A Study On C-E Translation Of Culture-specific Items Based On Skopos Theory

APEC is the premier economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region.At the APEC conferences,Chinese leaders convey the voice of China to the world,and the member countries provide advice for the prosperity of the Asia-pacific region.Therefore,it is necessary to translate the speeches at APEC conferences correctly and efficiently.In delivering information and communicating with foreigners,the translators take the responsibility for conveying Chinese culture hidden in the source text to the addressees.Because of the differences in historical background and language use between the addressees and addressers in cross-cultural communication,translation plays an important role.The study of C-E translation of culture-specific items in APEC speeches is of great importance.Through the evolution of years,the four-character structures,idioms and Chinese classical poems are popular with Chinese people.It is found that these culture-specific items are frequently used in the speeches at the APEC conferences.They are solid in shape,vivid in language effect and rich in semantical connotation.Their features are distinct.Based on the Skopos Theory,the thesis studies what methods are used to translate the culture-specific items in the speeches at 2014 APEC conferences and how the translated texts deliver the information accurately and efficiently.Totally,60 culture-specific items are collected from the 5 APEC conference speeches given by President Xi in 2014.There are three categories of culture-specific items in the thesis:49 four-character structures,7 idioms,and 4 Chinese classical poems.Both literal and free translation methods are adopted to translate the four-character structures and idioms.But free translation method is used more frequently than literal translation method.The translation method should conform to the purpose of translation,the characteristics of the language and the text type.APEC speeches belong to diplomatic speeches,and according to Skopos Theory,accurate and efficient transmission of the information is the primary task.Free translation delivers the core information,and does not rigidly adhere to the form of text.On this basis,the translatum also should try to retain the cultural characteristics of the items,delivering cultural connotations.In translating Chinese classical poetry,literal and free translation methods are used integratedly to produce a good translatum.It is hard to use one method in translating poetry,and different translation methods are used differently in range and frequency.On the basis of the accurate and efficient delivery of the information,the syllabic,imagery and symbolic beauty of the poems should be reserved to the greatest extent.Under the guidance of Skopos Theory,two factors should be considered in the translation of cultural-specific items.One factor is the characteristics of the culture-specific items and the features of the text;the other factor is the purpose of translation.As APEC speeches belong to diplomatic speeches,the accurate and efficient delivery of the information is vital.Under this premise,the translatum should conform to the expression ways and receptivity of the addressees,convey the characteristics and connotations of Chinese at the same time as much as possible.Therefore,in translation practice,the proper translation methods can be adopted comprehensively and flexibly in accord with the features and intentions of the source text so as to achieve the purpose of translation.