A Report On E-C Translation Of Epidemics And Pandemics:Their Impacts On Human History (Excerpts) Based On Skopos Theory

Since the end of 2019,an epidemic caused by novel coronavirus has swept the globe and has seriously affected the society.The translation of epidemic texts is of great significance to the public.The translation material of this report is selected from the book Epidemics and Pandemics: Their Impacts on Human History,which discusses the epidemics affecting Europe,America,Africa and Asia,covering diseases from ancient times to the present.The epidemic situation in 2022 still affects people’s lives.While popularizing epidemic knowledge,the translation can also cultivate readers’ awareness of epidemic prevention,so as to contribute to better responses to the epidemic situation.This report is based on Vermeer’s Skopos theory and its three rules,namely,skopos rule,coherence rule and fidelity rule.The translated text includes the twenty-second to twenty-ninth chapters of Epidemics and Pandemics: Their Impacts on Human History,covering the discussion from the first cholera pandemic to the fourth cholera pandemic.The difficulties of translating this text are mainly at two levels,that is,the lexical level and the syntactic level.Aiming at the difficulties encountered in translation,this report mainly focuses on the application of the Skopos theory’s three rules in the process of lexical and syntactic translation.At the lexical level,in order to reproduce the characteristics of Chinese language,four-character words are used to arouse readers’ interest based on the skopos rule.To ensure the readability of the translation,conversion of word classes and amplification can be adopted under the guidance of the coherence rule of the Skopos theory.At the syntactic level,long difficult sentences and passive sentences are often used in the source text.In order to ensure the conciseness,smoothness and acceptability of the translation,according to the skopos rule and coherence rule,division and voice conversion are applied in the process of translation.Using literal translation,metaphor in the source text can be retained to enhance the vividness of the language guided by the fidelity rule.Through specific examples,this report analyzes and summarizes the corresponding translation methods and techniques,with the hope to provide some valuable references for translators studying epidemic translation.