A Study On Trans-editing Of Tour Narration Interpretation: A Translation Variation Perspective

As a specialized and practical branch of interpreting, tour narrationinterpretation is more than an ordinary interpreting activity. Its cross-culturecommunication features make it a higher standard for interpreters to meet. Thefeatures of practical texts and cross-culture communication of tour narrationinterpretation lay an application basis for Translation Variation Theory. In orderto achieve effective rather than equal information transfer, sound audibility of theinterpretation versions as well as reception effect of the audiences, the interpreteris highly advised to adopt practical variation strategies, supplement culturalinformation requested, alter the form of information transfer, and genuinelyintegrate variation with interpretation. This thesis reviews the former research onTranslation Variation Theory and its application cases, probes into theinterpretation cases in three renowned tourist attractions in Xi’an. The researchmaterials are three tour narration interpretation transcripts and correspondingtranscribed texts of these three widely-recognized tourist attractions in Xi’an,namely the Tang West Market Museum, the Tang Paradise, and Xi’an Maydo ArtMuseum. This thesis conducts the research methodology of case study throughcomparison between the interpreted transcripts and the original texts. All thesematerials are used to analyze the variation strategies employed by the interpreter,and the trans-editing strategies are then further studied to testify the effect ofinformation transmission during the process of tour narration interpretation. Basedon the literature review of Translation Variation Theory and trans-editing studies,this thesis detects the accessibility and effectiveness of applying trans-editingtechniques, such as restructuring, substitution, addition and omission, into tournarration interpretation. Proper trans-editing would help the target audiencesbetter comprehend the culture divergences and promote the efficiency ofinformation transmission so as to attain desirable cross-cultural communicationeffect. Trans-editing is an effective and practical approach.