Untranslatability In Translation Practice Between Chinese And English

The problem of untranslatability is always a disputed issue. Nowadays, it is well accepted that translation is a possible and feasible task. However, there are still some language points that are difficult to translate, which is called the phenomenon of untranslatability.In order to make a thorough understanding of untranslatability, it is necessary to make clear what are translation, translatability and untranslatability. In the present paper, after analyzing the updated status of this problem, the author sums up the definitions of translation, translatability and untranslatability respectively.It is well known that translatability and untranslatability are the two sides of a coin. Both translatability and untranslatability have profound theoretical basis, which has been discussed in the present paper. The author also makes an analysis of various factors that cause the phenomena of untranslatability and then classifies these factors into two categories: language differences and cultural differences. The two categories of untranslatable phenomena caused by different factors will develop in two different ways. Those resulting from the cultural differences may become translatable in the future, while those resulting from the language differences will hardly change.It is widely accepted that the language phenomena of untranslatability are not absolutely "untranslatable". In translation practice, when dealing with this kind of phenomena, the translators always make great efforts to get a relatively satisfactory version. In the present paper, the author also introduces several methods to solve the problems of untranslatability.Anyway, people should not deny the existence of untranslatability. The best attitude people should take is to envisage it and try their best to solve this problem, ifit can be solved.