A Study On The Translation Of Business Text In The Light Of Peter Newmark’s Text Typology

In1980s, Peter Newmark put forward Text Typology, which is based on Karl Buhler’s“organon model of language”. According the three functions of language, Peter Newmarkclassified text types into three categories, which are namely Informative text, Expressive textand Vocative text. The language in Informative text is plain, the main function is to conveyinformation, and the core of it is the “Truth”; Expressive text is mainly to express the writer’semotion without considering the reaction of readers. The core of it is the “authority of thewriter”; The core of Vocative text is “reader”. The purpose of Vocative text is to appealreaders to take expected actions more than conveying information. Peter Newmark alsoprovided suitable translation methods for the translation of different text types. The translatorshall adopt semantic translation when translating Expressive text in order to maintain the styleof source text. In the translation of Informative text, a translator shall adopt communicativetranslation in order to convey the accurate information. As for the translation of Vocative text,a translator shall adopt communicative translation in order to retain vocative function of thelanguage.In recent years, with the rapid development of the global economic integration and thefrequent activities between China and foreign countries and organizations, the translation ofvarious Business Texts is becoming more crucial than ever before, and the study on thetranslation of Business Text has increased with days. But the study of the translation ofBusiness Text from the perspective of Text Typology is not common. This research studiesthe translation strategy of Business Text from Text Typology. Firstly, the author summarizesthe language features and functions of business contract, document, business letter andadvertisement, and then classifies them into different text types. Secondly, the author analyzesthe language function with the examples and studies the different translation strategies that atranslator uses in the translation of different text types. Thirdly, with the study of translationexamples, the author finds out that besides communicative translation and semantictranslation, other translation strategies may be used according to specific cases in order tokeep the same text type of source text and target text.The research shows that under the guidance of Text Typology, different kinds ofBusiness Text belong to different text types and according to the text type, a translator shalladopt different translation strategies:1) Business Contract and Document belong toExpressive text, so semantic translation and free translation can be used to maintain theexpressive function of source text in target text;2) Business Letter belongs to Informative text,so communicative translation and Equivalence Principle are applied in order to convey theinformation correctly and apprehensively;3) Advertisement belongs to Vocative text and in order to achieve the vocative function of language in target text and make it available,communicative translation, free translation and omission are usually adopted.