Audience Awareness And Dynamic Adaptation In Translation Of Academic Texts

Even though the advancement of globalization has greatly boosted China's scholarly exchanges with other countries,the primary means by which such exchanges are accomplished,i.e.,academic translation,remains beset with problems of all kinds,linguistic as well as extra-linguistic,and much is left to be desired when it comes to the quality of translated scholarly publications.A good variety of theoretical solutions have been tried in efforts to remedy the situation,yet none has been found effective by itself and no breakthrough has been made in this respect so far.This paper proposes that the model of dynamic adaptation,with its eminent adaptability,inclusiveness and explanatory power,in conjunction with an enhanced sense of audience,be adopted in dealing with academic translations.Drawing freely on different theoretical guidelines and methodological strategies in response to specific contextual and practical needs,the model would enable academic translators to avoid a rigid and mechanical approach that often dooms the job they undertakes.If informed with a heightened awareness of the audience the translation project is meant to target,such a model promises to bring about a qualitative upgrading to academic translation.Guided by the principle of audience-oriented dynamic adaptation,we undertake to translate selected parts in Translation Quality Assessment:Past and present,a recently published and fairly typical scholarly book in translation studies by Juliane House.Taking the first and the second chapter of House's book as the source text,the paper explores a better way to enhance the appropriateness and effectiveness of academic text translation by applying strategies from logical reasoning,academic terminology and syntactic structure in formal register.On the level of logical reasoning,we make a point to clarify the logical relationship between sentences by calling attention to their logic sequence,and if needed,adding appropriate explanations so as to achieve effective communication.On the level of academic terminology,referring to parallel texts and establishing intertextuality between them helps a lot;appropriate academic expressions are selected in accordance with the context and professional characteristics of the ST to cater to the audience's cognitive need;and supplementary statements shall be added if necessary.On the level of syntactic structure in formal register,with domesticating translation strategy being the guideline,the target audience's expectations for what counts as "scholarly text" in target language would decide the syntax and style of the TT.In this way,appropriate translation strategies are dynamically chosen to strike a better balance among conflicting demands and to better cater to the audience's needs.Such an approach makes it easier for the translator to convey the meaning of the source text without significant loss and distortion,and to functionally emphasize the ultimate cognitive goal and desired effects the TT is meant to reach or produce.It thus offers a useful methodological reference for translators engaging in the translation of academic texts.In addition,an audience orientation in dynamically adapting to the texts and context enables the translator to keep in mind throughout the translation process such questions as:What effect is expected to have on the target audience?Can the source text be well interpreted with certain translation strategies selected?To what extent?And why?We are confident that emphasizing dynamic adaptation in conjunction with audience awareness not only contributes to theoretical innovation,but also brings forth a new point of view about translation quality assessment.