Diderot's "On Drama Poetry" Translation Practice Report

The report is based on the translation from French to Chinese of the last five chapters of an article DE LA POESIE DRAMATIQUE(ABOUT THE DRAMATIC POETRY),written by Denis Diderot(1713-1784),a famous thinker,philosopher and literary theorist in the Enlightenment Era of France.LE PERE DE FAMILLE(FATHER OF THE FAMILY)is an important literary theory work which systematically describes Diderot's theory of dramatic art.This article,containing many proper names and theatrical terms,features a profound analysis and a strong demonstration;and at the same time it is impassioned due to the use of the parallelism,exclamatory sentence,even rhetorical question.In general,it is an article both scientific and literary.The practical process of translation involves three phases:understanding the original text-translating it into a target language-perfecting the translation.The three principles "faithfulness,expressiveness,elegance" can regulate the three phases by the most refined language,so they are chosen as the principles and standards of translation of this article.Moreover,the article adopts the combined methods of literal and free translation according to the concrete context.The report recalls the detailed process of the translation project,highlighting the difficult and important issues encountered in the translation and the corresponding measures taken by translator.The report is divided into four parts:The first chapter introduces translation projects,including project assignments,author profile,text presentation,and significance of project.First,translator mainly introduces the social status and theoretical achievements of the author,especially those of theater;and then,summarizes the content,the characteristics of writing and social value of the article.Finally,the importance of this translation project is presented.The second chapter describes the specific implementation process of the translation project,including pre-translation analysis and preparation,translation process and work division and post-translation matters.Translation is a complicated process that requires specific planning.First,translator takes a survey of the context of the text and a preliminary analysis of the type and style of the article,and then determines the standards of translation "faithfulness,expressiveness,elegance" and the combined methods of literal and free translation.The revision task consists of self-revision and revision of others.The third chapter enables the readers to have a deep insight into the difficulty and key of translation,and summarizes the translation strategies adopted by translator.Depending on the characteristics of the original text as well as the difficulties encountered during the translation process,translator completes the article at the level of the word,the sentence and the chapter,mainly concerning the translation of proper names and terms,selection among the different meanings and the search for the figurative meaning of words,transformation of word-gender,adjustment of the order of sentences and processing of complex long sentences,etc.This part is essential to the report,and it will be analyzed by combining specific examples and translation theories.The fourth chapter summarizes the gains and disadvantages of this translation practice and the requests for translators.Lack of linguistic skills and translation experience,translator encountered many difficulties in the translation process.However,these difficulties have also benefited translator greatly,this means not only has translator improved translation skills and understanding of theater,but also got a more systematic and profound thought on the translation,as well as a positive and serious attitude towards research.There is still a long way to go to translate.Those who meant to be an excellent translator,must start from forming a correct concept of translation,and in addition,improve the bilingual competence and broaden their scope of knowledge.