An Analysis Of The Translation Of Chapter1of Concise History Of The World

This paper deals with my English-to-Chinese translation of Chapter1of Concise History of the World-an Illustrated Time Line (Revised Edition)(over20,000English words in total). It explains my concerns, confusions, techniques, solutions and other reflections concerning the translating process in three angles, namely linguistic contrast, cultural context and styles.Primarily based on the theory of "equivalence", the first part explores the two languages themselves per se by contrasting their features. The vast differences between English and Chinese make it notoriously difficult-if not totally impracticable-to stick to the principle of "formal equivalence", and translation in such manner will lead to awkward and unreadable target texts. Instead, for the sake of general readership the translation targets, it was advisable to act upon "dynamic equivalence", coupled with a flexible use of translational techniques, in order to present the content of the original text in idiomatic Chinese free from the formal constraints of English.The second part goes beyond linguistics (text) to touch upon the cultural dimension (context), including cultural-socio backgrounds, norms and customs, as well as historical facts and logic. The translation of the names of historical figures and places should conform to the established rules and practices, and it takes both patience and flexibility to deal with the less commonly seen ones. When it comes to the translation of the ideas unique to a particular field, accurate terms and customary discourse should be used for professional expressions, and polysemy deserves special attention. A translator should also be critical enough to clarify the logical fuzziness and rationalize the factual statement of the original text.The third part discusses my graceful translation of the quoted ancient passages in the original text. The motivations behind such "embellishing" effort as well as its pros and cons are examined in the perspective of the theories about functionalism and translators’ role. In view of the antiquity and admonitory (or lyrical) nature of the quotation, the use of verses and classical Chinese helps to imitate and even restore the presumptive original charm and texture. Even though the fidelity is comprised to some degree, this treatment should not be unduly blamed given the fact that the ancient text did not initially come from an English source, either.In order to produce a translation with idiomatic fluency, professional precision and proper elegance, the translator needs to possess not only a high level of linguistic proficiency but also cultural competence and sensibility, which should be developed through reflection and experience.