Analysis Of Inadequacies In English Versions Of Tourism Texts In Xi'an Area Under Eco-translatology

For the long history and splendid culture,Xi'an has become more and more attractive to tourists.And tourism texts are important means for tourists to obtain tourist information,which play a critical role in tourism sector.However,it has been found that there are still many translation inadequacies in English versions of tourism texts in Xi'an area,so it is imperative to improve them.Eco-translatology,a domestic translation theory,which is put forward by professor Hu Gengshen in Approach to Translation as Adaptation and Selection in 2004.It proposes that the processes of translation are translator's adaptation to translational eco-environment and translator's selection within it in order to realize multi-dimensional transformations for better translations,which reach the top degree of “holistic adaptation and selection”.This study takes Eco-translatology as the theoretical framework and adopts qualitative analysis as the research method to analyze inadequacies in English versions of tourism texts in Xi'an area from three dimensions,namely,linguistic dimension,cultural dimension and communicative dimension,which are identified into different classifications.The author also puts forward corresponding translation methods from three dimensions after the discussion of possible causes of inadequacies.After the analysis,it is concluded that there exist inadequacies in linguistic dimension,cultural dimension and communicative dimension,and the author puts forward corresponding translation methods from each dimension based on the analysis of possible reasons.Inadequacies in linguistic dimension are analyzed from lexical and syntactic aspects.In lexical aspect,inadequacies are identified into four categories,namely,misspelling,mis-translation,inappropriate diction and inconsistent versions;in syntactic aspect,inadequacies are classified into grammatical mistakes,loose sentence structure and Chinglish.The author puts forward literal translation and adaptive free translation in linguistic dimension.In cultural dimension,inadequacies are analyzed in the adaptation and selection of Chinese cultural-loaded words and quoted Chinese classics.Inadequacies in Chinese cultural-loaded words are analyzed from four aspects,namely,Chinese dynasties,Chinese figures,names of Chinese local flavors and other Chinese-specific terms;inadequacies in quoted Chinese classics are analyzed from two aspects,namely,Chinese poems and Chinese allusions.The author puts forward four translation methods,namely,addition,omission,analogy,transliteration plus explanation.In communicative dimension,inadequacies are analyzed on communicative sentences,which are divided into two categories: confused sentences and misleading sentences.The author comes up with two translation methods,i.e.omission plus generalization and creative translation.The author hopes that this study can provide enlightenment for translators of tourism texts and improve the translation quality of English versions of tourism texts in Xi'an area and push the development of tourism of Xi'an.