Translation Norms In Economic Literature From The Angle Of The Translation Practice Principles Of Economics

China's fast-growing economy over the past three decades gave impetus and vigor to the translation in economics. During the past three decades, a good many of economic books were translated into Chinese, and lots of famous economists and scholars were introduced to Chinese readers. However, many mistranslations appeared in the Economic literature translation (hereinafter refers as ELT). We should have a rigorous and scientific approach to ELT. Therefore, translations norm in ELT should be set up as soon as possible.The normative approach to translation studies is an important approach to start descriptive translation studies. By describing and applying norms, this approach intends to provide a way to construct the theoretical system of related activities. Toury, Hermans and Chesterman are the three important translation norm theorists. Chesterman places more emphasis on the norms that are closely related to the translator's behavior. He proposes the classification of expectancy norms and professional norms. The latter is sub-divided into the accountability norm, the communication norm and the relation norm. Expectancy norms are established by the expectations of readers of a translation (of a given type) concerning what a translation (of this type) should be like (see also Chesterman, 1997: 64)."They mainly regulated that by what kind of standards a translation can be regarded qualified. As for professional norms, they illustrate the controlling and guiding function of translation norms in the translation process. The set-up of norm comes from the professional people, because their translation versions naturally become the criteria for the target culture to evaluate the following translation versions"(Hang Jianghong, 2004). With Chesterman's norm theory as the theoretical framework, and mainly with Liang Xiaomin's version of Principle of Economics as a study case, this thesis analyzes the norms to which the translator conforms and the different translation strategies he adopts in the process of ELT. At the same time, the author summaries some norms in ELT, and emphasizes the importance of the norms'obedience.The overall arrange of this thesis goes from theory to practice. At last the author summarizes the general norm and strategies for the ELT:1. A translator tends to conform to translation norms consciously or unconsciously in his/her translation process. By adopting the proper translation strategies, the translator conforms to various norms in the translation action, and promotes the ethical values which govern the translation norms. In the case analysis of Liang Xiaomin's Principle of Economics, the thesis finds out that in doing his translation, the translator conforms to the expectancy norms, accountability norms, communication norms and relation norms as Chesterman classifies by adopting the proper translation strategies. Usually the better the translated work caters to the expectations of the readers in the target language, the more popularity it will enjoy. Liang Xiaomin's translated version of Principle of Economics closely conforms to expectancy norms that the readers want the translation version to be professional.2. The Economic English translation strategies revealed in Liang's version is helpful to the ELT research and practice.