A Translation Report Of Communicative Works Guided By The Theories Of Semantic Translation And Communicative Translation

This translation report has selected its source text(ST)from Chapter 13 to Chapter 15 of Mass Communication Living in a Media World(7th Edition),a textbook compiled by Ralph E.Hanson who is an American professor of communication.Newmark(1988)believed that informative texts included academic papers,newspapers and magazines,professional reports and textbooks.Therefore,this translation practice belongs to the translation activity of informative texts which emphasize the authenticity of information and the effects of information transmission.The theories of semantic translation and communicative translation stress that the original meanings should be reproduced as accurately as possible under the premise of the semantic and syntactic structure of the target language.Therefore,under the guidance of the theories of semantic translation and communicative translation,the translator analyzes the translation methods during the translation process from three aspects of lexicons,syntax and discourses through a number of cases to ensure that the target readers can maximally feel and experience the same as the original readers.The ST discusses the worldwide situation about communication with rigorous language and a large number of examples.Therefore,how to accurately reflect the actual situation of mass media in various countries with their own characteristics in the translated text becomes the key and difficult point in this translation practice.Based on the lack of terminology,the unfamiliarity of social and cultural background,and the distinct syntactic structure,the translator has adopted appropriate translation strategies guided by the theories of semantic translation and communicative translation so that Chinese readers can understand mass communication abroad more deeply.During the translation practice,the translator has applied the following translation strategies:1)at the lexical level,dealing with a large number of words related with communication and proper nouns in the ST,the translator has adopted the customary translation which means using the established popular names and amplification to convey the meanings of the ST;2)at the syntactic level,the translator segments the complex sentences into several short clauses.Then the translator has handled the passive sentences from passivity to initiative,which makes the translation natural and fluent;and 3)at the discourse level,considering the target readers’ ability of understanding and acceptance,the translator has applied the translation methods of cohesion and coherence so as to provide an accurate translation and reflect the original text’ style.Through the translation practice,the translator has acquired two implications.On the one hand,from a theoretical perspective the theories of semantic translation and communicative translation are conducive to helping the translator to have a more profound and comprehensive understanding of the ST.In addition,these two theories are of vital importance for the translator to understand the informative texts’ features of the narrative techniques,descriptive language as well as a large number of examples in the and flexibly apply translation methods.On the other hand,from a practical perspective the translator hopes that the findings in this translation report can contribute to the translation of informative texts like textbooks in particular and communicative works in general.Meanwhile,the findings of this translation report can be of meaningful reference to classroom teaching of translation in terms of dealing with technical or professional terms and complex sentences in the ST and ensuring quality translation with sufficient attention to cohesion and coherence in the TT.