The Influence Of RCW On The Information And Structure In Translated Texts Of Chinese Classics

How Chinese culture can go to the world better is inextricably linked to how Chinese classics can be translated better.When it comes to Chinese classics translation,we must first talk about the number of English vocabulary required for translation.So,can different requirements for the number of translated words have different results for the information and structure of the translated texts?With this question,we introduce the concept of Ratio of Characters and Words(RCW),that is,the average number of English words used to translate one Chinese character.Through analysis of a supplementary translation practice material,we found that the requirements of different RCWs have a significant impact on the information and structure of the translated texts.At this stage,the experiment found that when the RCW is about 2.0,the information and structure of the translated texts will be best.We ask the same student translator to translate the same text: when RCW is less than 1.8,the information of the translated texts is insufficient and the structure is loose.When the RCW is around 2.0,the information of the translated texts is relatively complete and structure is compact;when the RCW is bigger than 2.2,the information of the translated texts is redundancy and structure is confusing.Taking the “The New History of the Five Dynasties” as an example,in the class of English translation of Chinese classics,the same student of one class is required to translate the same Chinese classics with 1.60 RCW and 2.00 RCW.Such a student can get two different English translated versions.A total of 30 valid samples were obtained in the experiment.Each sample has two translated texts under the condition of two RCWs,then the two translated versions are analyzed and compared in order to summarize the way to increase RCW.The way to increase RCW on the information of the translated texts is to add background information,repeat semantic information and specify details;the way to increase RCW on the structure of the translated texts is to add linking words,pronouns and prepositions.The positive effect of increasing the RCW to a certain extent(about 2.0)is supplementing the missing information and linking the structure of the translated texts;the negative influence is that the excessive requirements of the RCW(above 2.2)will bring about redundant information and confusing structure of the translated texts.By studying the influence of RCW on the information and structure in translated texts of Chinese classics,we can summarize the student translator’s means of increasing the RCW and the corresponding effects.Therefore,in the teaching practice of English translation of Chinese classics,it can provide some meaningful guidance,namely the RCW standard of about 2.0 and the way to increase RCW,for the revision and improvement of undergraduate students’ English translated version in terms of information and structure.