The Importance Of Translator's Technical Background In EST Translation--A Tentative Research On The Translations Of Three Types Of EST Articles

Since ancient times, EST translation has played an important role in China's development of science and technology. Especially at present when China's reform and opening up is undergoing an unprecedented advancement, EST translation deserves our focused attention so as to prepare more competent translators for the prosperity of China's science and technology.In this paper, the present writer reviews China's history of EST translation and some scholars' ideas on EST translation. The historical experience and the experts' theories have given the enlightenment that a technical background is of great significance in EST translation. Only with a sound scientific and technological background can translators perform adequately in EST translation. With the aim of further exploring the impact of the translator's background on EST translation, the writer adopts an experimental research of assigning three groups of people (English majors, science majors, and double majors in both science and English) to the translation of three types of EST articles, which are popular science, academic thesis, and brochure. From the background perspective, the writer probes into the decisive factor in ensuring an adequate EST translation. The detailed analysis of the translation test has verified the writer's hypothesis and confirmed her idea that a technological background is a must in EST translation.