Translating Long Sentences From The Perspective Of Functional Equivalence Theory

This thesis discusses strategies in the translation of long sentences from the perspective of functional equivalence theory, on the basis of the author’s own practice of translating the first half of the novel A Tour through the Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe.Through analyzing and comparing typical differences between English and Chinese sentences, this paper explores how translators could transcend the confines of the source text. Proper translation strategies should be applied on a case-specific basis under the guidance of functional equivalence theory as to make the translation conform to the conventional ways of Chinese writing while maintaining faithfulness to the original text. Translators should not be limited to the original form of the source text but try to obtain functional equivalence so that the readers are able to understand a translated text as essentially the same as the original. Guided by the functional equivalence theory and an understanding of the major differences between English and Chinese, this thesis proposes four translation strategies for the translation of long sentence, that is, sequential method, reversed order method, division method, and comprehensive method. Those strategies are illustrated with model sentences from my translation of Defoe’s novel and further discussed from the perspective of functional equivalence Theory.