A Study on Cultural Default and Compensation Strategies —— A Comparative Analysis Based on the English Translation of Poems and Allusions in A Dream of Red Mansions

Abstract

Cultural default is a pivotal issue in literary translation, particularly prominent in the translation of classic Chinese literary works. From the perspective of translation theory, this paper takes the English translation of poems and allusions in A Dream of Red Mansions as the research starting point to explore the causes of cultural default and its corresponding compensation strategies. The study finds that the absence of cultural elements at linguistic, cultural and aesthetic levels poses challenges to the accuracy and readability of translated texts. To this end, this paper proposes compensation strategies such as the combination of literal and free translation, the addition of annotations and interpretations, and cultural substitution and transformation, aiming to provide references for translation practice through theoretical construction. These strategies not only help improve the quality of translations but also promote the cross-cultural communication of culture. The study further points out that compensation strategies for cultural default should be flexibly adjusted according to cultural differences to achieve the dual goals of translation: faithfulness to the original text and adaptation to the target culture. Through theoretical analysis and case comparison, this paper offers a new perspective for translation research and emphasizes the importance of cultural elements in the translation process and the necessity of corresponding compensation strategies.