The Theory Of Translation Equivalence And EST Translation

Equivalence is an important concept in the field of translation. Meanwhile, it is a most controversial one. The focus of disputes is mainly upon its implicature and whether it can be achieved in translation. This paper holds that translation equivalence is a comprehensive term concerning almost all aspects of translation. It is just due to the comprehensiveness that equivalence finds its wide application in translation. In addition, translation equivalence is a relative term in that absolute equivalence is out of the question, while the maximum equivalence should be striven for. With the implicature, explicature, and the historical development of translation equivalence clarified, a new equivalence-oriented translation theory-EVT is introduced, which forms the theoretical foundation of this paper. It is believed to be a systematic and organic theory of much value to translation. Then in the framework of EVT, to explore the value of equivalence and further how it is achieved in EST translation- one particular area of translation is the aim of the paper. EST, as a practical variety of English, has its own characteristics in grammar, vocabulary, pattern, rhetoric, etc. It is believed that equivalence can be achieved more easily in EST translation just because of some of the specific characteristics. This is shown and proven in four orientations, namely vocabulary translation, pattern translation, rhetoric and the impact of cultural differences. Thus it is concluded that equivalence is a practicable criterion of EST translation. Having made clear the value of equivalence in EST translation, it is then the paper's main task to explore how equivalence is achieved in the concrete process of EST translation. It is carried out following the mode of EVT: word equivalence is started with, and then phrase equivalence, sentence equivalence, sentence group equivalence, and ultimately discourse equivalence. Discourse equivalence is in a sense the real equivalence and should be the ultimate aim of a translation. Translation equivalence is, after all, a complicated concept. Thus it is no easy job to explore its application to EST translation, though the author firmly believes that equivalence is of much positive value to it. And what has been done in the paper is just a tentative probe into it. More study in this area is expected, by which a newer and better translation theory concerning EST translation may be produced.