Problems And Their Solutions In C-E Translation Of Food Company Profiles In China

Translation is regarded as a purposeful activity, and the translation strategies should be determined by the intended purpose and function of the target text. The author of this thesis manages to pick out the general problems arising in C-E translation of food company profiles by adopting the authentic selected bilingual versions of ten food company profiles in China, which is a real reflection of situations on translation of food company profiles, and also tries to apply the translation methods of addition, deletion, edition, restatement, condensation and different means of integrated to C-E translation of food company profiles.With the development of globalization in economy and culture, more and more food companies have joined in the global competitions, in which a food company profile plays an increasingly important role in publicizing the company. Therefore, plenty of food companies have their company profiles translated into English. Unfortunately, the English versions are not so satisfactory due to the inadequate handling of information or inadequate arrangement of the target text. An ineffective company profile not only affects images of the company but also obstacles communication between the company and its foreign customers so as to block the development of trade. Therefore, it is very necessary to undertake a further study of C-E translation of food company profiles. This thesis consists of five parts, in Introduction the author demonstrates the motivation of the thesis, significance of the thesis and layout of the thesis. In Chapter One, the author first makes an overview of food company profiles, the characteristics and functions of food company profiles, and then compares the similarities in textual organization, pragmatic feature and profit seeking and the disparities between Chinese and Western food company profiles from the perspective of culture, language style, modes of thinking and national policy. In Chapter Two, the author demonstrates translation problems existing in C-E translation of food company profiles by adopting examples from the C-E translation texts of ten food companies in China, which vividly displays the translation problems in linguistic expressions at lexical, syntactical and contextual level, etc.; and the translation problems in culture such as honorable titles and awards, China’s expressions and cliches, etc. In Chapter Three, the author proposes the translation methods of addition, deletion, edition, restatement, condensation and different means of integrated applicable to C-E translation of food company profiles under the three principles of Skopos, adequacy and the target text readers-oriented. Subsequently, these methods are respectively defined and used to solve the above-mentioned translation problems with examples from bilingual versions of ten food company profiles in China in order to eliminate the confusion and misunderstanding brought about by improper translation and so as to arouse the interests of the potential customers in undertaking business with the company. In Conclusion, the author emphasizes that translation is not just a language code-switching process, but a purposeful activity. So the translator can flexibly select certain information from the source text to form a text that is comprehensible and acceptable to the target readers by keeping in mind the translation Skopos and the target readers’ expectation. Therefore, the translation methods above-mentioned or reorganization of the source text are needed in the translation of food company profiles. And it is also hoped that the present study can shed light on C-E translation of food company profiles as well as on the teaching of the C-E translation of food company profiles, and eventually be of some help in promoting the development of Chinese food companies.Finally, it is necessary to be pointed out that all the suggested texts in this thesis is provided by the author of this thesis, by consulting some translation methods guided by the theory of Skopos and referring to famous pragmatic translation books.