On Sublimation Mechanism In Complete Translation

A study on sublimation mechanism in Complete Translation, beginning with the attributes of Complete Translation and penetrating into Theory of "Sublimity" proposed by Qian Zhongshu, aims to establish an integrated, objective, operatable and verifiable system of sublimation mechanisms by taking Theory of Clausal Pivot and The Clause-oriented Approach to Complete Translation as the two theoretical foundations and translational data from several popular large corpora and our own corpus of Complete Translation. Meeting the "three-adequacy" research requirement, that is, adequacy in observation, description and explanation, and following a two-triangle research principle, namely, a small triangle consisting of linguistic form, linguistic meaning and pragmatic value, and a big triangle of intra-lingual contrast, transformation of thoughts and cultural exchange, the dissertation elaborates on7single sublimation mechanisms in terms of intension, extension, motivation and classification as well as their combination capability and probability and concludes the tendency of adopting57combination mechanisms in translation practice. The study will not only enrich translation thought of "Sublimity" by Qian Zhongshu, enhance the in-depth theoretical study on Complete Translation, deepen the probe into translation universals and offer the guidance for translation methodology; it will also provide theoretical support and statistical proof for translation practice, translation teaching (including the translation in the field of foreign language teaching and Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages, i.e., TCSOL) and translation evluation and machine translation.The whole paper is divided into five chapters:Chapter1is the introduction; Chapter2,3and4constitute the body with the second chapter being the foreshadowing, the third one the major part and the fourth one the minor; Chapter5serves as the conclusion.Chapter1introduces the reasons for choosing the topic, reviews the literature concerning the studies on Theory of "Sublimity" in China and on transformation in Complete Translation both in China and abroad, states the major contents, study methods and significances of the dissertation and outlines its framework.Chapter2expounds the essence and core of Complete Translation. This part, starting from the definition of "Complete Translation", elaborates on the subject, object, instrument, purpose and category of the translation act, and indicates that the Law of Similarity in Complete Translation necessitates the observance of a trinity principle, that is, pragmatic value being the first, linguistic meaning being the second and linguistic form the third. After examining the three stages of Complete Translation—comprehension of the source text (ST), intra-lingual transformation and expression of the target text (TT), the article demonstrates the Unit of Complete Translation is operated on a system of units with clauses as the axis and morpheme, word, phrase, composite sentence, sentence group and text as the coordinate. Then it indicates that establishing a system of mechanisms is the key to sublimation as core of Complete Translation by interpreting the Chinese word "hua"(sublimation/sublimity) in such disciplines as philology, philosophy, literature and art, and translation studies.Chapter3focuses on the7single mechanisms. The establishment and adoption of these single sublimation mechanisms should observe the trinity principle of Complete Translation and change or retain the ST linguistic form in order to re-produce the ST pragmatic value completely and re-express the ST linguistic meaning accurately. This part is mainly devoted to the operational processes and approaches of each type of the7single mechanisms by taking examples from the translation facts from the corpora.The motivations of Equalization are:strong cultural intertextuality and compatibility, same or similar modes of thinking, isomorphic order of language expression and mental activity of the source language (SL) and target language (TL), and conformity to iconicity law. Observing the principle of corresponding linguistic form, similar linguistic meaning and convergent pragmatic values between the ST and TT, Equalization is usually operated at and below the level of clause, thus divided into5types:equalization at the level of word, phrase, clause, composite sentence and sentence group.The motivations of Complication are:different cultural backgrounds, modes of thinking and language systems between Chinese and English, which is in turn demonstrated in the discrepancies of using linguistic forms, conveying linguistic meanings and reproducing pragmatic values. Observing the principle of adding ST linguistic forms in the TT without adding of the ST linguistic meanings and pragmatic values, addition is usually adopted as an operational method more frequently in C-E translation than in E-C translation. Complication is classified into4types:complication at the level of morpheme, word, phrase and clause.With the same motivations with Complication but opposite procedures and methods, Simplification is operated under the guiding principle of different cultural backgrounds, modes of thinking and language systems between Chinese and western languages, Simplification aims at deleting and omitting the ST linguistic forms in the TT but not reducing the ST linguistic meanings and pragmatic values. By means of deletion, Simplification is adopted more frequently in E-C translation than in C-E translation and classified into4types:simplification at the level of morpheme, word, phrase and clause.Transposition means displacing the linguistic form of the SL in order to meet the demands of structure and expression in the TL. Operated under the guidance of transferring the ST forms into the TT without changing the ST meanings and values, Transposition falls into3major types:1) Transposition of the ST linguistic forms to the TT, also called zero translation, mainly refers to transferring the original words and abbreviations from the ST to the TT;2) Tangible transposition of the ST linguistic forms to the TT, also called displacement, is due to the differences in modes of thinking between East and West and consequent discrepancies in word order and ways of expression, falling into4sub-types:displacement of morpheme, word, sentence element and subordinate clause in a composite sentence;3) Intangible transposition of the ST linguistic forms to the TT, also called extending, is owing to the universals in human thinking and language, same or similar context of certain words/phrases in the ST and TT, conformity to the expression habits and norms in the TL, classified into4sub-types:specialization, generalization, concretion and abstraction.Conversion refers to the interchange of linguistic forms between the SL and TL to reproduce the ST pragmatic values completely and linguistic meanings accurately. Following the principle of converting the ST linguistic forms but not changing the ST linguistic meanings and pragmatic values, Conversion is operated in different perspectives and aspects, thus divided into6sub-types:conversion between word classes, between sentence elements, between sentences types, between the dynamic and the static, between the affirmative and the negative, and between the active and the passive. Though different from each other in terms of their intensions, extensions, motivations and sub-types, these types sometimes overlap, for instance, conversion between word classes and between sentence elements, conversion between the dynamic and the static and between the active and the passive.The motivations of Division are:different language types of Chinese and English together with the corresponding divergences in syntactic structures, different modes of thinking between the Chinese and the native English speakers, conformity to the law of transformation of logical thinking. Guided by the principle of dividing the ST linguistic forms but not breaking its linguistic meanings or devaluing its pragmatic effects, Division is, by means of dismembering and separating, adopted more frequently in E-C translation than in C-E translation and operated at the level of word, phrase, clause and composite sentence, thus having4types.With the same motivations of Division but different procedures and methods, Combination is guided by the principle of joining the ST linguistic forms but not omitting its linguistic meanings or affecting its pragmatic values. By means of assembling and merging, Combination is adopted more frequently in E-C translation than in C-E translation and operated at the level of phrase, clause, composite sentence and sentence group, thus having4types.Chapter4, with a case study of interpreting of4public speeches delivered by Chinese, American and British leaders respectively, explores the detailed operation of57multiple mechanisms. Two major conclusions are drawn from the statistics:1) The5types of multiple mechanisms are arranged as follows:in terms of quantity of sub-types, Triple Mechanism (20sub-types)> Dual Mechanism=Quadruple Meachanism (15)> Penta-mechanism (6)> Hexa-mechanism (1), in terms of use frequency, Triple Mechanism (148translation examples)> Quadruple Mechanism (122examples)> Double Mechanism (73examples)> Penta-machanism (53examples)> Hexa-mecahnism (18examples);2) It is proved from the above statistics that the more single mechanisms are used together, the more difficulties there are in adopting multiple mechanisms together and lower frequencies in use and more demands on the part of the translator;2) The57combination mechanisms display unbalances in translation practice due to the use frequency and combination capability of each single mechanism.Chapter5summarizes the5major viewpoints and points out the defects and problems to be further addressed in the future studies.