A Study Of Dash Translation Strategies Under The Guidance Of Cohesion Theory

Dash,a powerful and indispensable aid in discourse cohesion,plays an important role in expressing semantic meanings and achieving cohesion and coherence in texts.In light of the cohesion theory,this report is addressed to the dash translation strategies,with examples taken from the translation practice Why Things Matter to People:Social Science,Values and Ethical Life(Chapter 3).Based on the logico-semantic relations in the clause complex,this report attempts to analyze the translation examples within the three broad semantic groupings in expansion which could be divided into elaboration,extension and enhancementNumerous English dashes and double dashes which functioned as the primary cohesive tie in expressing the logico-semantic relations are used in the source text of this translation project.The author of the original text pays close attention to the use of English dashes or double dashes to show the logic of language.However,other punctuations or logical connectors are used to replace dashes or double dashes in Chinese grammar to achieve the cohesion and coherence of the text.The translation strategies of copying English dash into Chinese dash blindly or mechanically affect the quality and overall beauty of the translated texts.The translation practice reveals that the appropriate translation methods of English dashes can be taken with the guidance of cohesion theory and the cohesive relations of English dashes or double dashes can be classified into elaboration,extension and enhancementIn terms of the different cohesive relations of English dashes in the original text,dash translation strategies from English to Chinese comes into two main categories delete or keep the dash.The translator could adopt the translation method which delete the dash by(1)transferring the dash to other punctuations;(ii)using the logical connectors while transfer the dash to other punctuations;(iii)or adjust the word order without the dash.The translation method which keep the dash is used according to the specific situations.The cohesive relations of the dashes should be pointed out in translated text and the logical connectors could be used based on the specific cohesive relations of the dashes.Appropriate translation strategies of English dash can promote the coherence between the original text and the translated text,in addition to the accuracy of representation of contents and ideas from the source text to the target text.It can promote the readability and consistency of the target text which could avoid the trouble in reading and comprehending.