A Report On The English-Chinese Academic Translation Practice From The Perspective Of The Skcpos Theory

Given that academic translation in the perspective of Translation Studies has rarely been studied,the thesis is aimed at exploring the translation methods for academic works in this discipline using TAPs as the primary research method and Skopos Theory as the theoretical cornerstone. Chesterman’s The Map (excerpts) is translated and analyzed by the researcher with two most frequently used translation methods-explicitation and shift-identified. Additionally, the researcher finds during her translation process that the selection of translation methods was done subconsciously / mechanically without the researcher pausing to think about which method she was using, subverting her misconception before the project that translators consider a translation method before translating. And this also leads to the primary argument of the thesis that ensuring the Chinese readers, principally students, academics and translators to accurately understand the tenet and specifics of the translation,the translation purpose for The Map,is the underlying reason for the prevalence of the two translation methods in the project, which confirms with her own practice Skopos Theory’s central claim that the selection of translation methods is largely determined by translation purpose, readers’ reception and translation effects. This commentary report has significantly boosted the researcher’s translation aptitude as well as research awareness by attempting to bridge the theory-practice gap. Besides, this research is the first original piece of research that reflects on the translation methods used for an academic work in the domain of Translation Studies via TAPs. Moreover, the difficulties with distinguishing translation theory, skill, method, strategy and alike are somewhat mitigated in this project which attempts to shed light on the fuzzy borderline between some of the key concepts.