Translation Of Chinese Neologisms Under Language Contact Theory

Compared with phonetics and grammar, vocabulary is the most active and sensitive component to the changes of society in one language. The moment anything new appears in a society, whatever it is, such as a new system, a new measure, a new trend of thought, a new product, a new concept, and a new motion, it will definitely be reflected in the language. Every change of society will get the quickest and direct response from vocabulary, which is shown by the generating of neologisms. With the development of the reform and opening up to the outside world, especially in recent 20 years or so, great changes have taken place in China. China's comprehensive national power and international influence have been remarkably enhanced. Correspondingly, a large number of Chinese neologisms have emerged at an astonishing speed. The world is eager to know about China, so is China to make herself known by the world. In order to let the world know well about the achievements, changes and development recently made in China, it is an urgent and tough task for translators to translate these neologisms accurately and idiomatically. The Chinese academic circle has made some profitable studies in Chinese neologism and its translation. However, without a comprehensive and systematic theory to guide the translation practice of Chinese neologisms, the translation may lead to inefficiency or even failure in China's external propaganda due to its overall low quality.The present thesis begins with specification of Chinese neologisms, covering such matters as definition of neologism, the generating of Chinese neologisms, and classification and characteristics of Chinese neologisms. Then the thesis goes further with achievements made in the studies of Chinese neologism and its translation, problems existing in the theoretical studies and practice concerning Chinese neologism translation and their underlying causes. In the last chapter, mistranslations of Chinese neologisms are also discussed. In order to solve those existing problems and to avoid mistranslations as many as possible, the present thesis makes an attempt to apply the language contact theory to the study of Chinese neologism and its translation. From the definition and effect of language contact, a conclusion that the generating of new borrowings in the Chinese language is the direct outcome of language contact can be arrived at immediately. However, when language contact is explored deeper, it is no longer only the contact concerning languages. Language contact is the necessity of and the approach to cross-cultural communication. Language, as the carrier of culture, is closely related to culture. The nature of language contact can also be uncovered, that is, language contact is essentially culture contact, or to put it this way, cultural intercourse. In this way, language contact can also be seen as the indirect cause of the generating of other types of Chinese neologisms. Translation is the medium of different-language contact, and there is no translation without language contact. The generating and translation of Chinese neologisms are all closely related to language contact activities. The study of language contact theory will not only help deepen the knowledge of Chinese neologisms but also guide translators to flexibly resort to translation strategies and to efficiently make use of translation methods. Chinese neologism translation raises high requirements for translators, under which only by constantly improving their translation abilities can translators achieve a success in theoretical studies and the practice of Chinese neologism translation.