The Application Of Compensation

Ideal translation is expected to have the same effects on target language readers with that exerted on source language readers by the original text. Unfortunately, within the limits of subjective and objective conditions, translation may fail to completely and accurately transfer the information, functions or effects of the source text. That is to say, translation loss and translation activities always go hand in hand. Therefore, translators need to make good of some communicative loss by substituting equivalent effects, which is called the translation compensation.The report tends to discuss the application of compensation in author’s translation practice so as to raise more awareness to it. The content of the translation practice is extracted from a collection of short stories Learning to Talk: Short Stories, written by the Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel. As Mantel writes with an undeceived eye and a sly, waspish intelligence, it is a real challenge to reflect her wit and glamour in the translation. Therefore it is necessary for the translator to step forward and adopt compensation in the translation of these two kinds of languages.Firstly, the report reviews the important achievements made by scholars at home and abroad, including the initial idea of putting forward the term, the following interpretation and definition of compensation, as well as specific application strategies. Secondly, which is the most valuable part of the report, translation compensation is applied in the study of27typical examples cited from the author’s translation practice, covering the application of compensation in three aspects:semantic understanding, language features and cultural difference. Lastly, the author approaches the conclusion to the indispensible role of compensation in handling translation loss and the three basic aspects that need to compensate.