1。1 Current Situation of the Research

1。1。1 Number of the Translation

The number of translation of English pop songs is limited。 Many classic English pop songs have not been translated when they come to China。 In most cases, some contents are source language or just general idea of lyrics with only the name of songs translated。 

1。1。2 Quality of the Translation

Generally, the quality of translation is not satisfying。 Characterizing grace and beauty in original words, many English pop songs lack purified exquisiteness and the sense of poetry in translation。 Many translators conduct word-for-word translation。 Secondly, there is a phenomenon of solecism and inappropriate phrase。 In order to pursue rhyme of the lyrics, a few translators casually make up ridiculous words, but do not deliberate its structure, rhetoric and content。 Of course a number of successful translations such as Auld Lang Syne, Edelweiss and Jingle Bells have made Chinese version enjoy popular support。 The wording and artistic conception between English version and Chinese version are about the same。 But in recent years such outstanding works are rarely heard。     

1。1。3 Forms of the Translation

When it comes to forms, cover version tops but sentence-by-sentence translation according to meaning of lyrics is in the minority。 For example, English song Memories Of Us Together was covered by singer Emil Wakin Chau’s 《其实不想走》and Lene Marlin's Sitting Down Here was covered to Sandy Lam’s《我坐在这里》。 This cover version is very common。

1。1。4 Translation Theory

Currently, the guiding theory applied to translation of the song is relatively rare。 Many articles discussing the translation of songs are concentrated in a few foreign translation theories。 "So far there is no specific course on translation of song in domestic colleges and universities expect some lectures in Taiwan Normal University, which are only a drop in the bucket。” Among the existing articles, the using of theories is not wide enough and the depth and breadth need to be further developed。 Therefore, the research method of translation is still insufficient。 These articles are discussing specific translation methods from the micro-level, and then proposing personal opinions。 Articles referring to the establishment of translation theories, however, are seldom。 For a long time, most of translators are unable to take the study on translation theories of English songs into account, not to mention to practice with the guide of theories。

1。2 Purpose of the Research

This paper proceeds with the problems and difficulties in the translation of English pop songs and focuses on the strategies of lyrics translation, analyzing and studying translation with theories and strategies based on specific examples of pop songs, combining the theories of translation, music and literature to explore the strategies of translation, so as to present the most similar and natural translated works and aesthetic effect of the original。来*自-优=尔,论:文+网www.youerw.com

1。3 Guiding Theory of the Research 

1。3。1 Eugene A。 Nida’s Functional Equivalence

 Eugene A。 Nida, a famous translation theorist, emphasizes in functional equivalence that translators should pay attention to the meaning and spirit of the original, rather than stick to the language structure。 Taking flexible methods of translation to attain the understanding, feelings and reactions of translation-readers are approximately equivalent to those of source-text-readers。