A Report On The Translation Of Xiangtan: A Historical And Cultural City(Excerpts)

This thesis is a report on the C-E translation of regional documents,whose source text is excerpted from the book Xiangtan: A Historical and Cultural City.As the 18 th edition of the series of books of the Historical Accounts of Xiangtan Past Event,this book has been a paramount project initiated by the Committee of Cultural and Historical Data of Xiangtan Municipal Committee of the CPPCC for a long time to rescue Xiangtan historical and cultural heritage while it has exerted a significant and profound impact on propagating Xiangtan cultural heritage.In plain and succinct language,the book systematically displays Xiangtan history,aiming at recording historical data,rendering support for the government's decision-making,enlightening people and uniting people of all walks of life.With a total of more than ten thousand words,the excerpt of the book elaborately unveils Xiangtan's history of evolution,places of historic interest and scenic beauty as well as cultural origins.Through this translation project and report,the author endeavors to enable the foreign visitors to get deep insight into Xiangtan embedded with profound history as well as culture while contributing to the international development of Xiangtan's tourism.The thesis aims to probe the feasible translation methods for regional documents based on Skopos theory,in which “fidelity” expounds that the translation version should be in line with the source text but it doesn't mean word-for-word translation.Generally,the extent of fidelity rests upon the purpose of the translation and the subjectivity of translators.This source text can be categorized as the regional document,with prominent informational function,primarily orienting towards the foreign readers keen to Xiangtan history and culture.Hence,the main objective of the translation is to precisely express the historical and cultural information of the source text into the translated text so as to realize its informational function.Nevertheless,due to the different cultural backgrounds and social ideology,foreign readers rarely know Chinese cultural customs and history.So it may be tough for them to comprehend the information embedded with Chinese cultural characteristics literally translated in a rigid way.To lessen the reading difficulties for foreign readers and enhance its readability,the author simplifies and rewrites the source text on the basis of fidelity,with the method of adaptation adopted.In this translation practice,the author primarily construes the text type as well as linguistic features of regional documents and probes the translation methods suitable for regional documents from the aspects of words,syntax and discourse while concluding some translation methods such as free translation,annotated transliteration,shift of perspective,amplification and combination.The author highly expects this can be used as reference for the practical translation of regional documents.