On The Essence Of "Variation And Translation

From the perspective of general logic, the author examines a quite new concept in translation circles in China-"variation and translation". Of course, it is obviously significant to make a research on this special terminology in terms of logic and define it strictly. In this paper, the author introduces and analyses the current theory of "variation and translation" comprehensively first, then puts forwards some opinions of her own and makes a further, overall discussion of "variation and translation". We wish it is helpful to the healthy, steady development of the translation theories and finally reaches the aim to promote the development of translation studies. This paper is just an audacious attempt and has yet to be proved by practice. There must be some improprieties in this paper, which need the readers' valuable comments. Anyway, the author cordially hopes that this paper can improve people's understanding of the essence of "variation and translation" and attract much attention to it.This paper is divided into five parts:Chapter 1 The author introduces the main content of the current "variation and translation" theory in this chapter, including the relation between "variation and translation" and "complete translation", the present definition of "variation and translation" and the significance of "variation and translation" studies.Chapter 2 The author analyses the extension of "variation and translation" from these aspects: translation of poetry, Wang Zuoliang's "considering the readers", the creative translation method of Lin Shu and Pound, Waley's translation of Pilgrimage to the West into a thin pamphlet Monkey. Finally, the author draws the conclusion that most of these facts and viewpoints are not suitable to the conception "variation and translation."Chapter 3 On the basis of the last two chapters, in this part the author discusses the relation among "variation and translation","translation" and "complete translation". It concludes that the relation between "variation and translation" and "translation" is not upper and lower, neither is the relation between "complete translation" and "translation", "complete translation" is actually equal to "translation" essentially; moreover, as the result of activities(version), the relation between "variation and translation" and "complete translation" is not corresponding or complementary but opposing or either-or.Chapter 4 This chapter starts from the discussion of the current definition of "variation and translation" so as to reveal the essence of it. The author points out that "variation and translation" is to change the original first, then translate the content after being changed but not the content before being changed. "Variation and translation" is not a single activity but a kind of compound activity, the combination of two successive processes-changing and translating. However, changing and translating are two independent activities, not only changing can be independent of translating, but also translating can be independent of changing. "Variation and translation" is the combination of these two activities "changing and translating", but not a single activity melted by two activities. Being adept in changing and translating are two useful skills. The author also states that using such accommodations as amplification, deletion, edition, narration, combination, contraction and adaptation etc. is not a special feature of "variation and translation" and cannot be used to differ "variation and translation" from other activities. Capturing relevant content and translating are two successive processes. And then the author redefines "variation and translation": "variation and translation" is a kind of combination of two successive activities that the translators first capture relevant content of the original according to the specific demands of specific readers under specific conditions using such accommodations as amplification, deletion, edition, narration, contraction, combination or adaptation etc. and then translate the relevant content.