A Study On Translation Of Economic Terms In E-C Business Dictionaries From The Perspective Of Skopostheorie

Based on Reiss and Vermeer’s Skopostheorie and Nord’s functional classification of translation problems,this thesis examined the translation Skopos of English-Chinese business dictionaries(E-C BDs),translation problems of economic terms in E-C BDs and the corresponding improvement strategies with an analytic,comparative and inductive approach.The findings are listed as follows:(1)In accordance with text type,text functions and target receivers of E-C BDs,the translation Skopos of E-C BDs lies in the Skopos of both knowledge-learning and communication: to offer BDs users business concepts and knowledge and to help BDs users to understand,translate and produce Business English.(2)Translation problems of economic terms in E-C BDs primarily include pragmatic,linguistic and text-specific translation problems.Pragmatic translation problems include word-for-word translation and rigid sentence structure;linguistic translation problems include conceptual misunderstanding,prolix translation,inadequate translation of metaphor and confusion between synonyms;text-specific translation problems include mistreatment of register,inconsistency of translation and redundant equivalents.(3)Translation problems of economic terms in E-C BDs can be solved from the perspective of translation principles,translation strategies,lexicographic strategies and translators’ competence.In terms of translation principles,translators of economic terms in E-C BDs should abide by the principle of accuracy,conciseness and consistency.As for translation strategies,literal translation,free translation and literal translation plus free translation are suggested to be flexibly used.As for lexicographic strategies of E-C BDs,translators should adhere to consistency of translation,register of business field and discrimination between synonymous economic terms.Last but not least,translators of E-C BDs are supposed to enhance their translation competence and terminological competence while flexibly making use of different translation tools.Actually,translation of economic terms in E-C BDs goes beyond lexical levels of terms in the light of Skopostheorie.In this case,business dictionaries are regarded as continuous texts within which consistency and systematization should be maintained.Generally speaking,economic term translation in E-C BDs begins with the translation Skopos of E-C BDs and effective and adequate translations of economic terms should be resonant with the translation Skopos.Text types,text functions and text receivers of E-C BDs should be taken into account when determining the translation Skopos.During the translation process,translators are expected to keep consistent with the fidelity rule and coherence rule.During translation translation of economic terms,the degree of coherence with the target culture and fidelity to the source text depends on the translation Skopos of E-C BDs.Generally speaking,translators are allowed to make flexible adjustment in the degree of fidelity to the original economic terms for the realization of translation Skopos.Moreover,the fact that translation of economic terms in BDs is influenced both by lexicographic and terminological principles sets higher requirements for the overall competence of a business dictionary translator.By integrating Skopostheorie with economic term translation in E-C BDs,this study is expected not only to draw translators’ and lexicographers’ attention to economic term translation in E-C BDs so as to improve the translation quality of BDs but also to provide theoretical supports for the study of terminological translation in bilingual dictionaries.