Translating Mechanical Engineering English Guided In The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

With the rapid development of science and technology, more and more people in the field of mechanical engineering from various countries have been engaged in international cooperation and technical exchanges, and mechanical engineering has displayed its practical usefulness and its significance. As a medium, the translation of mechanical engineering writings, which play an important role in disseminating mechanical engineering technology internationally, challenges mechanical technicians. Therefore, systematic research on the translation of mechanical engineering English (MEE) is of great significance.This thesis, which deals with MEE translation from the perspective of skopos theory, focuses on the functionality of the target text in the target culture and discuses how skopos approaches can be applied to MEE translation.The thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter one is a brief introduction to MEE with regard to its vocabulary and grammatical facts and its difference with other styles of writing. With an aim to interpret a certain scientific and mechanical concept, theory or truth, MEE lays stress on objectivity and such properties as accuracy, conciseness and logic. Chapter Two is about the concepts and principal rules of skopos theory. Any translation action has an aim or a certain purpose that decides the general translation methods and strategies according the text to be translated. As the skopos rules are the decisive part of skopos theory, the significant function of the rules is also discussed here. Then, based on Reiss's text typology which classifies texts as informative, expressive and operative according to their different contents, forms and effects, Chapter Three analyzes the text types. Mechanical technique writings belong to the informative with a core function to convey information to the reader. Chapter Four presents the application of skopos theory to MEE translation from the aspects of vocabulary, syntax and text, and the logic at understanding and expressing stage and elliptical patterns with the possible translation strategies, followed by examples of English-Chinese MEE translation.Finally, the thesis comes to the conclusion, emphasizing again that skopos theory is an effective guide to the translation of MEE into Chinese. A good MEE translator must have solid knowledge of both English and Chinese as well as sensitive thoughts to apply skopos theory to relevant scientific fields. Besides, the thesis points out that skopos needs to be improved and developed through practice.