On C-E Translation Of Scenic-spot Introductions From The Perspective Of Functionalist Theory

With the development of China’s economy and its booming tourism industry, thenumber of foreign tourists coming to China is on a big rise. Since the scenic-spotintroduction acts as the bridge between scenic spots and tourists, the translationquality plays a vital role in foreign tourism. Thus, how to find a translation theory andfeasible translation methods to effectively guide the translation of scenic-spotintroductions so as to accurately and appropriately introduce the rich tourismresources in China to foreign tourists and to promote the exchanges between peoplefrom different cultural backgrounds has become a common concern among scholarsin the field of translation. Under such a social circumstance, the German functionalisttheory emerges, complying with the development of society and meeting the need oftranslation practice.The translation of scenic-spot introductions falls into the practical-style translationcategory. As a theory of strong applicability, the functionalist theory offers a newperspective for the translation of scenic-spot introductions. The functionalist theorytreats translation as a purposeful, cross-cultural and human communicative activity.During the process of translation, since the target readers have their own culturalbackground knowledge, their expectations of the target text and communicativerequirements, translators therefore should decide the corresponding translationstrategies from the target readers’ point of view based on the expected function andpurpose of the target text. The scenic-spot introductions are intended to provide thetourists relevant tourism information. By passing the information to the comingtourists, it is hoped that the tourists can learn the natural beauty and cultural featuresof the scenic spots so as to spread the Chinese culture, allure more tourists to comeand tour China and promote the tourism development.With the above aim in mind, this thesis, taking the functionalist theory as thetheoretical guidance and the Jilin Changbai Mountain as the example, explores theC-E translation of scenic-spot introductions. This thesis summarizes and analyzes theproblems occurred in translating, pointing out that these errors mainly exist in threeaspects, namely linguistically, pragmatically and culturally. Therefore, the thesisfurthers on to conclude that while translating translators should not only have a goodcommand of both English and Chinese, but also the awareness of cross-culture. Translators should be foreign tourist oriented, take spreading Chinese culture as theguiding principle of translation and give full consideration to the psychological needs,aesthetic habits and receiving ability of the target readers. Translators meanwhileshould also adjust the source text information from the perspective of foreign touristsand adopt the various translation strategies, including addition, deletion, rewriting andparaphrasing to suit different purposes, making the target text more practical, moreinstructive and easier to be understood and accepted by foreign tourists so as toimprove the quality of C-E translation of scenic-spot introductions and promote thetourism development.