Analysis of Transitivity in "A Moonlit Night on the Spring River" and its English Translations
Yiyang Xia
Xian International Studies University , Shaanxi Xian,710128;
Abstract:This study applies Systemic Functional Linguistics' transitivity theory to analyze A Moonlit Night on the Spring River and two English translations. Using Halliday's ideational function, it examines material, mental, behavioural, verbal, relational, and existential processes in Zhang Ruoxu's poem, clarifying how these construct its artistic conception, emotions, and imagery. It compares translators' handling of transitivity structures, strategies for semantic equivalence and style reproduction, revealing language transformation patterns and difficulties in poetry translation. The goal is to offer new perspectives for translating Chinese classical poetry, enhance translation quality, and promote Chinese cultural dissemination.
Keywords: ideational function; transitivity;A Moonlit Night on the Spring River
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