Abstract Relevance theory is a pragmatic theory put forward by Sperber and Wilson in 1986. It was initially to study people’s cognitive activities when they communicate with others. In relevance theory, communication is an ostensive-inferential activity. To make the communication successful, people must obey the optimal relevance. Gutt further developed relevance theory, and introduced it into translation study. Relevance theory is very effective in guiding the translation and it pointed out a new way for translators 27967
Bian Cheng, the work of famous writer Shen Congwen, has beautiful language and Chinese characteristics. It has abundant culture-loaded words. The translation of culture-loaded words is the difficult part in the translation field, but also the base for successful cultural transmission.
The aim of the thesis is to analyze two versions of Bian Cheng by Gladys Yang’s and Jeffrey C; Kinkley’s under the guidance of relevance theory. Analyze their specific translation strategies to find a better way for translation. We can see, they both have their translation feathers. Kinkley tended to literal translation and added many notes to help western readers to understand. And Gladys tended to free translation to promote understanding. They both met the optimal relevance. When translating culture-loaded words, we should pay special attention to the original context and readers’ cognitive environments and transfer flexibly between the two translation strategies and other methods to obey the optimal relevance.
Key words: relevance theory     optimal relevance     culture-loaded words Bian Cheng     translation
摘要关联主义是由Sperber和Wilson于1986 年提出的实用主义语言学理论。起初是为了研究人类交谈时的认知活动。 关联主义认为人的交谈是一种明示---推理活， 为了交谈成功，人们需要遵守最佳关联原则。Gutte，进一步完善发展了关联主义，并把它运用到了翻译领域。关联主义对翻译有很强的解释力，给译者指明一条崭新的方向。
    著名作家沈从文《边城》文辞优美并且十分具有中国特色。它其中蕴含着的丰富的文化负载词。文化负载词的翻译是翻译领域的难点。而成功翻译文化负载词是成功传递文化的基础。
本文意在在关联主义理论的最佳关联性的原则下，对比分析《边城》戴乃迭和的两个英译本，分析两个译本所采取的具体翻译方法，比较各自译法的优势探求更好的翻译方法。结果发现戴乃迭和金介甫的翻译各具特点，金介甫偏向于直译，力图在保持原文特色，他借助注释帮助西方读者理解。戴乃迭倾向于用意译的方法来促进西方读者理解。他们都符合最佳关联性原则。在翻译文化负载词的时候应充分考虑原文目的和读者认知能力，灵活采取翻译方法，以达到最佳关联性。
关联词：关联主义     最佳关联     文化负载词     《边城》     翻译
Contents
Abstract    i
摘要    iii
Contents    iv
Chapter One Introduction    1
1.1 Research Significance    1
1.2 The Purpose of the Research    2
1.3 The Methodology    2
1.4 The Overall Structure    3
Chapter two: Literature Review    5
2.1 Study on the Translation of Culture-loaded Words    5
2.1.1 The Domestic Study of Culture-loaded Words    5
2.1.2 Study of Culture-loaded Words Abroad    5
2.2 Studies on the Relevance Theory    6
2.2.1 Study on the Relevance Theory at Home    6
2.2.2 Study on Relevance Theory Abroad    6 基于关联理论的《边城》文化负载词翻译对比研究:http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_22652.html