2020, http://www.wuhan.com/travel/42853.html, 2020.
[4]	Gan Lu. A Probe into the Translation of Tujia Folk songs from the Perspective of Functionalism—A Case Stusy on Six Sips of Tea. [J]. Journal of Hubei Minzu University (Philosophy and Social Science). 2015, 33 (01): P. 180.
[5]	Hong Yumin. On the Singing of Love Songs from Enshi Autonomous Region, Hubei Province—A Case Study on the Love Song “Sister Huang”. [D]. School of Music and Dance, Yunnan Normal University, 2019.
[6]	Li Yongmi. The Research on Time Consciousness of Enshi Folk Songs. [D]. College of Literature and Communication, Hubei Minzu University, 2015.
[7]	Han Guixin. History of Duanwu. [M]. Baoding: Hebei University Press. 2011. PP. 17-25+12.
[8]	Wang Changrong. A Multidisciplinary Study of Ballads. [M]. Beijing: China Book Press. 2013: P. 37.
[9]	Eugene A. Nida. Language, Culture and Translating. [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. 1993. PP. 116-118+164.
[10]	He Henghuan. A Study of Modern Chinese Essay Translation from the Perspective of Social Semiotics—Based on Nothing Is Impossible in a Willing Mind, and Summer in Western Europe. [J]. Overseas English. 2020, 12 (24): PP. 63-64.
[11]	M. A. K. Halliday & Ruqaiya Hasan. Language, Context and Text: Aspects of Language in a Social-semiotic Perspective. [M]. Beijing: Beijing Branch of World Book Inc. 2012: P. 4.
[12]	Yangling, Zhangdan & Yangfeng. Translation Strategies of Northern Minority Culture Based on Social Semiotics, [J]. Theoretic Observation. 2017 (10): 174-1.

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APA Style

Jing Zhou, Weichao Wang. (2021). Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 9(6), 360-366. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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ACS Style

Jing Zhou; Weichao Wang. Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2021, 9(6), 360-366. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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AMA Style

Jing Zhou, Weichao Wang. Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads. Int J Lit Arts. 2021;9(6):360-366. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25,
  author = {Jing Zhou and Weichao Wang},
  title = {Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {9},
  number = {6},
  pages = {360-366},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20210906.25},
  abstract = {Tujia folk songs are created and spread in the work and life by Tujia people through ages, which condense the vitality of Tujia people and reflect the unique aesthetic concept and spiritual outlook of them. Tujia folk songs are all orally inherited. Enshi Tujia folk songs play a very important role in China’s folk songs, and the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs is of great significance to the Chinese Culture’s Going Global. The social semiotics translation method pursues the goal of "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" (functional equivalence) between the source language and the target language, which is especially suitable for the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs. In the light of social semiotics, this paper tries to make a commentary on the translation of two widely circulated Enshi Tujia folk songs --In Lunar October Comes Minor Spring and A Field-weeding Song, and make a critical interpretation of their English versions from the referential meaning, linguistic meaning and the pragmatic meaning. It is pointed out that "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" at multiple levels of referential meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning can be ensured in the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs by the application of relevant translation strategies.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads
AU  - Jing Zhou
AU  - Weichao Wang
Y1  - 2021/11/27
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 360
EP  - 366
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
AB  - Tujia folk songs are created and spread in the work and life by Tujia people through ages, which condense the vitality of Tujia people and reflect the unique aesthetic concept and spiritual outlook of them. Tujia folk songs are all orally inherited. Enshi Tujia folk songs play a very important role in China’s folk songs, and the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs is of great significance to the Chinese Culture’s Going Global. The social semiotics translation method pursues the goal of "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" (functional equivalence) between the source language and the target language, which is especially suitable for the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs. In the light of social semiotics, this paper tries to make a commentary on the translation of two widely circulated Enshi Tujia folk songs --In Lunar October Comes Minor Spring and A Field-weeding Song, and make a critical interpretation of their English versions from the referential meaning, linguistic meaning and the pragmatic meaning. It is pointed out that "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" at multiple levels of referential meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning can be ensured in the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs by the application of relevant translation strategies.
VL  - 9
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Jing Zhou

Business English Department, Foreign Language School, Guangdong Business and Technology University, Zhaoqing, China
Weichao Wang

International Business English School, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China

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APA Style

Jing Zhou, Weichao Wang. (2021). Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 9(6), 360-366. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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ACS Style

Jing Zhou; Weichao Wang. Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2021, 9(6), 360-366. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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AMA Style

Jing Zhou, Weichao Wang. Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads. Int J Lit Arts. 2021;9(6):360-366. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25,
  author = {Jing Zhou and Weichao Wang},
  title = {Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {9},
  number = {6},
  pages = {360-366},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20210906.25},
  abstract = {Tujia folk songs are created and spread in the work and life by Tujia people through ages, which condense the vitality of Tujia people and reflect the unique aesthetic concept and spiritual outlook of them. Tujia folk songs are all orally inherited. Enshi Tujia folk songs play a very important role in China’s folk songs, and the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs is of great significance to the Chinese Culture’s Going Global. The social semiotics translation method pursues the goal of "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" (functional equivalence) between the source language and the target language, which is especially suitable for the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs. In the light of social semiotics, this paper tries to make a commentary on the translation of two widely circulated Enshi Tujia folk songs --In Lunar October Comes Minor Spring and A Field-weeding Song, and make a critical interpretation of their English versions from the referential meaning, linguistic meaning and the pragmatic meaning. It is pointed out that "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" at multiple levels of referential meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning can be ensured in the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs by the application of relevant translation strategies.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Functional Equivalence: A Social Semiotic Translation and Interpretation of Two Tujia Ballads
AU  - Jing Zhou
AU  - Weichao Wang
Y1  - 2021/11/27
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 360
EP  - 366
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210906.25
AB  - Tujia folk songs are created and spread in the work and life by Tujia people through ages, which condense the vitality of Tujia people and reflect the unique aesthetic concept and spiritual outlook of them. Tujia folk songs are all orally inherited. Enshi Tujia folk songs play a very important role in China’s folk songs, and the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs is of great significance to the Chinese Culture’s Going Global. The social semiotics translation method pursues the goal of "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" (functional equivalence) between the source language and the target language, which is especially suitable for the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs. In the light of social semiotics, this paper tries to make a commentary on the translation of two widely circulated Enshi Tujia folk songs --In Lunar October Comes Minor Spring and A Field-weeding Song, and make a critical interpretation of their English versions from the referential meaning, linguistic meaning and the pragmatic meaning. It is pointed out that "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function" at multiple levels of referential meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning can be ensured in the translation of Enshi Tujia folk songs by the application of relevant translation strategies.
VL  - 9
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download