A Formal Equivalence Perspective Study on Yuan Za-ju Textual Translation

Adopting a functional linguistic approach to translation studies and implementing the model of translation quality assessment, we make an analysis and evaluation of Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang’s translation of Selected Plays of Guan Hanqing from the textual meta-function perspective. It is both for the textual assessment of Yang & Gladys’ English version of Yuan za-ju and the verification of the role textual function plays in the translation quality assessment. Based on the theory of text types and translation assessment, the aesthetic form is the main textual purpose of the expressive Yuan za-ju plays, which leads to identifying method adopting perspective ST author. Yang & Gladys’ English version does not conform to the ST in overt textual features owing to its application of domestication strategy in translation. It implies that the specific textual meta-function perspective should take an important role in translation quality assessment without which the overt textual deviations will not be found.