On the Application of Semantics to Chinese—English Translation

【Abstract】： This paper probes into the application of Semantics in Chinese-English translation from different semantic levels. The connection between semantic field theory and translation lies in the comparison of words， sentences and texts among different languages.

【Key words】： Semantics； Chinese-English translation； Semantic Structure

（Ⅰ） Semantics and Translation

Semantics examines how meaning is encoded in a language. It is not only concerned with meanings of words as lexical items， but also with levels of language below the word and above it. （Hu Zhuanglin， 2001） L. Bloomfield（1984）stated that “The features of situation and action which are common to all utterances of a speech form are the meaning of that speech form.” As for the role of context in translation， Peter Newmark（2001）points out， “Context is the overriding factor in all translation， and has primacy over any rule， theory or primary meaning.” And as is stated by Eugene Nida “Translating means translating meaning.”

Semantics is a discipline that studies the meaning of language. It includes lexical， grammatical and pragmatic meaning. Lexical meaning refers to the conceptual meaning of words； grammatical meaning refers to the meaning shown by the grammatical relationship between words and sentences； and pragmatic meaning the meaning in related context. It is supposed to embody the semantic value of lexicons in paragraphs， sentences and words in translation works， especially C-E translation works. In order to achieve a real correspondence， translators should be geared to achieving coherence and cohesion between words and paragraphs in their translation through semantic association.

（Ⅱ） The Application of Semantics in C-E Translation

（1）Word-level Semantic Structure

The classification of synonyms helps us to understand word meaning on the micro-level. For example， in the following Chinese expressions “又瘦又高”，“金發細腰”and “瘦得皮包骨”can be translated into “thin and spare”， “blonde and slender” and “skinny” respectively. “Thin” is an adjective that is used for people who are frailer than the average. “Slim” is the most desirable adjective for an individual as it is perceived as a compliment and only has positive connotation. “Skinny” is slightly pejorative which implies an unattractive figure. “Thin”， “slim” and “skinny” are synonymous， but their pragmatic meaning is slightly different from one another， to which translators should pay great attention.

（2）Sentence-level Semantic Structure

1. Polysemy

Translators with different mother tongue have different semantic ability. Some produces native translation， some Chinglish translation. “Plain English is a language based on verbs. It is simple， concise， vigorous， and above all， clear. Chinglish is a language based on nouns —— vague， general， abstract nouns. It is complicated， long-winded， ponderous and obscure. （Joan Pinkham， 2000）” Therefore， it is meaningful to apply polysemy to C-E translation to produce standard C-E translation.

2. Key verb V.S. other verbs

Chinese are apt to repeat verbs or their synonyms， while English not. Thus， it is ingenious of translators to integrate all the verbs in one sentence. One way is to identify the key verb in C-E translation and replace other verbs by other words of different part of speech.

3. The translation of idioms

In the translation of idioms in classical Chinese literature， translators have different translations. For example， when expressing the idea that something appears very suddenly and in great numbers， Chinese people use the expression “猶如雨后春筍”， which literally means “Just like spring bamboo-shoots after a rainfall.” This expression may also be conveyed in English by “just like mushrooms”. Though not in the same form， nor even with the same literal meaning， they may nevertheless be taken as equivalents in this case. Admitting the fact that both Chinese and English share similar feelings and imaginations about certain expressions will enable us to comprehend and translate easier.

（3）Text-level Semantic Structure

Semantic compatibility between the selection of word and structure should be taken into consideration in order to improve our C-E translation ability from text-level， which is based on word-level or sentence-level semantic structures.

（Ⅲ） Conclusion

Meaning is a part of language， and Semantics is a part of Linguistics. In order to achieve satisfying translation works， it is necessary for translators to have the basic knowledge of Semantics. The fervent appeal for high quality C-E translation works， in turn， sets new goals for Semantics and requires translators with better bilingual skills as well as rigorous attitude toward learning.

References

[1] Bloomfield， L.， 1984， Language. Chicago： University of Chicago Press.

[2] Joan·Pinkham. The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish [M].Beijing： Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press， 2000.

[3] Newmark， P.， Approaches to Translation， 2001， Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press， A Textbook of Translation， 2001（ibid）.

[4] 馮慶華.漢英翻譯基礎教程[M].高等教育出版社，2008.

[5] 古斯塔夫·施瓦布.希臘古典神話[M].曹乃云譯.南京：譯林出版社，2000.

[6] 胡壯麟.語言學教程[M].北京：北京大學出版社，2001.

[7] 王逢鑫.英漢比較語義學[M].北京：外文出版社，2001.

作者簡介：李慧（1991—）女，漢族，湖南郴州人，廣西大學外國語學院2015級外國語言文學專業，研究方向：翻譯學