Category Shifts In Translating Complex Structure In Long English Sentences

The term “category shifts” was proposed by the translation theorist Catford,which refers to the translation process in which the two linguistic forms can be transformed between different levels,and the equivalence between the source language and the target language can be based on any appropriate hierarchy.Category is a variety of changes in grammar in terms of lexicality as well as number,aspect,person,tense,voice,modality,etc.Category shifts can be further divided into structure shifts,unit shifts,class shifts,and intra-system shifts.Due to its influence,clear framework and objective classification,the theory has academic value and guiding significance for translation practice.In this context,this thesis investigates the complex structure within English long sentences based on category shifts.This translation practice comes from Exploring High-risk Offender Treatment and the Role of Music Therapy.Summarized by classification,the translation problems of complex structures within long English sentences in the selected texts are mainly reflected in the following aspects.The combination of clauses in English long sentences forms complex structures,including the combination of the same kind of clauses and different kinds of clauses.Secondly,the structure of non-predicates in English long sentences is complex,involving infinitive structure,present participle and past participle structure combined.Finally,the complex structure of prepositional phrases within long English sentences involves the combination of prepositional phrases and clauses to form complex structures and prepositional phrases are used in conjunction to form complex structures.In view of the above translation problems,this report proposes corresponding solutions based on the theory of category shifts,including the unit shifts method of long sentences to sentence groups,the structure shifts method postposition to preposition,the unit shifts method postposition to preposition,the class shifts method verbs to nouns or adjectives,the structure shifts method subjects to themes and the class shifts method of nouns to adjectives and prepositions to words.Guided by the theory of category shifts,this translation practice report presents translation problems and corresponding solutions for complex structures within long English sentences,with emphasis on structure shifts,unit shifts and class shifts.The case shows that the category shift theory is effective for translating complex structures within long English sentences.It is hoped that it can provide some reference for the translation practice of similar problems.