Non-literary Translation From The Perspective Of Context Of Situation

Translation is a cross-cultural and multilingual communication activity, involving not only different languages but also diverse cultures. Since in translation, restricting and complementing the comprehension and representation of language are the major functions of the context, translation depends on context to a great extent. Newmark suggests:"Context is the overriding factor in all translation, and has primacy over any rule, theory or primary meaning"(2001, p.80). Therefore, context is indispensable to translation.Before the emergence of context of situation, context refers to the relations between linguistic forms involved in sentences and texts. In1923, the Polish anthropologist Malinowski first proposed the concept of context of situation. Since then, many linguists and translation theorists developed this theory greatly. Among them, Halliday is one of the representatives who clarify the relation between register and situational context by pointing out that a register is the concrete representation and more abstract illustration of context of situation. On the basis of register theory, he summarizes context of situation under three headings:field of discourse, tenor of discourse and mode of discourse, which also constitute the semantic configuration of a register. The model of register proposed by Halliday is rather an excellent theory to explain context of situation, which can also help guide translation activities.Even though there are numerous theses discussing context in translation at home and abroad, the research on context of situation in non-literary translation is not that much. This thesis first makes clear the difference between literary and non-literary translation, probes the classification of non-literary translation and proves its importance in the field of translation. Then the author analyzes the three variables of context of situation to illustrate their influences in non-literary translation, and emphasizes the fact that translators should choose proper techniques in accordance with the context.