On The Translation Of The Academic Text From The Perspective Of Chesterman’s Translation Norms

This paper aims to discuss the translation of academic texts under the guidance of Andrew Chesterman’s Translation Norms with a case study of the translation practice of the academic paper “Reconstructing Holinshed” written by Canadian scholar Dimitry Senyshyn.Chesterman divides translation norms into two main categories: expectancy norms and professional norms.Based on the specific contents of these two types of translation norms and the characteristics of the source text,the author assumes that Chesterman’s Translation Norms can be applied to guide the translation of academic texts,which are characterized by accurate and standardized language with sound logic.Firstly,these translation norms can help translators clarify their responsibilities and obligations.On the one hand,the translator is supposed to abide by the requirements of expectancy norms and professional norms,and accurately convey the recent research results of Shakespeare source study to Chinese readers.On the other hand,the translator is obliged to explore flexible expressions so as to improve the readability of the translation,and meet readers’ expectations when reading such research papers on Shakespearean study.Secondly,based on these translation norms,Chesterman provides translators with translation strategies that are goal-oriented and problem-centered to solve difficulties in academic translation.These strategies are divided into three levels:syntactic level,semantic level and pragmatic level.In the process of translating “Reconstructing Holinshed”,the author formulates general translation strategies and specific translation strategies based on expectancy norms and professional norms respectively.According to expectancy norms,the author works out general strategies applicable to the whole translation process by analyzing expectations from three aspects: vocabulary,sentence and discourse.With the help of professional norms,the author acquires a better understanding of the requirements of all aspects of the translation activity and formulates specific translation strategies from syntactic level,semantic level and pragmatic level to solve translation problems.Based on this translation practice,it can be concluded that Chesterman’s Translation Norms are of great significance to the translation of academic texts.These norms not only establish a feasible translation regulation mechanism,but also provide a set of reasonable and concrete solutions.