The Use of English—Chinese Translation in Chinese Senior Schools Table of Contents

廖啟元

In translation we may go through many procedures to translate the text to make it acceptable. The translating process is explained as follows：

Translation is not the transcoding of words or sentences from one language to another， but a complex form of action， whereby someone provides information on a text （source language material） in a new situation and under changed functional， cultural and linguistic conditions， preserving formal aspects as closely as possible. （Snell-Hornby 82）

According to the explanation， a translators task is to convey the content and rearrange them into the target text in logical way. Additionally， we should remember that “a natural style in translating is nevertheless essential to producing in the ultimate receptors a response similar to that of the original receptors” （Ma and Miao 17）. Therefore， effective translation methods are indispensable in translating activities.

Conversion has been a hot subject in the field of linguistic research. It becomes one of the most effective techniques to seek in the target language the equivalent information of the source language.

A clear and correct expression of the source text is what really matters in translation. “For most people the informative function is predominantly the major role of language” （Hu 10）. A good translator will therefore employ all possible means to reproduce the thought of the author faithfully in another language. “Conversion has long been accepted as one of the techniques essential to improving the quality of our version” （Zhong 98）， by which the mechanical translation could be avoided； therefore it enables translators to achieve a natural and faithful translation

The thesis consists of three parts. The first chapter discusses the conversion of word classes in English-Chinese （E-C） translation. The second chapter focuses on the conversion of sentence components.The third chapter explores the approaches of how to convert the English perspectives into the corresponding ones in Chinese.

Chapter One

Conversion of Word Classes

In E-C translation， If each word in one language is replaced with words of the same word classes in another， such expressions would sound very awkward or even unintelligible to the reader. Therefore， effective use of word class conversion is crucial and necessary in E-C translation.

I. Conversion into Chinese Verbs

Because one of the most remarkable differences between English and Chinese lies in the use of the verb， conversion into Chinese verbs has become the basic conversion technique used in E-C translation.

i. Converting English Noun into Chinese Verb

As for English， “it seems possible to express ideas with greater precision and adequacy by means of nouns than by means of the more pictorial verbs” （Jespersen 139）. That is to say， “English is a language in which nouns are more widely used than those in Chinese， while in Chinese verbs are more frequently used and occupy a dominant position” （Zhou 391）， therefore some English nouns are often converted into Chinese verbs in the practical translation.

Specifically， an English noun which possesses the property of a verb or was derived from a verb is often converted into a verb when translated into Chinese. Here is an example to illustrate this point.

Example 1：

The use of bacteriological weapons is a clear violation of the international law.

ii. Converting English Preposition into Chinese Verb

It is known that “there are about 286 prepositions and prepositional phrases in English” （Lian 50）. Prepositions or prepositional phrases are so widely and frequently used in English. Prepositions in English has a great power of expression； on the contrary， the Chinese language is verb-oriented， so it is not without reason that English prepositions or prepositional phrases are often converted into Chinese verbs or verbal phrases in E-C translation. There is an example below.

Example 2：

It is our goal that the people in the undeveloped areas will be finally off poverty.

iii. Converting English Adjective into Chinese Verb

When meeting with such English adjectives that often indicate the human psychology or state of mind， such as ones consciousness， emotional activities and desires， translators usually convert them into Chinese verbs. Here is an example to illustrate the point.

Example 3：

Advancing into the vastness of space， man is becoming fully aware of the smallness of his planet.

iv. Converting English Adverb into Chinese Verb

Some English adverbs， which have an implied meaning of verbs， if necessary， are often converted into Chinese verbs. The following example illustrates this point.

Example 4：

They found Mr. Bennett still up.

II. Conversion into Chinese Nouns

Nouns account for an overwhelming part of the vocabulary not only in English but in Chinese. Some English words， for example， which are derived from nouns， can hardly be translated literally； they are usually converted into nouns.

i. Converting English Verb into Chinese Noun

Because some English verbs describing the characteristics or properties of the subject are difficult to express in exact corresponding Chinese verbs， they are often converted into Chinese nouns so as to achieve a satisfactory translation. Here is an illustrative example.

Example 6：

To them， he personified the absolute power.

＼ii. Converting English Adjective into Chinese Noun

Sometimes English adjectives are also converted into Chinese nouns for the smoothness of translation. The following is one example：

Example 7：

Everyday experience shows us that ice is not as dense as water and it therefore floats.

＼Generally speaking， a “definite article （the） + adjective” construction indicates people of some kind or abstract concepts， so such adjectives are often converted into Chinese nouns.

Example 8：

He is always dreaming of living a life as the rich.

Here， “the rich” referring to people of some kind is converted into a Chinese noun.

Example 9：

It is highly important to distinguish between the false and the truth.

Here， “the false” and “the truth” referring to abstract concepts are converted into Chinese nouns.

III. Conversion into Chinese Adjectives

i. Converting English Noun into Chinese Adjective

English nouns are much more frequently used than Chinese nouns， and some abstract nouns are very closely related to their corresponding adjectives in meaning. Therefore， it is necessary to convert such kind of nouns into Chinese adjectives. The following is an example.

Example 10：

We found difficulty in solving this complicated problem.

Some abstract nouns， preceded by an indefinite article， are also usually converted into adjectives in translation for a more appropriate and natural effect. There is an example below.

Example 11：

The garden-party is a great success.

ii. Converting English Adverb into Chinese Adjective

As a result of the conversion from some English verbs into Chinese nouns， the adverbs which modify the English verbs are naturally converted into Chinese adjectives to modify the Chinese nouns. Here is an example to illustrate this point.

Example 12：

His speech impressed the audience deeply.

IV. Conversion into Chinese Adverbs

There are occasions when some parts of speech in English may be converted into adverbs in Chinese in order to make the Chinese version more expressive.

i. Converting English Noun into Chinese Adverb

The conversion of English nouns into Chinese adverbs is far from being a universal phenomenon in translation. However， some good translations， as illustrated by the following one， demonstrate that the conversion of English nouns into Chinese adverbs makes a more natural and smooth translation in certain context.

Example 13：

He had the kindness to show me the way.

ii. Converting English Adjective into Chinese Adverb

Since the English nouns may have been converted into Chinese verbs， English adjectives which modify the nouns are accordingly converted into Chinese adverbs to modify the verbs in the translated version. Here is an example.

Example 14：

We place the highest value on our friendly relations with developing countries.

A few adjectives which modify or emphasize some nouns， if translated into Chinese， are always converted into adverbs， although this conversion is not caused by the result of conversion from English nouns into Chinese verbs. Illustrative examples are as follows：

Example 15：

Your story about the frog turning into a prince is sheer nonsense.

Example 16：

He dialed the wrong number.

onclusion

It is stressed that “translation theorys main concern is to determine appropriate translation methods” （Newmark 19）， and this thesis has made a relatively comprehensive study of conversion. Analysis and examples in the above chapters show convincingly that， the greatest enemy to an appropriate and readable target text in E-C translation is the rigid adherence to the syntax of the original language. Various kinds of conversion methods， such as conversion of word classes， conversion of sentence components and conversion of perspectives， are aimed at the accuracy and expressiveness of the target text.

A good translator aims to make the source texts meaning accurately understood by the target readers.Conversion， as one of the most fundamental and crucial translation techniques， can help translators break away from the rigid bound of the source language， avoid mechanical and unacceptable translation， and achieve a natural and accurate translation.