Translation Strategies Of Patent Texts From The Perspective Of Newmark's Text-type Function Theory

Patent textsarescientific and technical literature as well aslegal documents.In this report,Ihave studied the translation of the description and the claimsof the patent,whichare supposed to be tackled with different translation strategies.The claim is the claimed content of the invention or utility patents as well as an important legal document which determine the scope of patent protection.It should be translated with great rigor.The content of the descriptionare used to describe the field of technology,background,purpose,programs and the like.According to Newmark?s text-type function theory,they are classified individuallyas two different text types—the expressive function text and informative function text.Peter Newmark broadly divided texts into three categories according to their functions: the expressive function text,informative function text and vocative function text.Accordingly,he proposed eight translation methods in which semantic translation and communicative translation is thecore of translation theory.Semantic translation attempts to render,as closely as the semantic and syntactic structures of the second language allow,the exact contextual meaning of the original.In regards of the content and effects of translation,semantic translation puts much emphasis on original content rather than the effect.In accordance with semantic translation,the claims,with rigor and authority,wants to maintain the thinking of author as much as possible.Communicative translation aimed at "trying to make the same effect on the target readers translation effect as same as the effect the original source on language readers ".The translation of the specification requires the translator toconvey information clearly and accuratelyso that the readers can accurately understand and grasp the contents.For that reason,the communicative translation is more suitable for this part.In this report,claim is rigorous and standardin words expression,discourse and sentence structure.Descriptionis characterized by long sentences,complex structure,fragmented modifiers andlogically strict contruction.Based on Newmark?s text function theory,I proposethat the semantic translation is more suitable for translation of the claimwhile communicative translation is more applicable to translationof the description.