On The Methods And Principles Of Annotation In E-C Translation

Literature bears the weight of history, culture and customs. When translating literary works, translators are not only processing words, sentences, meanings and styles of writing, but also introducing loaded histories, cultures and customs. He/she should consider not only grammatical and structural equivalence, but also equivalence in contents and cultures. If such two kinds of equivalence can not be achieved at the same time, the translator should use some supplementary methods to realize equivalence to the greatest extent. Annotation is a necessary and important supplementary means of translating which enables the translator to better convey the original idea and ensure reader’s deeper comprehension of the work.A.S Byatt’s short story "Arachne" is not a short story in the traditional sense, but a cross-generic retelling of a classic myth. It involves a wealth of knowledge concerning mythology, nature, art, science, literature, etc.. In the process of translating such a work, the translator has found that some information and meaning cannot be fully expressed by literal translation. In order to solve the problem, annotation is chosen as a supplementary method.Taking annotations in "Arachne" as an example, this thesis discusses the importance, classifications and principles of annotation from three aspects:selection of content, writing, and adequate forms. In the Chinese translation of "Arachne", the following elements are chosen for annotation:mythological allusions, historical figures, technological terms and world-famous artworks. The language of annotation strives at accuracy and conciseness. As for the forms of annotation, in-text annotation with brackets, footnotes, appendix and translator’s preface are applied where appropriate. Based on the E-C translation of "Arachne", three principles are proposed as follows: selecting important elements, focusing on key points, and choosing proper forms.