Errors In C-E Translation Of Fujian Tulou And Its Translation Approaches

It is widely known that the earthen building,tulou,is the treasure of southwest Fujian.Therefore,the English translation of tulou-related architectural texts plays a quite important role in the process of disseminating traditional culture as well as Hakka image.Fujian Tulou,written by Huang Hanmin,an authoritative scholar in the field of Fujian tulou research,is known as the most comprehensive and exhaustive one on Fujian tulou by far.This thesis explores in detail the translation errors in the monograph as well as their causes in the light of Skopos theory put forward by Hans Vermeer,a representative figure in German functionalist school.Both the source and target texts are uploaded into the NVivo software for classification of translation errors and coding.Research data shows that errors existed in C-E translation of Fujian Tulou fall into four categories: failures in quality control,grammatical errors,Chinglish and unnecessary repetitiveness arising from negative language transfer and errors in cultural-loaded words.The causes of translation errors are discussed from the perspective of lack of translation quality control system,translators’ incompetence and cultural differences between Chinese and English.By means of analyzing a great number of translation cases,practical approaches and specific techniques to improve the translation of architectural text Fujian Tulou are generalized: 1)enhancement of quality control;2)improvement of the translator’s competence;3)appropriate translation techniques in translation under three translating rules of Skopos theory,including transliteration plus annotation,addition of explanatory footnotes,free translation and reconstruction of sentences.The findings of errors in Fujian Tulou,their cause analysis and approaches put forward in the thesis will provide a reference for future translation of Hakka architectural and cultural texts,which also creates a new path for the overseas dissemination of Hakka culture and China’s images.