从奈达等值理论看商务英语词典的翻译硕士论文

1、 . . . 硕士学位论文MASTER DISSERTATION 论文题目： 从奈达的等值理论看商务英语词典的翻译 On Translation of Business English Dictionaries from Perspective of Nidas Theory of Equivalence128 / 138摘 要英汉、汉英贸易词典属于专业双语词典，旨在满足读者在对外经贸活动中语言与知识方面的需求。随着世界经济一体化进程的不断加快和我国“入世”，中外读者对于作为世界贸易活动中的工作语言英语和汉语的双语辞书英汉、汉英贸易词典的需求日益迫切，对其翻译质量的要求也不断提高。一本优秀的商

2、务词典不仅仅要有准确的释义和一定的例证，它一定也是一部商务英语翻译的典，能为潜在的读者提供足够的商务英语信息，帮助他们准确无误地掌握商务词汇的意义，适时传达词汇的语用信息，语法信息，从而有利于读者使之恰当地运用于商务活动之中。对双语词典的翻译的研究由来已久，可目前对英汉商务英语词典的研究可谓凤毛麟角。首先，不少学者认为，英汉商务英语词典隶属双语词典，与双语词典的翻译研究相比其本身不具备研究价值，也就是说如果对双语词典的翻译研究有突破，那么商务英语双语词典的翻译问题也就迎刃而解了。由此可以看出学者们对英汉商务英语双解词典翻译的重视程度不够。其二，商务英语词典的翻译也可以划到商务英语翻译之中，因此

3、有些学者认为对商务英语翻译的研究也就包含了对商务英语词典翻译的研究。殊不知商务英语词典的翻译恰恰是商务英语翻译与词典翻译相结合的产物，对其翻译的研究需要两者紧密有机地结合，这样才能体现出商务英语词典翻译的特色，同时也能为读者带来实惠。因此我们可以说目前对英汉商务英语词典的翻译研究还处于起步阶段，英汉商务英语词典翻译中出现的新问题还亟待探讨和解决。针对目前英汉商务英语词典翻译中存在的问题，本人在对商务英语翻译研究和词典翻译研究的基础之上，结合商务英语翻译的特点和词典翻译的特殊性，以与目前已出版的各类英汉商务英语词典的研究，提出自己对英汉商务英语词典翻译的一些观点，希望能对今后英汉商务英语词典翻译

4、工作起到一定的帮助。 本文共四个部分。第一部分主要回顾了词典翻译和商务英语翻译研究的发展状况，同时讨论了奈达的等值理论在词典翻译中的作用。第二部分主要研究了商务英语词典的翻译，重点讨论了词典翻译与文学翻译的异同。第三部分主要分析了商务英语翻译的特点以与等值理论在商务英语翻译的体现。第四部分主要讨论了等值理论在商务英语词典翻译中的应用，并探讨了商务英语词典翻译的方法、标准等。 本文的创新点：第一，结合现已出版的商务英语词典中具体翻译实例论证了商务英语词典翻译的原则方法。第二，实现了商务英语翻译与词典翻译以与等值翻译理论的有机结合。第三，突出了商务英语词典的翻译与一般语文双语词典翻译的差异。关键词

5、：商务英语， 双语词典， 等值， 翻译AbstractEnglish-Chinese dictionary, which belongs to the category of professional bilingual dictionary, is designed to meet the needs of readers in business world in aspects of both language and business knowledge. With Chinas entry into the WTO and the accelerating rate of integr

6、ation of the worlds economy, Chinese readers in the worlds trading activities have a pressing demand for the English-Chinese bilingual business dictionary, and the request for improving translation quality is also rising.An excellent English-Chinese bilingual dictionary must not only provide an accu

7、rate definition and illustration but also serve as an example of translation. It should help readers to grasp the meaning of business words and to convey the pragmatic and grammatical information contained in these words so as to facilitate the proper use of the words in business activities. Study o

8、f the translation of dictionaries has been for so long, but there has been little time devoted to the study of the translation of BE dictionaries. Many scholars think that English-Chinese business dictionaries are part of bilingual dictionaries and there is little value to do such a research compare

9、d with that of a bilingual dictionary. Namely, if a breakthrough is made in the research of a bilingual dictionary, the problems concerning the translation of a BE dictionary can be readily solved. Thus it can be seen that scholars have not attached due importance to the translation of a BE dictiona

10、ry. The second reason for this negligence is that the translation of a BE dictionary can be put under the category of the translation of BE. Therefore, some scholars take it for granted that the study of the translation of BE covers all the research area of the translation of BE dictionaries regardl

11、ess of the fact that the translation of BE dictionaries is the product of the combination of the study of the translation of BE and that of the translation of dictionaries. Consequently, it is self-evident that only by integrating the study of the translation of BE with that of the translation of di

12、ctionaries can the characteristics of the translation of BE dictionaries be represented and tangible benefits be brought to readers. So it can be safely concluded that the study of the translation of BE dictionaries has so far been at its initial stage and many new problems regarding the translation

13、 of BE dictionaries have remained to be solved immediately. In view of the current problems in the translation of BE dictionaries and the particularities of the translation of BE and dictionaries, and based on the research I have made , some suggestions concerning the issue are put forward for the p

14、urpose of rendering some help to solution to these problems.This thesis mainly falls into four parts: First, an overall review of the status quo of the research in the field of the translation of BE and that of dictionaries, and at the same time, Nidas theory of Equivalence is introduced and some di

15、scussions about its role in the translation of a dictionary are carried out. Second, the research into the translation of dictionaries is initiated, focusing on the similarities and differences between the translation of dictionaries and that of literature. Next, a detailed analysis of the distingui

16、shing features of the translation of BE is made and the embodiment of the theory of Equivalence in the translation of BE is discussed. In the last part, the most important part of this thesis, a discussion about the application of the theory of Equivalence to the translation of BE dictionaries is ca

17、rried out and the means and criteria for doing the translation of BE dictionaries are investigated.Innovations about this thesis: First, it demonstrates the principles and means governing the translation of BE dictionaries by means of incorporating the real examples from the currently published BE d

18、ictionaries into the thesis. Second, it approaches a realization of the integration of the translation of BE with that of dictionaries. Third, it highlights the differences and similarities between the translations of BE dictionaries and that of an ordinary philological dictionary. Key words: Busine

19、ss English, Bilingual dictionary, Equivalence, TranslationAcknowledgementsIn the first place, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all who have helped me out of the predicaments I once bogged down in when I commenced the writing of this thesis. Without these helps, it would be impossible f

20、or me to proceed to finish this seemingly formidable task at one stroke.Also, I feel much indebted to my supervisor-Prof.Weng Fengxiang, for his unremitting instructions and pertinent remarks I received during the past two years, which proves to be of much help to finalize this thesis, and for his e

21、ncouragement, which makes this almost impossible task possible.My thanks also go to my classmates, whose witty remarks sometimes sparkle my thought and open my horizon. Their kind and timely help surely makes this thesis better than it would have been.I also want to give my sincere gratitude to all

22、the teachers in these two years of my postgraduate study. This thesis is no doubt an accumulation of knowledge I have learned from the courses and their lectures of course inspired me a lot in ways of thinking.Finally, I would like to mention my family, who unswervingly help me through all the diffi

23、culties in my life and consequently leave me enough time to engage in this thesis.Contents摘 要IAbstractIIIAcknowledgementsVContentsVIIntroduction1Chapter One Introduction41.1 Definitions of Equivalence41.2 Development of Equivalence And Its Relations with Tranlation of a BE Dictionary51.3 Status Quo

24、of the Translation of BE Bilingual Dictionaries101.3.1 Development of the Translation of Bilingual Dictionaries101.3.1.1 Development of the Compilation of Bilingual Dictionaries101.3.1.2 Development of Chinese Bilingual Dictionaries121.3.2 Development of BE Translation151.3.3 The Status Quo of Trans

25、lation of BE Dictionaries17Chapter Two Translation of General E-C Bilingual Dictionaries212.1 Features of E-C Bilingual Dictionaries212.1.1 Development of Bilingual Dictionaries212.1.2 Bilingual Dictionaries vs. Monolingual Dictionaries222.1.3 Characteristics of Bilingual Dictionaries232.1.4 Special

26、 Features of Translation of Bilingual Dictionaries (BD)242.2 BD Translation and Literature Translation252.3 The Equivalence Principle in Dictionary Translation302.3.1 Equivalence in Function312.3.2 Equivalence in Semantics322.3.3 Equivalence in Form332.3.4 Equivalence in Pragmatic Approach352.3.5 Eq

27、uivalence in Markedness372.3.6 Equivalence in Rhetoric382.3.7 Equivalence in Cultural Information382.3.8 Equivalence in Effect39Chapter Three BE Translation423.1 Characteristics of Business English423.1.1 The Relatively Fixed Pattern423.1.2 Conciseness433.1.3The Complex Structure of Sentence443.1.4

28、The Lexical Features of Business English453.1.5 Sense of Purpose483.1.6 Social Aspects483.1.7 Clear Communication493.2 Application of Equivalence Theory to BE Translation493.2.1 Basic Criteria for BE Translation493.2.2 Equivalence in Meaning in Business English Translation523.2.2.1 Equivalence at Le

29、xical Level523.2.2.2 Equivalence at Syntactic Level543.2.2.3 Equivalence at Discourse Level563.2.3 Equivalence in Style583.2.3.1 At the Word Level583.2.3.2 At Syntactic Level583.2.3.3 At Discourse Level603.3 Suggested Principles for BE Translation623.3.1 Accuracy623.3.2 Professionalism653.3.3 Conven

30、tionalization67Chapter Four Translation of BE Dictionaries694.1 Features of E-C Dictionaries of BE694.1.1 Headwords694.1.2 Examples714.1.3 Users and Compilers724.1.4 Publication724.2 Suggested Criteria for the Translation of E-C Business Dictionaries734.2.1 Principle of Accuracy744.2.2 Principle of

31、normativeness and idiomaticity764.2.3 Fidelity764.2.4 Readability784.2.6 Practicability794.3 Application of Equivalence Theory to the Translation of BE Dictionaries794.3.1 Equivalence in the Translation of Headwords804.3.1.1 Types of Equivalents in the Translation of Headwords in E-C Business Dictio

32、naries804.3.1.2 Comparison between Translational & Explanatory Equivalents844.3.1.3 Equivalence in the Translation of Culture-loaded Words864.3.1.4 Equivalence in the Translation of New Words904.3.1.4.1 The Formation of New Words914.3.1.5.2 Translation of New words934.3.2 Equivalence in the Tran

33、slation of Illustrative Examples954.3.2.1 Equivalence from the Aspects of Semantics954.3.2.2 Equivalence from Aspects of Grammar974.3.2.3 Equivalence from Aspects of Sentence Structure984.4 Methods of Providing Equivalents994.4.1 Translational Defining Method994.4.2 Explanatory Defining Method100Con

34、clusion103Bibliography105IntroductionThe emergency of business English is both the outcome of social development and the English language itself. In the age of Knowledge Economy of the 21st century, business English has shown its overwhelming importance. It has been widely used in the international

35、communication. For Chinese businessmen, English is not their mother tongue and the need to do translation is conspicuous when they do business with their counterparts who come from English-speaking countries. In Chinas academic circles, more and more scholars have devoted much time to looking into t

36、ranslation, intending to establish a discipline called Translatology. Yet, their focuses are always directed at the translation of literature, which has been an indisputable fact over many decades. Nevertheless, with the deepening of globalization of world economy, the translation of business Englis

37、h has become necessary and urgent. However, E-C business dictionaries have not enjoyed its deserved status. The problems are of two types: First, many scholars think that English-Chinese business dictionaries are part of bilingual dictionaries and there was little value to do such a research compare

38、d with that of a bilingual dictionary. Namely, if a breakthrough is made in the research of a bilingual dictionary, the problems concerning the translation of a BE dictionary can be readily solved. Thus it can be seen that scholars have not attached due importance to the translation of a BE dictiona

39、ry. The second reason for this negligence is that the translation of a BE dictionary can be put under the category of the translation of BE. Therefore, some scholars take it for granted that the study of the translation of BE covers all the research area of the translation of BE dictionaries regardl

40、ess of the fact that the translation of BE dictionaries is the product of the combination of the study of the translation of BE and that of the translation of dictionaries.The importance of this studyWith Chinas entry into the WTO and the accelerating economic development and rapidly increased inter

41、national trade with foreign countries, the need to communicate effectively and accurately with their business partners becomes so urgent that business English-the working language in the world, soon projects itself as the most important part never seen in the world arena before. But to effectively l

42、earn the language and to correctly and accurately use them in business inevitably require a basic knowledge of international business, which sometimes can not be readily got through consulting a common philological dictionary. What is more, there are many technological terms which can not be found i

43、n such a dictionary, let alone helping readers thoroughly understand the meaning and grasp the usage of these words. An excellent BE dictionary should not only provide the readers with the necessary information about the words but also enable them to use them properly in the business world. The tran

44、slation of a BE dictionary must serve as a tool to bridge the information gap between two languages. Though many E-C business dictionaries have sprung up like mushrooms in recent years, the research into how to translate them seems to lag far behind this development and so far, there has been little

45、 research carried out by scholars in this respect. As a result, there is no guiding principle for translators to follow or to comply with. So the need to do such a research is not only inevitable but also indispensible.The purpose of the studyWords in English can be likened to the building blocks in

46、 an edifice. The more you possess, the higher the edifice you can build. As the main sources of these building blocks, dictionaries always take on the responsibility to enlarge readers word reservoir. For an E-C business dictionary, the problem is not the lack of sources of business terminology, but

47、 how to translate them in an appropriate way so that readers can readily understand and grasp the words and properly apply them in real situation. Like the translation of a philological dictionary, which is totally different from that of literature, there must be some unique means or rules that can

48、be applied to the translation of an E-C business dictionary. It is self-evident that the study of the translation of an E-C business dictionary shall not focus on the translation of a particular word in business circles, but through the case study and comparison to find a suitable means to guide the

49、 translation and to look for some useful principles to govern this practice. To be honest, the author is not bold enough to expect that this paper can solve all the problems in this field at one go, but hopes to shed some light on the significance and necessity of doing such a research.There are two

50、 objectives in writing this paper. First, to draw attention to this field of research so that more scholars can join forces to push forward the development of this project. Second, trying to look for some basic rules governing the translation of an E-C business dictionary. Third, by doing such a res

51、earch to better meet the needs of readers and to improve the quality of E-C business dictionaries.Since this is a relatively new field rarely explored by scholars, to carry out this research is bound to meet many obstacles. To begin with, since it is an interdisciplinary subject, the research involv

52、es several disciplines at the same time, such as translatology, linguistics, and lexicography etc. Second, there are few research works that can be referred to. These, together with limited time to carry out this research, make this task even more formidable. For the reasons mentioned above, this pa

53、per can only constitute parts of these efforts to probe into the unknown. Therefore, mistakes are inevitable and unavoidable and the author sincerely welcomes comments and criticisms from readers.Research methodsIn this paper, massive and substantial language materials are selected from currently-pu

54、blished dictionaries and a combined method is used to illustrate the points. The integration of translation theory with the practical translations is frequently employed and contrastive examples are often provided to enable readers to have a clear vision of the differences. The corpus is carefully s

55、elected and categorized according to its functions. All the resources are full and accurate and can be relied upon. Theoretical inference is sometimes utilized to solidify the theoretical basis of this paper.Chapter One IntroductionIn this chapter, a brief review of the recent development of both tr

56、anslation theories and the studies of translations of BE dictionaries are presented to help readers gain some sight of the status quo in this field. The focus of this chapter is on the recent development of dictionary translations.1.1 Definitions of EquivalenceEquivalence has always been the central

57、 issue in translation circles. It is the most influential theory in modern history and it has the deepest impact on the development of translation theory in China, because it is said to be based on the advanced linguistic theory. Then what is “equivalence”? In The Merriam Websters Collegiate Diction

58、ary (1995:392-393), “equivalence is explained as “equal or interchangeable in force, amount, importance, or value” and “corresponding or virtually identical esp. in effect or function or meaning”. So “equivalence” can be defined as “the state or property of being equivalent” or “a presentation of the terms as equivalent”. In the Oxford Advance learners English-Chinese Dictionary (Fourth Edition) the definition is almost the same. In Googles Online Dictionary, “equivalence” is defined as “equality, a state of being equal or equiva