Register Markers And Translation Equivalence

Language is always used for certain communicative purposes on different occasions. In order to cater for the different communicative needs, we have a lot of language varieties, which form the category of register. The category of register is postulated to account for what people do with their language. When we observe language activities in various contexts, we find differences in the type of language selected as appropriate to different types of situation. According to register theory, we should consider the concrete language varieties under the concrete situation and organically integrate the ideational meaning, interpersonal meaning and textual meaning. Therefore we can understand and explain the language varieties correctly. In fact, consideration is given to both the intra-linguistic meaning and the extra-linguistic meaning, that is, the social meaning or function of language, which are what we pursue in translation. As an interface between language functions and language forms, register theory is very reasonable and meaningful when it is used in translation. The thesis analyzes how to reproduce the source text in the three register variables-field, tenor and mode, thus achieving register equivalence.The thesis is composed of five parts. The introduction starts with the meaning. Besides the brief classifications of meaning and language functions, the origin of register theory and the register markers are also referred to in this part.In chapter one, the author briefly reviews the process of development of register theory and focuses the discussion on the relationship between register variables, language functions and language forms. At the same time, the author also analyzes the rationality and feasibility of this theory in translation.Chapter two centers on the comparisons of register markers between Chinese and English, containing very elaborate discussions atthe following levels: phonetic level, word level, sentence level and paragraph level.Chapter three is the practical and key part of the thesis, which provides us some strategies of achieving register equivalence from field, tenor and mode respectively and proves that register equivalence is objective and feasible in translation with the use of rich examples.The conclusion serves as a summary of the whole thesis: recapitulating the key viewpoints/That is to say, we cannot just only pursue the form equivalence in translation, but should arrive at the register equivalence according to the concrete features of different registers.In brief, register is a very powerful and practical notion. It combines language functions with language forms closely, which is of great significance and value in translation.