Translation From The Perspective Of Functional Equivalence

"Functional equivalence" is a theory of translation which created by the American linguist and translator Eugene A Nida and has had profound influence and guiding effect on the translation. Functional equivalence is not to adhere to the original form in the translation process, but to equivalent for the content and form and embody the aesthetic value in the translation.With reference to the theory, this essay is to discuss and study Nida’s "functional equivalence" translation theory on the translation of British author J.K. Rowling’s fantasy novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets of the mainland version and Taiwan version. The author analyses Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets mainly from two aspects:(1) the Chinese version of equivalence translation behavior comparison(2) contextual equivalence translation skills, which supply further evidence of the feasibility and practicability of Nida’s translation theory “functional equivalence” in literature works.The essay consists of 5 chapters, with chapter I the general introduction of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ", and the literature features of the novel. The second chapter is of Eugene A Nida’s functional equivalence theory, and the third chapter is the introduction of the comparative study of equivalent translation in Chinese version. The fourth chapter describes the methods used to establish and supply some theoretical supports to the translation. They are corresponding conversion method, parallel conversion method, alternative conversion method and conflict conversion method. The conclusion lies in the last chapter.After the studies and comparisons it is found that Nida’s theory can be used and has been used by the two translators to ensure that the readers can understand deeply the world and space the writer describes and make readers of the translation and readers of the original text achieve the same effect on the same work and get the same feeling.By the study of Nida’s translation theory, the author hopes that she can bring a certain inspiration and guidance for the translators of literary works, especially the translators of children’s literature works. And she also wishes to make the translation of children’s literature in China get more attention, so as to do something for the continuously improvement of the translation of literary works, especially children’s literature in China.