A Study On C-E Translation Of Product Instructions From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

With the development of economy globalization, more and more Chinese products are flooding into overseas market and are permitted by international standard. For example, the2008Olympic Games, which were held in Beijing, offered an opportunity to those Chinese companies that were ready for tremendous global media exposure for their brands. C-E translation of product instructions become one of necessary methods for companies to foster a good and healthy company image, to promote exportation and to develop overseas market; meanwhile, the instruction, as one of the most intuitive methods to reflect products’ value, is a ’bridge’ between products and consumers and play an important role in business success.Although there are a lot of classifications of product instructions, overall, different types of product instructions all have in common; this thesis analyzes its similarity systematically and comprehensively, especially from the perspective of Adaptation Theory, according to the product consumers’ acceptance, aesthetic ability and buying inclination, and to make a dynamic adaptability choice for the translation.Jef Verschueren’s Adaptation Theory is a relatively new translation theory, which provides a brand new perspective for product instructions translation. Translation is a motivated and purposive behavior of humans; in essence, translation also is an adapted process, constantly making a choice to adapt to the requirements of the target language readers in the process of translation. According to the guiding principles of Adaptation Theory, namely, three features:variability, negotiability and adaptability; four angles:contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, dynamics of adaptability and salience of adaptation processes; from three aspects, the social and cultural environment of target language, language structure, and aesthetic expectation and accept ability of the target language readers, this thesis explains how adaptation theory to apply to C-E translation of product instructions and how the translator to elect different translation methods.The author hopes to have certain reference value on theory and method for later translation scholars through this article, it can better guide product instruction translation practice and drive the progress of product instructions translation, thus to promote the development of China’s foreign economic trade.