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A Contrast on the Function Words in English and Their Chinese Translation in Stray Birds from the Perspective of Newmark’s Communicative Translation Theory

Linguistics / 2025,7(1): 61-68 / 2025-04-03 53 55

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• Authors: Chen      Yantong     
• Information:

  Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China

• Keywords: Stray Birds; Zheng Zhenduo; Feng Tang; Modern Chinese Function Words; Literary Translation; Newmark’s Communicative Translation Theory
• Abstract: As a great work of Indian literature introduced to China during the May Fourth Movement, Stray Birds brought a breath of fresh air to the turbulent literary scene of China in that era, aiming to propagate the gospel of peace and love. Its ideas of sympathizing with the oppressed, opposing violence, extolling the spirit of patriotism, praising the beauty of nature, and human emotions aligned with the aspirations of intellectuals of the time. The renowned literary figure Zheng Zhenduo’s translation of Stray Birds into vernacular Chinese provided innovative inspiration to literary translation and creation in that period and even for future generations. In an era dominated by scientific rationalism, the widespread incorporation of modern Chinese function words into poetry became a distinct feature in the transformation of Chinese poetic forms. Translating function words involves a profound understanding of language and cultural contexts. As language evolves with societal changes, understanding contemporary characteristics becomes crucial for accurate translation. In current academia, there is a growing trend to do research on modern Chinese poetry with linguistics, yet the exploration from the perspective of modern Chinese function words remains limited. Therefore, this essay will analyze and compare the translation of function words in Stray Birds by Zheng Zhenduo and Feng Tang spanning across a century, taking into account the characteristics of their respective eras and translation philosophies by using Newmark’s Communicative Translation Theory. It will also summarize the developmental trends in the translation of English function words into Chinese, explore the profound meanings behind the evolution of function words, and discuss the challenges and responsibilities faced by translators in the current social and cultural context.
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/0701006
• Cite: Chen, Y. T. (2025). A Contrast on the Function Words in English and Their Chinese Translation in Stray Birds from the Perspective of Newmark’s Communicative Translation Theory. Linguistics, 7(1), 61-68.