Name Translation As Viewed From Language And Culture

This thesis offers an analysis of name translation from the viewpoint of language and culture. Name translation is the replacement of the name in the source language by an equivalent name or other words in the target language. Culture is the totality of beliefs and practice of a society. Language and culture can not exist without each other. Most of words in a language are names. The number of names is infinite. Names can be divided into common names, proper names, and terminological names. Language contains all kinds of cultural deposits. In a language, the names have the closest and most apparent connection with the related culture. The characteristics of language and culture decide the possibility and difficulty of name translation. Name translation is the basis of sentence or text translation and involves the basic requirements and essential principles of translation. Literal translation, free translation, and transliteration are the main approaches for name translation. The thesis consists of four parts: The first part is ntroduction It puts forward the purpose of the thesis and expounds the basic concepts in it. The second part is hapter 1 The basic position of name translation It elaborates the possibility and difficulty of name translation and the importance of it from angles of language and culture. The third part is hapter 2 The translation of names It first expounds the theory of name translation and qualifications of a translator for name translation. Then, it analyzes the practical translations of common names, proper names and terminological names. The fourth part is ummery It concludes the major idea of the thesis.