Translation Of Long Sentences In English Academic Works Under The Guidance Of Functional Equivalence Theory

The translation of academic works is an important channel to bring in foreign academic ideas,which is certainly of great significance to China.The academic works are characterized for its vocabulary,syntax and discourse,and there are many long sentences which make the translations somewhat difficult.This translation material includes Chapters 4 and 14 of a masterpiece in linguistic field--Landmarks in Linguistic Thoughts: the Western Tradition from Socrates to Saussure written by Roy Harris and Talbot J.Taylor.This book introduces the important opinions and main subjects during the development of western linguistics.The content of these two chapters which the translator has chosen are the research on the linguistic regularity which was taken by Varro and Saussure on language and thought.These two masters' ideas provide precious theoretical and practical experience for those who are keen on the research of linguistic development.English long sentences with complex grammatical structures can be seen everywhere in an academic text.These academic English sentences are not only professional,logical,but rigorous and formal.The quality of translation of academic works is directly dependent on the understanding of long sentences.Translation theories by Nida have great effects on translation studies,of which functional equivalence theory is one of the key concepts.Functional equivalence theory derives from dynamic equivalence theory.In the process of translation,functional equivalence theory has been applied to the translation of the academic writing,especially to the translation of long sentences and sequential translation,reversed order translation,division,addition or deletion,integration are adopted respectively under different circumstances with satisfactory results.The translation material has strong academic nature as well as superior logical structure.Besides it contains many long sentences which have complex structures.As the purpose of academic works is to convey knowledge and thoughts,their translation would focus on establishing the equivalence between the original text and the translated information and producing the same functions.Therefore,functional equivalence translation theory can effectively guide the translation of long sentences in academic works.