On the Translation of The Sino Time Charter from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

Abstract：Shipping documents，like charter party are playing an important role in foreign trade.However，different versions are of various qualities，the related charter party translation should be enhanced further.This paper takes the Sino Time Charter as an example and makes a deep exploration on characteristics of vocabularies and sentences，analyzing translating strategies of them under the guidance of Skopos Theory.

Key words：the Sino Time Charter；Skopos Theory；translation strategies

1 Introduction of Skopos Theory

Skopos Theory provides an insight into the nature of translation as a purposeful activity.Therefore，from the perspective of Skopos Theory，translation is the conscious activity with purposes of translators.Skopos Theory includes three principles，namely，coherence rule，and fidelity rule and skopos rule as its core.

2 Features of the Sino Time Charter

The Sino Time Charter involves a number of terminologies in fields of insurance，maritime convention，shipbuilding and so on.There are many formal words rather than rhetorics such as metaphor and personification in the Sino Time Charter.The formal and standardized language of the Sino Time Charter is featured with strong logic and accurate concept.

3 Analysis of the translation of the Sino Time Charter

Example 1：

ST：The Vessel has liberty to call at any port or ports in any order，for any purpose，to sail withoutpilots，to tow and/or assist Vessels in all situations，and also to deviate for the purpose of saving life and/or property.（The Sino Time Charter）

TT：船舶有權為任何目的以任何順序掛靠任何港口，有無引航員在船均可航行，在任何情況下拖帶和/或救助他船，亦可為拯救人命和/或財產而繞航。（The Sino Time Charter）

Besides，the translation of polysemy in the Sino Time Charter varies greatly from that in other disciplines.The word “pilot” is generally translated into “飛行員”，but in the charter party it must be translated as “引航員”； and the word “call” need to be translated into “掛靠” in the charter party.

Example 2：

ST：The vessel not be ordered to nor bound to enter any icebound place.（The Sino Time Charter）

TT：不得命令船舶駛往或駛入冰封地點。（The Sino Time Charter）

This sentence does not emphasize the passive relationship between the vessel and the order.The recognized translation is to convey the meaning and to play a role in intercultural activities.The literal translation which ignores the form while puts an emphasis on the meaning is adopted here.

Example 3：

ST：The owners to have a lien upon all cargos and sub freights belonging to the Time-Charterers and any Bill of Lading freight for all claims under this Charter，and the charterers to have a lien on the Vessel for all moneys paid in advance and not earned and for all claims for damages arising from any breach of this Charter by Owners.（The Sino Time Charter）

TT：出租人為了得到根據本合同的所有索賠，對所有貨物和屬于定期租船人的轉租運費和提單運費有留置權，承租人為了收回預付款和不應付的款和得到由于出租人違背本合同引起損壞索賠對船舶有留置權。（The Sino Time Charter）

In a word，it is necessary to translate passive sentences in flexible ways so that the translated text can be faithful to the source text.And they are generally translated into active sentences in Chinese.When translating long sentences，it is essential to analyze the structure and composition of those sentences，and divide them into short sentences.

4 Conclusion

Under the guidance of Skopos Theory，this article has carefully researched the charter party.Terminologies in the charter party are translated mainly by means of literal translation or domestication.As for passive sentences，translators need to ignore the passive relationship in the source text and further describe facts by properly adopting the strategy of omission and free translation.When dealing with long sentences，translators should regard Skopos Theory as their guidance to clearly analyze and clarify the relationship between the sentence components，and to create translation that are acceptable to readers by strategies of free translation and domestication.

References

[1]Nida，E.A.Toward a Science of Translation[J].Leiden：E.J.Brill，1964.

[2]Christopher，M.S.& David，S.C.Language from the Sea： Discovering the Meaning and Origin of Nautical Metaphors[J].English Quarterly，1997，11（1），36-40.

[3]謝天振（Xie Tianzhen）.當代國外翻譯理論導讀[M].天津：南開大學出版社，2008.

[4]趙月（Zhao Yue）.航海合同縮略語的定量定性分析[D].大連：大連海事大學，2006.

作者簡介

祁蘇婷（1995—），女，碩士，上海海事大學，英語筆譯理論與實踐。