On Translating Chinese Neologisms Into English

The dissertation intends to conduct a comprehensive study on translating Chinese neologismsinto English. By summing up some general principles and useful translation strategies, as wellas the problems concerning the translation of Chinese neologisms, the paper aims at arousingmore translators' interest and attention on Chinese neologisms and their translation intoEnglish in a bid to further enrich translation theories.According to the statistics of the State Commission of Language and Character of China in1998, about 7,000 Chinese neologisms had come into existence since 1978. It is estimatedthat around 700 Chinese neologisms are coming into being each year (Wang Tiekun, 1991).However, up to now, only a few works or monographs concerning Chinese neologisms andtheir translation have been published. Moreover, those few works or monographs only listsome examples and turn them into English without a detailed account of guiding principlesand corresponding strategies on the translation of these neologisms. Different from thoseexisting works and monographs, the author tries to arrive at some basic principles and widelyapplicable strategies on translating Chinese neologisms into English, and prove them throughquantitative analysis.Language is the carrier of culture. Intercultural communication requires the proper translationof language. Being the latest demonstration of cultural development, neologisms demandtimely and correct translation into other languages. In recent years, the inevitable trend ofinteraction and cooperation among nations and regions, especially in the economic field,urges translators to set up a solid and direct bridge between peoples speaking differentlanguages in an attempt to dismantle communication barriers. Thus, to give timely and correcttranslation of Chinese neologisms has become the most urgent task as well as compulsoryresponsibility for translators.