Functions And Roles Of Translation In A Cross-cultural Context-from Sun Yifeng’s Translation Opinions And Translation Practices

Professor Sun Yifeng is a productive writer in cultural translation, who also has unique insights. Professor Sun holds the idea that cultural turn and cultural factors are essential for translations. Only by dealing with cultural connotations in contexts carefully can the translation be carried out and fulfilled successfully. In August,2004, Sun Yifeng published his translation works Perspective, Interpretation, Culture-Literary Translation and Translation Theories. In this book, Professor Sun Yifeng gives an accurate description of the nature of translation, as well as literary translation, and the key relevant theories, and carries out discussions on that. There is a systematical and deep study of the importance of translation theories in his book. The natures of translation are interpreted in terms of language, text, culture and context. He introduces the concepts of approximation translation strategy and translation distances.Translation activities complete the communications between different languages, and the utterance meanings of languages need to be transferred by virtue of the context they are in, especially the cultural context. Cultural context is mainly about historical cultures and customs which the participants in the communication are in and can be comprehended by people in the same community. According to the understanding of the nature of culture and the importance of cultural context, plus the classifications and analysis of contexts at home and abroad, people can get a deeper recognition about cultural contexts. This recognition is good for going beyond the difference gap between languages in cross-cultural communications, enhancing the sense of identities of each other, and is benefit to achieve the effects of speech acts.At the same time, translation involves many cultural factors, such as translator identity and translation behavior, aims of translation activities and the corresponding strategies, translation contexts and the choosing to translation materials and so on, all of which influence the process of good translation activities. By means of analysis of cultural factors, the translation can be carried out in a more purposeful way, and fulfill its functions and roles in cross-cultural communications.Translation is not only a cross-lingual communication behavior, but also a cross-cultural dissemination and communication, which influenced and will continue to influence the civilization of human beings deeply. In cross-cultural communications, dealing with translation distance and choosing translation strategies well are very important to a successful translation. A good translation works as an essential part in cross-cultural communications and promote the development of both cultures. Translations between different cultures bring about translation culture, which in return enrich translation theories. Meanwhile, translation activities promote the development and sublimation of social cultures, and contribute to the social reforms and creations.