On The Selection Of Subjects In Chinese-English Translation

In the process of Chinese-English translation, how to flexibly select the subject is regarded as the key of a successful translation. However, due to the differences between Chinese and English subjects, it is not an easy task for us to make the proper selection. Chinese is the topic-prominent language while English the subject-prominent language. Besides, their subjects also differ from each other in forms and sentence structures. Based on the discussion of these differences, this paper puts forward some strategies and techniques for the selection of subjects in translation from Chinese to English. Firstly, we can keep the subjects of the original sentences as the subjects of the translated texts. Secondly, we can select other constituents of the original sentences as the subjects of the translated texts. Thirdly, we can supplement new subjects for the translated texts. Those strategies and techniques can all find their applications in both Zhang Peiji’s and my essay translations. Through comparing and contrasting my selection of subjects with that of Zhang Peiji, it can be concluded that we should use the strategies and techniques to select the subjects flexibly in Chinese-English translation based on the careful consideration of the English way of thinking and expression, and the well understanding of the original Chinese contexts.