榆林展览馆展品英译错误研究

1、 Acknowledgements First of all, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to my supervisor Liu Xue, who not only offers me constant encouragement, valuable suggestions and expert guidance in my writing but also spends much time in reading and furthering my thesis. I appreciate her knowledge

2、in English and translation study, which are of great assistance for my writing. I am also indebted to all the teachers in the Department of English. Their serious attitude towards teaching, wide knowledge in different fields of English and their courses and lectures have given me immense help and co

3、urage and broadened my mind. Last but not least, I owe my heartfelt thanks to my classmates. Without their sustained help, tolerance and encouragement, I could have never completed this thesis.iAbstract：China has a long history and highly developed culture. With the increasingly rising economic powe

4、r of China, the cultural influence of China is becoming more powerful. Museums and exhibition centers are important windows to display history and transmit culture. But there are many errors in English translation of commentaries of cultural relics and exhibitions. This thesis takes the Yulin Exhibi

5、tion Center as research object, and demonstrates the errors of English translation of commentaries. Then it analyzes the cause of errors from different angles and puts forward suggestions to avoid them. It aims to help the museum and exhibition center to transmit the meaning of cultural relics and e

6、xhibits accurately and help foreigners to understand Chinese culture and history better.Key words: history display and culture transmission; commentaries; error of English translations; suggestions 2摘要：中国历史悠久，文化发达。随着中国经济实力的日渐强大，其文化影响力随之增强。博物馆和展览馆是展示历史和传播文化的重要窗口。然而博物馆和展览馆的文物和展品的解说文本，在英译过程中出现了许多错误。本文以

7、榆林展览馆为研究对象，分析其解说文本的英译错误，接着从不同角度分析错误出现的原因并给出建议以避免错误的出现。本文旨在帮助博物馆和展览馆准确传达文物和展品的意义，帮助外国游客更好地理解中国文化和历史。关键词: 历史展示和文化传播 解说文本 英译错误 建议iiiTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsiAbstract in EnglishiiAbstract in Chineseiii1 Introduction11.1 Background of the study11.2 Purpose and content of the study22 Errors and C

8、orrections in English Translation in the Yulin Exhibition Center 32.1 Spelling mistakes32.2 Grammar mistakes52.3 Improper use of words72.4 Different criteria of English translation93 Causes of Errors in English Translation in the Yulin Exhibition Center113.1 From the angle of translator11 3.1.1 Spel

9、ling mistakes12 3.1.2 Grammar mistakes12 3.1.3 Improper use of words12 3.2 From the angle of typesetter and printer12 3.3 From the angle of government134 Suggestions for Avoiding Errors in English Translation134.1 From the angle of translator144.2 From the angle of typesetter and printer144.3 From t

10、he angle of government155 Conclusion15References17榆林学院外语系2015届本科生毕业论文On English Translation Errors of Exhibits in the Yulin Exhibition Center1 Introduction China has a long history and highly developed culture. With the rapid development of Chinas economy during the last 30 years, the influence of C

11、hinese culture is becoming more and more powerful over the world. Many foreigners come to China to get to know about Chinese culture and history. Museums and exhibition centers are best places for foreigners to know the history and culture of a country. Museums collect all kinds of cultural relics o

12、f a specific region, which can reflect the development of culture of a place, and the change of custom of people who live there. Exhibition centers are places to present history of a place: what happened in the past; what will happen in the future. Therefore museums and exhibition centers are import

13、ant windows to display history and transmit culture of a city or a country to foreigners. When foreign visitors visit a museum or exhibition center, they can get direct and visual information from the cultural relics and the pictures. But because of cultural differences, the hidden and deep informat

14、ion which can reflect culture and history have to be explained by extra commentaries. So accurate English translation of commentaries of exhibits and cultural relics are very important. 1.1 Background of the study Yulin city has a long history and its rich in historical cultural relics. Recently, Yu

15、lin has been entitled the “Provincial Civilized City”. As a result, tourism of Yulin is growing quickly and more foreigners come and have a visit of Yulin. Except for the natural sights, visitors would choose to visit museums and exhibition centers to gain more historical information of Yulin. Altho

16、ugh the English names of cultural relics and exhibits can transmit the basic information to those foreign visitors, but commentary is much more important. Commentary can transmit more detailed information of cultural relics and exhibits so that visitors can gain the deep and hidden cultural backgrou

17、nd behind the names. Visitors can know the whole life of a famous person or change of a specific dynasty through commentary.Cultural relics are valuable heritages inherited from our ancestors. They are carriers of history and culture. Translation is the bridge of cultural communication.15榆林学院外语系2015

18、届本科生毕业论文According to Peter Newmark, museum commentary type possesses four functions: 1) promotionattract more visitors; 2) introductionshow the historical and cultural connotations; 3) appreciationreceive aesthetic feeling; 4) indicationemphasize visitors after-reading behavior. Those four functions

19、 work together to convey the information behind the cultural relics to the utter most (Wang Yan, 2011). The first function of museum commentary is promotion, which means to attract more visitors to visit the museum and exhibition center. The second function is introduction that is to say to explain

20、detailed information of cultural relics and exhibits, especially for foreign visitors. The third function is appreciation, which means that visitors can get hidden culture of relics and exhibits through commentaries. The forth function is indication, which means visitors will form their own impressi

21、on about China after reading these commentaries. Only by working together can cultural information behind the cultural relics be conveyed. But the premise is that commentary must be translated accurately. Translation, as a form of cultural exchange, is closely connected with culture. The process of

22、translation is that of culture transmission which involves culture conflicts and cross-cultural communication. Whats more, cultural transmission promotes cultural reintegration and further cultural development. Translation plays an irreplaceable role in these processes. In this sense, the history of

23、 human society is that of cultural transmission (Li Hongjun, 2007).The purpose of English translation of commentary is to transmit culture through target language and detailed information. Due to different cultural background and traditions, cultural differences exist among different languages and p

24、eople. Cultural difference is the biggest obstacle in the process of translation. Culture is often transmitted inside a country but translation can enlarge its influence to foreign countries or target languages, by which cultural transmission occurs. Cultural transmission leads to cultural exchange

25、which results in cultural development. However, there are few studies about commentary of Yulin Exhibition Center. The study of commentary of Yulin Exhibition Center can fulfill the functions of commentary and achieve the aim of cultural communication. Therefore, the author chooses it as the researc

26、h object. 1.2 Purpose and content of the studyAfter having visited museums and exhibition centers in Yulin, the author found that there are many errors in English translation of commentaries of exhibits and cultural relics, especially in the Yulin Exhibition Center. This thesis aims to analyze error

27、s in English translation of commentaries of exhibits and cultural relics in the Yulin Exhibition Center and puts forward some suggestions. It hopes to help the translators to express the meaning of exhibits and cultural relics accurately and fulfill the functions of commentary so that foreigners can

28、 understand Chinese culture and history better during their visiting. The author first classifies these errors of English translation of commentaries into four categories: spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, improper use of words and different criteria of English translation. Then the author correc

29、ts these errors accordingly. Later, the author analyzes the causes of these errors from different angles: from the angle of translator, from the angle of typesetter and printer, and from the angle of government. Finally the author puts forward suggestions to avoid those errors. 2 Errors and Correcti

30、ons in English Translation in the Yulin Exhibition CenterAccording to the frequencies of the mistakes, the author classifies these errors collected in the Yulin Exhibition Center into four categories: spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, improper use of words and different criteria of English transl

31、ation.2.1 Spelling mistakes There are some obvious spelling mistakes of words in the exhibition center. For example, the Chinese version is “疆域包括了今陕西秦岭以北”, while the English translation goes: “with its territary covering the north part of todays Shaanxi province”. In this sentence, “territary” shoul

32、d be “territory” which means “land that is under the control of a particular country or ruler” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 2086). There is one more example: “城台四角均建有十字歇山顶钟鼓楼” is translated as “The drum tower with cross gable and hip roof are built at the co

33、rners of the flatform respectively”. In this sentence, “flatform” should be “platform” which means “a raised level surface, for example one that equipment stands on or is operated from” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 1514). There are also some spelling mistake

34、s about names of places and people. For example, the Chinese version is “明成华九年（公元1473年）延绥巡抚余子俊迁延绥镇治于榆林” while the English translation goes to “In 1473 AD, Yu Zijun the governor of Yanshun relocated its seat to Yulin”. In this sentence, “延绥” is translated into “Yanshun” and it should be “Yansui”. And

35、 this mistake appeared twice. “修筑成东起清水营（今府谷县北），西至花马池（今定边县西北）的延绥镇长城” is translated as “Built a seven hundred wall along the border of Yusui from Qingshuiying (the north part of todays Fugu County) to Huamachi (the northwest of Dingbian County)”. In this sentence, “延绥” is translated into “Yusui”, it a

36、lso should be “Yansui”. There are also other mistakes about names of places. More examples are “公元前210年，秦始皇东巡途中死于沙丘(今河北平乡)” and its translated as “In 210 AD, Emperor Qinshihuang died in Shaqiu (now Beiping Town of Hebei province) during his tour inspection to the east”. In this sentence, “河北平乡”is tr

37、anslated into “Beiping Town of Hebei province”, it should be “Pingxiang of Hebei province”. There are also some spelling mistakes about names of person. For example, “韩世忠（绥德人），是南宋名将，时与岳飞齐名” is translated as “Han Shizhong from Suide was a famous army commander of South Song Dynasty and was then paral

38、lel in fame with Yufei”. In this sentence , “岳飞” was translated into “Yufei” , it should be “Yue Fei”. Another common spelling mistake is mixed-up words. For example “形象的再现了这一历史时期的风貌，使人们多侧面的窥见了陕北高原古代生活场景” is translated as “ These cultural relics revealed the life style and features of that period on

39、 the highland of north Shaanxi province”. In this sentence, “life” and “style” should be combined together as “lifestyle” which means “the way in which a person or a group of people lives and works” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 1167). There are also some spe

40、lling mistakes about figures and proper nouns. For example, “据史料记载，秦统一中国后派蒙恬率兵30万与监军扶苏驻守上郡” is translated as “As documented in history, 300000 soldiers led by MENG Tian were appointed to guard SHANG Prefecture”. In western countries, the unit of number is thousand, million, billion and so on. When a

41、 number is more than a thousand, they will add a comma after every three numbers from right to left so that they can read it quickly and easily. In this sentence, “300000”should be “300,000”. Many cultural relics and exhibits are proper nouns, and when they are translated into English, the first let

42、ter should be capitalized. “镇北台被誉为万里长城第一台 ” is translated as “Zhenbei Terrace was acclaimed as the No.1 fort on the great wall ”. “The great wall” is a proper noun which should be capitalized as “the Great Wall”. All these spelling mistakes include spelling mistakes of words, names of place and pers

43、on, mixed-up words, figures and proper nouns. 2.2 Grammar mistakes Apart from the spelling mistakes, there are also many grammar mistakes in the exhibition center. Wrong usage of tense is most common to see. For example, “榆林城自建城后，曾经过多次扩建，其中较著名的有三次。这就是历史上流传的三拓榆林城, 又叫三展榆阳 ”. The translation is “Yulin

44、City was expanded many times after the construction. Three of them are known extensively as Three Expansions of Yulin City ”. In this sentence, the expansions of Yulin City resulted in the “Three Expansions of Yulin City”. So the tense of this sentence should be the present perfect tense and it woul

45、d be better to translate it into “Yulin City has been expanded many times after the construction”. Another wrong usage of tense: “随行的赵高和李斯伪造诏书，立胡亥，逼扶苏，蒙恬自戕于上郡” is translated into “Zhao Gao and Li Si forged the rescript, by which Huhai succeed to the throne”. In this sentence, “succeed” should be “su

46、cceeded”. According to grammatical concord, the tense of the main clause and the subordinate clause should be the same. The tense of the main clause is simple past, so the tense of the subordinate clause also should be simple past. There is also wrong usage in collocation. For example: “1518年，明武宗朱厚照

47、出北京，渡黄河，来到榆林，在榆林居住3个多月” is translated into “In 1518, ZHU Houzhao-Wuzong Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) left Beijing, across Yellow River and arrived at Yulin. He lodged there for more than 3 months”. In this sentence, “across” is a preposition which means “from one side to the other si

48、de of sth.” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 17). It should be used with a verb. While the verb “cross” means “to go across; to pass or stretch from one side to the other” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 477). So it would b

49、e better to use “cross” to replace “across”. Another example is that “从此，榆林便被称为小北京了” is translated into “For this reason, Yulin has been reputed as Miniature Beijing from then on”. The usage of the word “reputed” is “reputed to be sth.to have done sth”. So this sentence would be better to translated

50、 into: “Yulin is reputed to have been Miniature Beijing from then on”. Another common mistake of grammar is wrong usage of form of words. For example: “作出塞一诗，表达了康熙帝决心平定叛乱，实现天下统一的志向” is translated into “There, the emperor wrote a poem March beyond the Border, which expressed his determination in supp

51、ressing rebel and reunifying the country”. When the word “rebel” is used as a noun, it means “a person who fights against the government of the country” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 1654). It would be better to use “rebellion” which means “an attempt by some

52、 of the people in a country to change their government, using violence” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 1654). Another example: “在此进行祝捷，献俘，庆祝等活动” is translated into “It was renamed Kaige Building in 1521 for the activities of celebrating the victories and prese

53、nting prisoner of war”. In this sentence, “祝捷” is translated into “celebrating the victories” because there is more than one victory. So there is more than one prisoner and “献俘” would be better to translated into “presenting prisoners of war” which is in agreement with the plural form of “victories”

54、. All these grammar mistakes include discord of tense and number, wrong form of words.2.3 Improper use of words Improper use of words is another common mistake in the exhibition center. There are some improper translations of words which cant properly express the Chinese meaning and can lead to misu

55、nderstanding. These improper uses of words can be divided into two categories. The first category is improper use of nouns. For example “此楼气势恢宏，结构巧妙工艺考究，是榆林诸楼中的精品之一” is translated into “Kaige Building is an elaborate works among the building in Yulin for its imposing manner, ingenious fabric, and pa

56、rticular craft”. “Fabric” means “the basic structure of a society, or organization, etc. that enables it to function successfully” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 713) and “structure” means “the way in which the parts of sth. are connected together, arranged or

57、 organized; a particular arrangement of parts” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 2005). “Fabric” emphasizes the structure of a society or organization. So, it would be better to use “structure” to describe a building. Another example of improper usage of nouns: “

58、明崇祯十七年（公元1644年）在西安建立大顺政权，年号永昌” is translated into “ In 1644, Li established the government of Great Shun in Xian and named his reign Yongchang”. “Government” means “the group of people who are responsible for controlling a country” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 884). There is a similar word “regime” which means “a method or system of government, especially one that has not been elected in a fair way” (Oxford Advanced Leaners English-Chinese Dictionary, 7th edition, page 1671). “Government” emphasizes the