2014-2015(1)翻译理论入门.doc

2014-2015(1) 翻译理论入门复习题Part I True or False Questions.（20%，2 point each）Part II Short Statements.（20%，5 point each）Directions: Please make short statements to the following items.1. Nidas science of translating.In Nidas opinion, translating is neither a science nor an art and it is not proper to view translating as either of them. Nidas “science of translating is to describe the process of translation in a scientific manner just as linguistics can do. Nida defines his “science of translation” as “the scientific description of the processes involved in translating”. The actual translating of a text reflects a highly developed skill, but the study of translating as a type of human activity can, of course, be done in a scientific manner. Nida objects to taking translation as a science or an art in a simple way.2. Catford: Translation shift Catford is the first one to introduce the term “shift” intotranslation. He followed the linguistic model and analyzed language as communication, operating functionally in context andona range of levels and ranks. Shift is defined as deviation which corresponds with form occurs in the process of conversion of source language into target language. And then he dividedshiftsinto two kinds: levelshiftsand categoryshifts. By a shift of level, we mean that a SL item at one linguistic level (phonology, graphology, grammar and lexis) has a TLtranslationequivalent at a different level. Categoryshiftsare departures from formal correspondence. Shift of category can be subdivided in 4 kinds: structure shift, class shift, unit/rank shift and intra-system shift. Catford said that structural shifts are the most common form of shifts and involve mostly a shift in grammatical structure. 3. Three variable elements of register theory and their metafunction meanings.Register includes: 1.field: what is being written about; 2.Tenor: who is communicating and to whom ; 3.Mode: the form of communication. The field of a text is associated with ideational meaning, which is realized through transitivity patterns (verb types, active/passive structures, participants in the process, etc.) The tenor of a text is associated with interpersonal meaning, which is realized through the patterns of modality (modal verbs and adverbs such as hopefully, should, possibly, and evaluative lexis such as beautiful, dreadful). The mode of a text is associated with textual meaning, which is realized through thematic and information structures (mainly the order and structuring of elements in a clause) and cohesion.4. Newmark: communicative translation and semantic translationCommunicative translation, on the other hand, attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both content and language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readershipSemantic translation attempts to render, as closely as the semantic and syntactic structures of the second language allow, the exact contextual meaning of the original.5. Reisss text type approach and specific translation methods suggested by her. Plain communication of facts InformativeCreative composition ExpressiveInducing behavioral responses OperativeAudiomedial textsThe TT of an informative text should transmit the full referential of conceptual content of the ST.The TT of an expressive text should transmit the aesthetic and artistic form of the ST.The TT of an operative text should produce the desired response in the TT receiver.Audio-medial texts require the “supplementary” method.6. Three major cases when translated literature occupies the primary position:1) when a “young” literature is being established and looks initially to “older” literatures for ready-made models. 2) when a literature is “peripheral” or “weak” and imports those literary types which it is lacking. 3) when there is a critical turning point in literary history at which established models are no longer considered sufficient, or when there is a vacuum in the literature of the country. Where no type holds sway, it is easier for foreign models to assume primacy. 7. Tytler翻译三原则（译作完全复写原作思想/风格手法与原作同质/具备原作通顺）：(一)译作应完全复写出原作的思想;(二)译作的风格和手法应和原作属于同一性质;(三)译作应具备原作所具有的通顺。8. key concepts: formal equivalence, semantic translation, communicative translation, covert and overt translation, direct translation and oblique translation, skopos theoryPart III Translation Practice. ( 40%, 10 point each)Directions: Translate the following English into Chinese.1. 2. 3. 4.Part IV Comments on Translation Theories. （20% , 20 point each）Directions: Please choose only one theory from among the following translation theories and make a discussion about it. State the theory first, and then point out its importance and problems.1. Criticisms of discourse and register analysis approaches to translation. Stanley Fish criticizes the Hallidayan model for being over-complicated in its categorization of grammar and for its apparently inflexible one-to-one matching of structure and meaning.As for Houses model is concerned, Gutt raises the question as to whether it is possible to recover authorial intention and ST function from register analysis.The analytical frameworks of the translation theorists discussed in this chapter are English-language oriented. This becomes problematic with other languages, especially the analysis of thematic and information structure.Venuti considers Grices maxims suitable only for translation in closely defined fields, such as technical or legal documents. Grices maxims seem to reflect directly notions which are known to be valued in the English-speaking world, for instance sincerity, brevity, and relevance. 2. Discussion of Reisss text type approach Significance: It moves translation theory beyond a consideration of lower linguistic levels, the mere words and pages, beyond even the effect they create, towards a consideration of the communicative purpose of translation. Criticism of Reisss text type approach:Why there should only be three types of language function. Nord: “phatic function”There are questions marks as to how Reiss proposed translation methods are to be applied in the case of a specific text. Whether text types can really be differentiated. The translation method employed depends on far more than just text type. The translators own role and purpose, as well as socio-cultural pressure, also affect the kind of translation strategy.3. Discussion of skopos theory Advantage of skopos theory:It allows the possibility of the same text being translated in different ways according to the purpose of the TT and the commission which is given to the translator.Criticisms of skopos theory1) What purports to be a “general” theory is in fact is only valid for non-literary texts.2) Reisss text type approach and Vermeers skopos theory are in fact considering different functional phenomena and cannot be lumped together.3) Skopos theory does not pay sufficient attention to the linguistic nature of the ST nor to the reproduction of microlevel features in the TT.4. Discuss the position of translated literature withinthe literary system of Even-ZoharThe position taken by translated literature is decisive to translation norms, behaviors, and policies. When it assumes a central position in the literary polysystem and functions as a vehicle for creating new, primary models, the translator is far more likely to strive for such translation which is closer to the original in terms of adequacy. On the contrary, if translation occupies a secondary position within a given polysystem, the chances that the translator will attempt to find ready-made models for translation for the sake of the demand of translation norm “acceptability” are much greater than otherwise. Even-Zohar elaborated the position of translated literature within a literary system. When it assumes a central position, it participates actively in shaping the center of the polysystem. When it maintains a peripheral position, it constitutes a peripheral system within the polysystem, generally employing secondary models. Even-Zohar (1978) suggested that the relationship between translated works and the literary polysystem cannot be identified as either primary or secondary, but as a variable, depending upon the specific circumstance operating within the literary system. Generally speaking, the “normal” position of translated literature tends to be in a peripheral one, yet there exist some exceptions.Even-Zohar identified the following three major conditions contributing to the translated literature as a central system in the literary polysystem:i. when a polysystem has not yet been crystallized, that is to say, when a literature is “young”, in the process of being established;ii.when a literature is either “peripheral”(within a large group of correlated literature) or “weak” or both;iii.when there are turning points, crises, or literary vacuums in a literature. 5. Genztlers comment on polysystemtheory (Influence of Polysystem Theory on Translation Studies): 1) the advantages of polysystemtheoryGentzler(2004:119-123) summarizes the advantages of polysystem theory over other e