A Report On The Translation Of In Praise Of Nepotism (Abridged Chapter 3)

This translation project is composed of two parts:translated text and translation report. The text is excerpted from Chapter Three "’Clan, Caste, and Tribe" of the culture-sociological monograph In Praise of Nepotism (2003) by Adam Bellow, a distinguished American publisher, editor and author that has produced quite a few controversial works. The selected text targets at nepotism in Africa, China, and India, where the states and histories of nepotism typical of non-western countries are introduced, analyzed and discussed in depth.The translation report consists of four parts:introduction, analysis of and preparation for the translation, implementation phases and case studies, and conclusion. Translation-assistant tools like bilingual dictionaries, online encyclopedia, and authoritative corpus and databases are applied in the translation, while academic monographs, reference and documentations, and the author’s parallel texts are also consulted. Under the guidance of two thesis advisers, the translator places emphasis on the translation strategies of words with cultural significance and complex sentences. In the report, the translation of culture-loaded words especially words ending in suffix "-ism" are discussed through strategy studies and case analysis. Besides, translation approaches to complex sentences are also concerned. With repeated proofreading, the translator has corrected inaccurate and improper translations, polished the translated text, and created a glossary for specific terms in the project.The project inspires the translator in more than one way as far as translation strategies are concerned. In dealing with translation projects of social and cultural studies, it is essential for translators to familiarize themselves with text background and therefore select appropriate meaning of words in accordance with the context. As for the translation of culture-loaded words, translation-assistant tools and reference books can be of great help for translators to fully understand the source text. A good translator should be keenly aware of both the source and target languages and cultures with careful studies of the discussed topic. Besides, there exist few universal rules for specific translation in terms of contexts and emphases. What’s more, translators should be cautious of the accuracy of source text, in which ambiguous, controversial or even incorrect information may occur. Necessary notes and corrections should be provided in the form of the translator’s footnotes. Finally, in translating complex sentences, a translator should adjust sentence structures so as to make more effective and concise translation.