A Translation Project Report Of Chapter Six Of Nature's Teachings:Human Invention Anticipated By Nature

This is a project report on the translation of chapter six of Naure's Teachings:Human Invention Anticipated by Nature,which is written by John George Wood,an English writer on natural history.This work illustrates the close connection between Nature and human invention by terse and simple descriptions,together with numerous illustrations.The aim of the translation project is to shed light on this popular scientific writing.Meanwhile,the translator expects to enhance the level of translation through this practice.As the source text is a popular science work,it covers a wide range of contents and involves numerous terms,which make it quite obscure.Moreover,due to the fact that the work was written in the nineteenth century,the syntax employed may be distinct,which erects a barrier to the comprehension of the text.Therefore,the professional and time elements are hard to deal with.In view of the features of the source text,Text Typology Theory,put forward by German functional theorist Katharina Reiss,is employed as the theoretical guidance during the whole course of the project.In combination with the relevant knowledge behind the words,the translator adopted literal translation as the main strategy,supplemented by free translation.Meanwhile,various translation methods and techniques are utilized,such as division and conversion so as to deliver a clear and coherent text.The translation project enlightened the translator on the importance of preparations before translating,just as the saying goes `More preparation may quicken the speed in doing work'.The translator also realized that appropriate employment of theoretical knowledge is of necessity for functional equivalence between the source text and the target text.In addition,proofreading after translating is also indispensable in translation.