The translation of euphemisms from Chinese to Spanish: Hongloumeng and its translation Sueño en el Pabellón Rojo

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research focused on the translation of euphemisms from Chinese to Spanish in a classic novel Hongloumengof Cao Xueqinand its Spanish translation Sueño en el PabellónRojo. Via analysis of selected examples, we conclude that the translators used diverse techniques to translate the euphemisms, among which the literal translation, the explicitness and the euphemistic equivalent are prominent. We have also observed that: a) there is a general trend towards explicitness, which is consistent with one of the four universals of translation proposed by Mona Baker, and b) during the translation, most of the cultural connotations of the euphemisms have been preserved, but there are also some inevitable losses. In addition, we have seen that translators tend to mix domestication and foreignization. Finally, we have presented a proposal for the translation of the euphemism.