ABSTRACT:China is the birthplace of tea, as well as the main country of tea production and tea trade. The export of tea plays a great role in promoting the economic development of our country. Tea name translation attributes a lot to the export of tea and the spread of tea culture. Tea name translation can be conducted under the guidance of different theories and methods. This paper is engaged in discussing tea name translation from the perspective of functional equivalence theory. Under the framework of functional equivalence theory, through the analysis of several kinds of translation methods, i.e. literal translation, transliteration, liberal translation and consolidation method, the author points out that it is feasible and objective to translate tea name under the guidance of functional equivalence theory.

Keywords:  functional equivalence theory;  tea name;  translation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

1 INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Significance-1

1.3 Research Focus-2

2 LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 Previous Studies on the Translation of Chinese Tea Names-3

2.2 Existing Problems on Brand Name Translation-4

3 FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENCE THEORY-6

3.1 The Notion of Equivalence-6

3.2 The Notion of Receptor’s Response-7

3.3 The Notion of Diversity-8

4 APPLICATION OF FUNCTION EQUIVALENCE THEORY IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CHINESE TEA NAMES-9

4.1 The Translation Strategy of Tea Names’ Translation with Function Equivalence Theory-10

4.1.1 Literal Translation-10

4.1.2 Transliteration-11

4.1.3 Free Translation-12

4.1.4 Other Feasible Methods-14

4.2 The Principle for Translating Chinese Tea Names Based on the Characteristic of Closest, Natural, and Equivalent-15

5 CONCLUSION-17

REFERENCES-18

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-19