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On Techniques For Translating English Long Sentences In Literary Works Based On An Analysis Of E-c Syntactic Differences

Posted on:2014-11-28Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Y LiuFull Text:PDF
GTID:2255330425460355Subject:Translation
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There are a large number of long sentences in English literary works. Thestructures of such sentences are generally very complex with the comprehensive use ofdiverse ingredients, which is quite different from the structures of Chinese longsentences. Such differences would lead to a lot of difficulties in translation practice.The difficulties in translating English long sentences lie not only in understanding butalso in expressing, and so how to translate English long sentences well is an importantissue that requires a careful study. This thesis, based on an analysis of the author’sself-translation of Olive Kitteridge, explores the syntactic differences between Englishand Chinese first, and suggests some methods for translating English long sentencesare suggested.Appropriate translation of English long sentences requires a full understanding ofthe syntactic differences between English and Chinese. Only when he/she has a fullunderstanding of the English syntactic structure, can the translator understand theinternal logic of all the components made up of a long sentence and its meaningthrough the analysis of its surface structure. Only when he/she understand the Chinesesyntactic features fully, can the translator take into full consideration thecharacteristics of the Chinese sentence structure in restructuring the translatedsentences and produce a translation that the Chinese readers are satisfied with.In the research, the author finds that English and Chinese sentence structures aredifferent both in strategy for making sentences as well as word order and sentenceorder. First, since English is a hypotactic language, while structuring a sentence,attention is usually paid to grammar and cohesive ties in sentence. Whereas theparatactic feature requires that a Chinese sentence should be structured in the logicorder of contents included in it, and thus sentence members are usually arranged in theorder of the logic of the meaning units in it. Second, the structure of a long Englishsentence is usually compared to a grapevine with words having its own branch which isknown as subordinate clause while words in a long Chinese sentence are arranged inthe order of logical relations with no branches.On the Basis of this, the author finds that the following methods can be used intranslating long English sentences: plain sequence, backward sequence, embedding,phrasing method, restructuring, and synthetic use of various methods. When thecontent level of a long English sentence agrees with that of Chinese, the method of plain sequence can be used. When the word order of a long English sentence isdifferent from or even completely opposite to that of Chinese, backward sequence canbe adopted. When the postpositions can be placed before the headword which is inaccordance with the Chinese word order, we can use embedding. When the relationbetween the subject or main clause in long English sentence and the modifiers is not soclose, we can use phrasing method. When Chinese translation is different in form andword order from the original English sentence, we can restructure all the meaning unitsin the translated sentence. However, when a long English sentence is so complicatedthat no single one of the above methods works, we have to use synthetic method.Whatever method is adopted, we should observe the general principle that thetranslated sentence should be structured in agreement with the Chinese grammar andways of thinking.As these methods are suggested on the basis of the author’s translation experienceand in reference to the suggestions of some experienced translators, so they may beuseful and practical to the translation of English long sentences into Chinese.
Keywords/Search Tags:English long sentences, translation method, Olive Kitteridge, E-C syntactic difference
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