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A brief introduction of literal translation 10英师4班 郭菲 2012200992摘要:本文主要探讨的是翻译方法中的直译。通过讨论直译的概念，特点以及如何正常地使用直译。直译是一个不错的选择，它保持了原文的形式，使原语言意思更直观、细腻，保留形式。但是直译并不是一字一字地翻译。有些句子不应该从字面上翻译。因为这些句子包含一些成语或不符合语言习惯。所以在翻译中能够直译就尽量直译。关键词：直译 意译 逐字翻译 源语言 目标语言Definition of literal translationLiteral translation, as a notion at the heart of most translation controversies for many centuies,has been given different definitions.Defined by dictionary of translation studies, Literal translation id the direct transfer of a source language text(SLT) into a grammatically and idiomatically appropriate target language text(TLT) (shuttleworth & cowie 2004;95) according to Barkhudarov(1969;10),a literal translation can be defined in linguistic terms as a translation “made on a level lower than is sufficient to convey the content unchanged while observing TL norms”. Catford put literal translation between word-for-word translation and free translation. In China, translators and scholars also have various interpretation of this translation approach. As an advocator of literal translation, Lu Xun definedit as:literal translation means faithfulness and expressivness. It must contain two aspects: 1) being easy to understand 2)retaining the manner of the SLT(Zhang Jin&Zhang Ning,2005;322) Xu Chongxin explained literal translation from the perspective of sentence structure. He regarded sentences as the basic units. For example, if the original text consists of one sentence only, the target text should should be one sentence as well. Profeeor Liu Zhongde defines literal translation in a relatively complete way,” in the pross of translation, literal translation treats sentences as basic units and meanwhile takes the whole passage into consideration; a translator who attaches great importance to literal translation does his or her best to reproduce the ideas and writing style of original work, retaining in the version as many rhetorical devices and sentence structures of the original as possible”(Tan Weiguo,2005;15) Considering all these scholars definitions together, Id like to define literal translation in a few sentences. Literal translation, as the most common and most important translation approach, treats sentences as basic units and meanwhile takes the whole text into consideration. Literal translation preserves in the version both the original form and content,including sentence structures, rhetorical devices, writing style and the basic tone, as well as implicit and explicit meaning of the source language text.1Significance of literal translationLiteral translation preserves the original intent of the text; it keeps the original use of language, syntax and diction. However, it can confuse the reader sometimes because there are differences between languages, and it would seem silly if everything is translated literally.Literal translation can also denote a translation that represents the precise meaning of the original text but does not attempt to convey its style, beauty, or poetry. Charles Singletons translation of The Divine Comedy (1975) is regarded as a literal translation.That is to say, it is necessary for translators to study and master interference elements of affecting literal translation in English-Chinese translation. Translators are guided to translate academic works and make a contribution in literal translation field. For beginners, having known these interference elements, you will make the fewer mistakes, enrich your knowledge and prepared for your further study. 2.the use of literal translation 2.1 Translate literally, if possible. Why translate, if possible? What is the advantage of literal translation? Generally, rhetoric is often used in a passage to make the passage lively. Literal translation retains the rhetoric of the original, so it is lively as the original. But free translation only expresses the general idea of original, lively rhetoric of the original disappeared. So generally speaking, literal translation is a good choice in translation. For example:1) For Kino and Juana this was the meaning of morning of their lives, comparable only to the day when the baby had been born. Literal translation: 在Kino和Juana看来,这是他们一生中最了不起的早晨,只有宝宝出生的那一天,才可以与之媲美. Free translation: Kino和Juana以为,这一天非常重要. Free translation of examples 1) only expresses the general idea of the original sentences. It is too simple. Metaphor and description of the original sentences have disappeared. After free translation, it was inferior and dull. So it is undesirable. But the literal translation of example 1) is clearer than the free translation. Actually, literal translation is the chief way of translation. It is close to the original, lively and natural. It is acceptable. Acceptability is very important in translation. Translation not only does express the idea and style of the original message, but also need to accord with the culture and customs of the target language, so that the translation can easy be accepted by target language readers. Because the differences of two languages, sometimes it is difficult to retain the idea and style of the source language. The advantage of literal translation is that almost retain the idea and style of the original. So most of translators tend to use literal translation. From all above, that is the reason of translate literally, if possible. 2.2 Literal translationword-for-word translation. At first, which kind of translation is word-for-word translation? Word-for-word translation is that: When translating, consider every word. Every words of source language is translated coordinately. For example: 1) Many of his ideas are especially interesting to modern youth. Word-for-word translation: 他的许多思想对当代青年特别有趣. From the example 1), we know word-for-word translation does not do any changes to source language. The form is close to the original, but it does not express the meaning of the source language. Strictly speaking, it is not translation. Nevertheless, some translation which did some change to source language and the structure of target language is also the same as source language, the translation is smooth, but the meaning and the style are far from the original, usually, target language readers did not know what it said. This is also word-for-word translation. For example: 2) Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Word-for-word translation: 你的肉中的每一个原子，对我来说，都像我自己一样亲；即使在病痛中，仍然是亲的. Translation of example2） are smooth. But they do not accord with the expressive way of Chinese. It is word-for-word translation. From all above, word-for-word translation is so starchy, goes after the form of source language that it never think of the effect of target language. Because word-for-word translation does not accord with the expressive way of target language, it is hard to understand it even makes target language readers did not know what does translator want to express. Word-for-word translation makes target language readers confused. It is unqualified translation. Literal translation also keeps the general form of source language, and keeps the structure and the metaphor of the original. But literal translation does make some necessary adjustment, make target language smooth, clean and acceptable. After reading, target language readers can have almost the same feeling as the source language readers. But word-for-word translation only translate word by word, it is stiff and unintelligible. Quality of literal translation is good. Word-for-word translation is inferior. Literal translation and word-for-word translation can give different feeling to target language readers. All translation which is hard to accept, which have bad effect, which message is indistinct, which meaning is far from the original is word-for-word translation. This kind of translation is abortive. Some translation that completely keeps the form of the original is literal translation. That is erroneous. They confuse the conception of literal translation with word-for-word translation. These translators translate like this: first, they look up the meaning of every word of source language in dictionary. Then, they combine the meaning of every word, never do any change. They do not know what translation is, so word-for-word translation emerges. But excellent translators know the meaning of the original. When translating, they do some necessary adjustment, make target language clearer, smooth and acceptable. They know the difference between word-for-word translation and literal translation. They can use literal translation properly, it is a skill of translation. All in all, literal translation is not word-for-word translation. Literal translation is acceptable and nimble. 2.3 Some sentences should not translate literally. Some source language sentences are very difficult to translate literally. translate it literally, the result is unintelligible and indistinct. Some sentences do not accord with expressive way in target language. Different country has different culture,different language, different custom and different way to express the same meaning, different language has different way about metaphors, and has different idioms. In China, people usually use some idioms to describe an event or a person. So do in abroad. But Chinese idioms are unintelligible in western countries. In these suituations, if translate literally, usually, it would have bad effect and be unacceptable. When target language readers read, they could not know the exact meaning of source language. Because the message which target language express was vague. For example: 1) Our son must go to school. He must break out of the pot that hold us in. Literal translation: 我们的儿子一定得进学校，他一定得打破这个把我们关在里面的罐子. Free translation: 我们的儿子一定要上学，一定要出人头地. From the example, literal translation is unintelligible even absurd. But after had translated it freely, translation became cleaner, smooth, acceptable and accord with the culture of target language. But in which suituation translators should not translate literally? How to use literal translation correctly? Any source language which does not accord with the expressive way of target language should not use literal translation. For example: In example 1), Break out the pot that hole us in, it is an English idiom, it means do something successful. But how to translate it into Chines?There is also an idiom in China. It almost has the same meaning asBreak out of the pot that hold us in. It is 出人头地.ConclusionFrom all above, literal translation is a basic skill of translation. it is calculated that about 70% sentences should be transmitted with this method. So it is wi