A Translation Project Report Of China In Convulsion By Arthur Smith

This is a translation project report on China in Convulsion by Arthur Smith, ofwhich Chapter13, The Boxers and the Chinese Government is the source text. Thesource text mainly describes the general situation of the Qing Dynasty at the beginningof the20thcentury, including its domestic and foreign policies; besides, it also describeshow the Boxers come into being and develop as well as how the Chinese governmentalters its attitudes towards them. Under the guidance of Hans Vermeer’s Skopos theories,the purpose of translation is paid great attention to in the whole process of translation,which is to provide the common Chinese readers with the information on how theBoxers grow up and develop as well as the internal affairs and foreign policies of theQing Dynasty from the viewpoint of a foreign missionary. In order to achieve thispurpose, proper translation strategies and methods are chosen correspondingly. Thesource text is characterized by its use of formal words and long sentences, and takingthese characteristics and the translation purpose into account, the following translationmethods are mainly used in the process of translation, namely translating words orphrases into Chinese idioms with four characters, using sequential method and splittingmethod to translate long sentences, conversion method and literal translation, etc.. Inaddition, it is realized that Hans Vermeer’s Skopos theories are of great significance inguiding the English to Chinese translation practice and that to be a good translatorrequires the perseverance with learning and practice and the resolution to constantlystrive for perfection.