On Explicitation In English-Chinese Translation Of Art History

This report discusses the application of explicitation in English-Chinese translation of introductory art history for general readers with Greek Art by John Boardman as a case in point.Since the immediate response to the reaction of the addressee is impossible in communication in written form,the translator needs to make a prediction about the needs of the target reader and adjust his/her expressing style accordingly.When translating the excerpt of Greek Art,the translator first decided that the intended audience of the target text is the general reader with limited knowledge about ancient Greek art and that the target text should emphasize the interaction between the author and the reader and explicitate the relevant background information implied in the context.To achieve the two goals,communication participants,proper names,image-and term-based information are explicitated.The examples are then analyzed based on the framework proposed by Becher,and it shows that the target text is explicitated in the aspects of interaction,cohesion,and denotation.In summary,explicitation can enhance the readability of translated art histories by engaging the reader and reducing processing effort.