A Report On The Translation Of Navigating The Energy Maze(Excerpts)

This translation practice report material is selected from the first,second and fourth chapters of the book “Navigating the Energy Maze”.The book mainly states the current situation of energy supply and demand in the United States,and puts forward sustainable policy references in transportation,energy,water conservancy,etc.,aiming to provide ways for the transformation of American energy and social sustainable development.The source text belongs to the genre of EST(English for science and technology)with such specified features as rigorous style,close-knit argumentation,formal use of terminology,and strong logic.It is also characterized by “non-infinitive” long and difficult sentences,the heavy use of metaphors,clusters of syntax modified by adjectives,nominalization,intricate use of cohesion and coherence,etc..Following the stylistic feature,the translation practice is guided by Peter Newmark’s communicative translation theory prioritizing his principle of readercenteredness and getting across the gist of the communicative functions and stylistics of the source text.In accordance with the hypotaxis and parataxis,the striking differences between Chinese and English,the translator employs such methods as sentential splitting and restructuring,rhetorical modulating,change of parts of speech,use of overt linking devices etc.by putting the communicative meaning across to the to the target readership to meet the realistic needs of acquiring the technical energy information.The translation practice has empowered the author to apply theory to practice by utilizing the related translation theory for translation practice.