The Principle Of Pragmatic Priority In Translation

Translation is a communicative process which takes place in a social context. After the emergence of linguistic and cultural translation studies, the pragmatics turn becomes the main trend in research, and pragmatics, the study of language use and functions, is applied to translation. Though it is impossible to achieve absolute equivalence in all levels of language in translation, effective translation can be produced due to the practicality of the fulfillment of communicative goals.Verbal signs consist of three levels: form, content, and function. When formal equivalence, semantic equivalence and pragmatic equivalence cannot be retained simultaneously, the translator needs a principle to help him decide which equivalence should be given priority in order to produce a communicatively effective translation. Formal translation and semantic translation treat language as a static system without considering extralinguistic factors, and often lead to awkward and ambiguous renderings that betray the writer's intention. Pragmatic translation, however, could grasp the dynamic language system as a whole from variable contexts, as it allows humans into analysis. Therefore, pragmatic translation should take priority over formal translation and semantic translation and pragmatic factors should be considered by translators before they decide what criteria to follow, what strategy to take, or what approaches to employ.According to pragmatic approach of translation, factors outside language itself influence the interpretation and expression of meaning to a great extent. In order to produce effective translations to fulfill the communicative goals in different circumstances, the translator has to consider macroscopic factors such as cultural considerations, the source text, requirement of the initiator, motivation of the translator and readership. In addition, in order to interpret the source text correctly and reproduce it in the target language appropriately, the translator has to examine microscopic factors such as deixis, conversational implicature, speech acts, politeness and relevance theory.Though the principle of pragmatic priority is far from a systematic theory, it provides us with a new perspective in determining the translation standard. It is hoped that the application of pragmatics to translation will improve translation as a process and as a product.