Translation Of The Other

Many translation theorists proposed respective viewpoints on translation, of which the issue of "translation equivalence" would be discussed in detail as a focal point. Since the 1950s, "translation equivalence" has been one of the central issues of modern translation studies and "equivalence" has almost become the nuclear term in all the modern works upon translation theories. Probably, it has become the goal of translation pursued by numerous translators. Many translation theorists, however, cannot hold completely identical points of view on the definition of "translation equivalence" and on its value and role in translation theories and practice. Some standpoints are even in an antagonistic relationship. The arguments revolving around "translation equivalence" have never ceased since the emergence of the term. This thesis, first of all, makes a brief discussion upon "translation". Then, it reviews the hot controversies about "translation equivalence" in both western countries and China and, in the meanwhile, makes a brief and personal comment. Based on the literature review, this thesis makes an effort to discuss in some detail the nature of "equivalence", criteria of "equivalence" and principles of "equivalence" by means of borrowing many research achievements from such areas as linguistics, intercultural communication, semiotics, functional grammar, textual analysis and contrastive studies between English and Chinese, and also discusses in great detail translation equivalence at clause level and textual level. In the following parts, on the basis of comparison and contrast between English and Chinese, this thesis analyses "translation equivalence" at sentence level between the two languages by taking conversion and the attributive clause as examples, and then, textual equivalence between English and Chinese are discussed briefly by analyzing two texts and their respective translations. Finally, the conclusion of this thesis is drawn —— language is translatable in most of cases and "translation equivalence" could be achieved in terms of function.