On Tourism Texts Translation From The Functionalist Perspective

This present thesis is intended to conduct a comparatively systematic study on the translation of tourism texts from the functionalist perspective. It employs the functionally oriented top-down methodology recommended by the functionalists to make a descriptive study of tourism texts translation approaches. Through integrating the macro level translation Skopos and text function with the micro level syntactic structures and lexical expressions, this study makes an analysis of the rationality and applicability of the functionalist translation theory as the guidelines for tourism texts translation. In doing so, the thesis attempts to explore some effective strategies and methods applied to the translation of tourist publication and find solutions to the problems popping up in the present English versions of tourist materials. For these purposes, the thesis, divided into six parts, deals with the following issues.Chapter One mainly introduces the current development of tourism and its role in China's economic development, highlighting the importance of the tourist industry in terms of economy. It also speaks of the definition of tourism and translation.Chapter Two introduces the development of functionalism and its leading scholars and their theories, and the possibilities of the use of the functionalist approach in tourism translation.Chapter Three analyzes tourism texts translation, and provides the theory basis of this thesis, stating applicability of the functionalist approach to tourism translation.Chapter Four makes a contrastive analysis about the Chinese and English tourism text, indicating the differences and common features.Chapter Five analyzes the inappropriate translations from the perspectives such as linguistic errors, pragmatic errors, cultural errors and so on. Chapter Six discusses several aspects of translating tourism texts, including translating names of scenic spots and texts. As a kind of mainly informative and vocative text, tourist materials must be translated through a combination of various methods, such as paraphrasing, adding, analogy, deletion and rewriting. During the process of translating, it is advisable for the translator to preserve specific cultural elements as much as possible; meanwhile, the translator has to make his or her translation comprehensible to the target readers. Therefore, detailed and systematic analysis of definition, features, classifications and comparisons of English and Chinese tourism texts will be very necessary and meaningful. Besides, researches in this thesis may also contribute to offering some criteria to translating critics from the purpose perspective.It can be inferred that the thesis possesses practical values and innovative ideas, for it integrates the translation theory with practice. An excellent translation of tourist materials is conducive to the promotion of Chinese culture on the stage of the world, serving to push ahead our flourishing tourist industry. It is intended that this thesis will give translators some helpful hints about translation of tourism texts.Due to the author's own limitations in respect of knowledge and her power to express herself fully, this thesis certainly leaves much to be desired. For this reason, suggestions and criticisms are welcome from experts and professors.