A Study On The Translation Of Chinese Argumentative Prose From The Perspective Of Thematic Progression

Thematic progression(TP),an important way to achieve textual cohesion and semantic coherence,reflects the organization structure and development orientation of the textual information.Many researchers have carried translation studies based on thematic theories.Most of the previous studies have focused on the TP patterns of pragmatic text,such as news reviews,scientific and technological papers and political reports,etc.However,there are few studies analyzing and comparing literary works,let alone prose.Prose is a kind of literary genre.The most distinctive characteristic of Chinese prose is being loose in structure but compact in meaning.Such feature makes the translation of Chinese prose more complicated.Therefore,the study of TP patterns of Chinese prose is conducive to the comprehension of the original text,so that the translator can generate higher-quality translations.The corpus for this study consists of 10 Chinese argumentative proses and their corresponding translations.The current study is designed to investigate the similarities and differences between them in TP patterns and give constructive suggestions on the adjustments of TP patterns in C-E translation of argumentative proses.This thesis mainly answers the following research questions:1.What are the distinctive features of the TP patterns of Chinese argumentative proses and their translated versions?2.What translation methods are applied when Chinese argumentative proses are translated and why?The Chinese argumentative proses are selected from the C-E translation part of previous Han Suyin Translation Competition.Their corresponding translations are composed by the official competition organizing committee.The major findings are as follows:Parallel pattern is most commonly used in Chinese Argumentative proses.Irregular pattern also takes a large proportion.Whereas,in the translation versions,linear pattern and concentrated pattern are more frequently used.Parallel pattern and irregular pattern are less commonly applied.Cross pattern,combined pattern,and split pattern are seldom used in both texts.The translation methods applied in translated versions can be divided into four categories: reproducing,converting,merging,and demerging.Reproducing can best convey the author's writing intention and make foreign readers know more about the linguistic features of the source language.So translators are suggested to keep the original TP pattern if the original TP pattern is logical and clear in information structure and conforming to the linguistic features of TL.When reproducing the original TP patterns,translators can translate word by word or literally.Merging is made because Chinese is topic-prominent and English is subjectprominent.In Chinese,a topic is given in the initial place and the following sentences are comments on it.English tends to talk about one topic in one sentence and the topic is usually taken as the theme of the sentence.Therefore,translators should merge several sentences related to the same topic to one sentence when translating.When merging TP patterns,translators can use clausal theme or apply the translating method of omission.Demerging is needed because Chinese is parataxis but English is hypotaxis.Chinese sentences are connected by implicit coherence but English discourse is featured with clear and complete information structure and explicit cohesion.Therefore,translators should make the implicit logical relation and information structure explicit when translating.Translators can make such change by demerging.When demerging patterns,translators can add themes,preposition and conjunctions that can show the logical relation between sentences.Reasons for converting can be explained by the difference in information progression patterns between Chinese and English.Chinese tend to put importance in the rheme but English tend to put it on the initial part.What's more,Chinese prefers to progress information in a radiative pattern,but English prefers a linear pattern.This lead to the formation of linear patterns and concentrated patterns in English.Moreover,Chinese is loose in information structure,but English prefers logical and explicit information structure.Therefore,translators should convert irregular patterns to other patterns.When converting patterns,translators can exchange theme and rheme or add referential pronouns,logical conjunctions and prepositions.This study has practical and theoretical significance in two aspects.First of all,it is a valuable supplement to current studies of prose translation.Second,it provides valuable guidance to reading comprehension and translation teaching.