In regard to translation of scenic spots’ names, foreignization and domestication, the two core concepts, are inevitably to be considered。 This thesis aims to give a preliminary probe into this type of translation from the perspective of these two strategies。

2。 Literature Review

2。1 Previous studies on the C-E translation of scenic spots’ names

Former translators have analyzed C-E translation of scenic spots’ names from many aspects, including from the respective of translation methods like transliteration, literal translation and free translation or functional translation theory。 We will discuss another aspect--relevance translation theory in detail。

Relevance theory, proposed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson, seeks to explain the second method of communication: one that takes into account implicit inferences。 It argues that the “hearer/reader/audience will search for meaning in any given communication situation and having found meaning that fits their expectation of relevance, will stop processing。” (Sperber and Wilson 20) The theory treats communication as an ostensive-inferential process, with communication and cognition as its core question。 In communication, speaker’s intention is to make listener understand himself so that the purpose of communication can be achieved。 However, listener, in most cases, just pays attention to relevant information and wants to achieve the most cognition with the fewest efforts。 In this way, we can summarize that the relevance theory holds that people’s cognition is based on maximal relevance while communication is directed at optimal relevance。 

The relevance theory regards translation as a communication process with cognition and inference。 From this respective, cognitive characteristic of translation is highly emphasized。 The responsibility of translators is to work hard to make the intention of the original text in line with the expectation of the target readers。 Considering this, during translation, translators should not only fully understand the intention of the original text, but also take into account target readers’ cognition ability and thinking habits。 For translators, the goal of translation is to achieve optimal relevance while the key to success is to satisfy the expectation of target readers。 As a special verbal communication, translation does not just involve two languages。 What is more important is reasoning from context, which depends on relevance。

From the above, we can see that previous studies on translation of scenic spots’ names are scattered and disorganized。 On the one hand, although these theories can be used to analyze translation scenic spots’ names, they are not put forward especially for this field。 Therefore, some problems in this field may not be involved。 On the other hand, no matter which theory is used to analyze translation of scenic spots’ names。 The final question will all come to which method should be adopted, transliteration, literal translation or free translation。

2。2 Previous studies on domestication and foreignization文献综述

Foreignization and Domestication is a pair of binary opposition concept。 According to Dictionary of Translation Studies, the concept is first used by American translation theorist Lawrence Venuti in 1995。 In his book The Translator’s Invisibility, he points out that as a kind of translation method, the translator should either close to the reader or let the reader close to him。 Schleiermacher, an early thinker in Germany, made a speech named Discuss on translation method, he thought there are only two translation methods--“the translator leaves the author in peace, as much as possible, and moves the reader towards him; or he leaves the reader in peace, as much as possible, and moves the author towards him。” (Schleiermacher 1813)

Lawrence Venuti is the representative personage of foreignization method。 He advocates that translation should be oriented to source language culture, and lays emphasis on the foreignness of source language culture in the style and content of translation。 Foreignization is the strategy of retaining the characteristics of language and culture in source text。 Translators should accept the differences between languages and cultures, making the source text more close to the readers and choosing expressions similar to the source language to let the readers enjoy the local conditions and customs as well as the historic culture in foreign lands。