Translation

87542273
wangwp@mail.hust.edu.cn

Introduction to course

Course platform
2009
Reference:
2007

2004
2004.
2003
2004
2002

Aim of the course:

1. a bit of theory
2. practice-- translation skills
3. understanding of English and Chinese
language and culture

3,

Table of contents for this semester

Grading:
Class participation, homework, quiz 50%
Quiz : 3 quizes (10-15minutes quiz, 60%
from ppt)
Final examination 50%

Lecture 1: Introduction

Basic Issues

Contents (3 weeks)

Definition

History

Basic approaches

Criteria

Qualifications of a translator

1. 1 Definition

A.
F. Tytler (1747-1814)
A translation should give a complete
transcript of the ideas of the original work.
The style and manner of writing should be
of the same character as that of the
original. A translation should have all the
ease of the original composition. ( Essay on
the Principles of Translation )

Eugene
A. Nida The Theory and Practice of
Translation
Translation consists in reproducing in the
receptor language the closest natural
equivalent of the source language, first in
terms of meaning and secondly in terms of
style.

200375

An instance for illustration:

Translation is not just transference between

two languages (system of symbols) , but an
act of communication

Ean

Serge Abou

Many Chinese students noticed that a few

leaders in European countries kept an
irresponsible perspectives towards China.
So I'm wondering what European Union will
do to help European leaders and people to
know more about China.

1.
Nice to meet you
Not my offensive

2.Serge Abou
Mr.Serge Mr.AbouSir

3.

4.
irresponsible attitude-

1.

2. Serge Abou, Serge first name,

Mr. Abou Mr. Embassador

3. 3 4

( )
,
Many Chinese students noticed that some European
leaders hold a sort of stereotyped, biased view
regarding China. They sometimes criticize China without
really understanding what is happening here. So I'm
wondering what the European Union would do to help
these people know more about China?

:
Serge
Abou(

(reput (rewrite) the question to avoid

misunderstanding and cultural conflict. )

? ?

:
??
1.

2.

3.

These alternations of mood were the despairs

and joys of Ehan.
I know I have the body of a weak and feeble
woman, she said in 1588,but I have the
heart and stomach of a kingand a king of
England too

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

This small factory has undergone technology renovation

and is developing with a rapid speed which took us by
surprise.
It is surprising that the factory is developing with a rapid
speed after undergoing technology renovation.
We are taken by surprise that the factory is developing
with a rapid speed after undergoing technology
renovation.
We are surprised at the rapid development of the small
factory after it underwent technology renovation.
We are taken by surprise that the factory has undergone
technology renovations and is developing with a rapid
speed.
This small factory is developing with a surprising speed
after undergoing technology renovation.

26

POOR
NOT SO GOOD
OK
GOOD
EXCELLENT

1.

2It is surprising that the factory is

developing with a rapid speed after
undergoing technology renovation.
6This small factory is developing
with a surprising speed after
undergoing technology renovation.

2. These alternations of mood were the despairs and joys

of Ethan.

a.

b.

c.

(Edith
Wharton, Ehan Frome)
c
alternations
and

3. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble

womanshe said in 1588but I have the heart and
stomach of a kingand a king of England too

1588

(
)

1
Source language

2
Target language

Compare: E-C
& C-E

Homework

1. How to learn a foreign language through

translation
2. What I have lived for
3. Vanity Fair
4. Venture Capital in the United States
58 Essay from Newyork Times, Economics

One assignment every two weeks

Homework

1 team work (24
2 individual work
3 journal (review content)

0802

:how to learn a foreign (

Homework

First week: assignment

Second week: hand in

Third week: publication and discussion (15-20

mitutes)

Out-calss study:

Platform:

1.2

di

Chinese Translation History

www.themegallery.com

Chinese Translation History

1.
Translation of Buddhist sutras
e.g. Xuan Zang

www.themegallery.com

2.

The translation of scientific works

e.g. Ricci & Xu Guangqi
1842

Chinese Translation History

www.themegallery.com

Works --

Please match the following translation works with their

original.

John Stuart Mill, System of Logic

Herbert Spencer, Study of Sociology
MontesquieuLesprit des Lois The Spirit of

Law)
Henry Huxley, Evolution and Ethics
W.S. Jevons, Logic
Adam Smith Inquiry into the Nature and
Cause of the Wealth of Nations
On Liberty

--

J.S. Mill, On Liberty

T.H. Huxley, Evolution and Ethics and other essays

A. Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the

Wealth of Nations

H. Spencer, The Study of Sociology

Chinese Translation History

(1852
1924)

www.themegallery.com

:
Eye-opener

E.g.
La Dame aux Camelias
Uncle Toms Cabin
David Copperfield

Chinese Translation History

3.
literary translation
e.g. Zhu Shenghao
Fu Lei

www.themegallery.com

Chinese Translation History

3.

www.themegallery.com

Chinese Translation History

4.
The translation of Marx & Lenins works
5.

Translations concerning international

trade, foreign affairs, technology,
information science, etc.

www.themegallery.com

1.3

1. 3

(faithfulness, expressiveness, and

elegance)

Triple Principle

(faithfulness,
smoothness)

Sir Alexander Fraser Tytler (

Essay on the Principle of Translation

1. The translation should give a complete
transcript of the ideas of the original work.
2. The style and manner of writing should be of
the same character with that of the original.
3. The translation should have all the ease of the
original composition.

Dynamic Equivalence

U. Nida ( Toward a Science of

Translation
Dynamic Equivalence ()
Functional equivalence (
Equivalence in meaning to equibalence in
function
Eg: OperaMAMA MIA
have Oedipus Complex

(SKOPO)

Hans J. Vermeer Katherina Reiss

--- ----

illustrate with

Chris Durban ITI Bulletin199930

EDF (French utility Electricite de France)
Europe market
International press Financial Times,
Economist, the Wall Street Journal
The plan misfired because of
translation

The English text was a wobbly word-for-word most

charitably described as for information, and in any
case woefully inadequate for a text-based full-page
advertisement.
Impact on readers:
EDF sound BIG, to be sure
but also arrogant, and anything but international
Speak rudimentary English
Staunchly French identity directly at odds with the
international image it was trying to achieve.

Who was to blame?

Paris-based advertising agency
Translation agency
The translation agency said they were given No
brief and took it as an in-house memo. Had the
client wanted a ready-to-print translation, they
should have specified adaptation
However, the translation agency had not thought to
ask the purpose.

A wake-up call:
For translation buyers: brief
For translators: unless translators know
where text will appear and what clients
want them to achieve, they cannot
possibly produce a foreign language text
that works.

Humor
Outlay on advertising space came to
104 855
The cost of translation was under
60

Translator: languages
culture
Cultural counselor, communication counselor

(skopo)

Coordinating between different Cultures

1)
1907101
31

Tongji Medical College is one of the leading medical schools in

China.
It was initially founded by Doctor Bolon of Germany in 1907.
It has a history of 101 years.
The college takes in (recruits) students from 31 provinces in
China.
The graduates practice medicine in medical and public health
sectors in all corners of the country.
( of national, provincial or municipal level
)

1. A new dignity crept into his walk.

2. Sickness and trouble: thats what

Ethans had his plate full with, ever since
the very first helping.

1.4
qualifications of translator

1.4.1

Beautiful Brahman girl wanted for bank

officer from well-connected family, one says.
Vegetarian man (doctor preferred) for churcheducated girl with light complexion, says
another.

(
)

(p.315)
:

(p.1)

1.4.2

John can be relied on, he eats no fish and plays the

game.

If at the turn of the 20th century, Ellis Island

had greeted teeming masses speaking not 50
languages but just, say, German, America might
not have enjoyed the same success at
assimilation and national unity that it has.

50

1.4.3

Second, if the Red Sox and the Yankees were

scoreless until Manny Ramirez hit a grand
slam in the bottom of the ninth, you can be
sure that Boston fans would remember it as the
best game of the season. Memories are
dominated by their most powerful and not
their most typical instances.

E2005

1.4.4

(1) It was a cold winter day.

(2) Late in the afternoon of a chill day in February, two

gentlemen were sitting alone

(3) the presence of the Indians here at the time of

Columbus arrival being sufficient proof of it.

(4) I put on my clothes by the light of a half-moon just

setting, where rays streamed through the narrow window
near my cribs.

(1) It was a cold winter day.

winter

(2) Late in the afternoon / of a chill day in February, /two

gentlemen were sitting alone

a chill day in February

(1)
(3) the presence of the Indians here at the time of
Columbus arrival being sufficient proof of it.

4) I put on my clothes by the light of a half-moon

just setting, where rays streamed through the
narrow window near my cribs.

I put on my clothes by the light of a half-moon /

just setting,/ where rays streamed through
the narrow window near my cribs.

Reconstruct the sentence

:
:
:
:
:

Nida & Taber The Theory and Practice of Translation

Tyler, Alexander F. Essay on the Principles of Translation

The clash of two empires

The clash of two civilizations