The Translation of Puns and Allusions: A Case Study of the Chinese Translation of Shakespeare’s Play Script on Hamlet

Translation can be viewed as a communicative device that brings together aspects from a variety of relevant fields, including literary and cultural studies, psychology and linguistics (Gutknecht, 2002). For literary translation, translators need to deal with figure of speech, puns, wordplay, and cultural expressions that involve multiplicity of meanings. Drama translation is a specific area in translation studies. Among other genres of literature, drama is not only written to be read but also to be staged. In translating Shakespeare’s play, translators may face the challenge of conveying the playful effects of puns and allusions.