The Analysis of Translation Compensation in English-Chinese Translation of EST

王 瑾 許燕君

（貴州大學，貴州 貴陽550025）

Abstract：This thesis takes some English sentences in machinery and aviation engineering as examples, based on characteristics of EST: objectivity, accuracy, clarity and formality, to conclude the main translation compensation methods in English-Chinese translation of EST, they are: amplification, explanation, domestication, specification and shift of place. Then the paper states application of the five translation compensation methods by analyzing the selected sentences. Finally, limitations of translation compensation are pointed out.

Key words：English for science and technology；methods of translation translation compensation

一、lntroduction

1.Background of the Study

Along with the development of science and technology, EST translation have also become a researching direction, there are even some researchers have put translation compensation into the translation of EST,which really give a lot of help to the translation of EST, so more and more people come to study the translation compensation of EST translation, and this is a thesis analyzes the translation compensation in translating EST into Chinese.

2.Objectives of the Study

First of all, this thesis is aiming to study the characteristics of EST and to know something abouttranslation principles of scientific and technological texts, and English texts in machinery and aviation engineeringare taken as examples.Furthermore, the thesis tries to study the applying principles and skills of translation compensation in English-Chinese translation of EST. In the end, this thesis aims to conclude several translation compensation methods in translating science and technology texts in English in terms of language.

3.Significance of the Study

Modern science and technology develops faster and faster, it also obtains a higher and higher position in daily life of human beings.Western countries’advanced science and technology which are the lead“weapons”of the world have set an good example for other countries around the world. Assimilating all advanced outcomes of science and technology from western countries is quite necessary and crucial for China. As texts of EST are the main carriers of world’s science and technology, the analysis of it is helpful and meaningful. Translation is the first step. Translation compensation is an important method among all of the translating strategies, which plays an important role in translating the texts of EST into Chinese texts.Therefore, analyzing the translation compensation in EST texts is a critical step for the communication and the learning course of advanced achievements.

二、Literature Review

1.Studies of EST Translation

Before 1980s, studies about translation of EST were scarcely sufficient in China, and the outcomes of EST translation were infrequently to see, said Fang Mengzhi(1992).

In 1958,the starting publication ofTranslationCorrespondenceestablished a field for translation circle to study EST translation theory and exchange experiences. Then in 1980s, the situation made a great difference, some magazines appeared, which made a great contribution to the development of modern translation of EST. Principles of Chinese translation theories also made a great contribution to the development of translation work. However, even though studies between 1980 and 1990 focused on translation practice, which didn’t concentrate on the theory of translating EST into Chinese version, so the development of TST translation was not so advanced. In recent years, more and more people pay attention to EST translation, and the outcomes of those studies are mainly standards and methods of EST translation. Li Hang (2015) and Wan Lihua (2014) considered formality and accuracy must be covered. Zhao Xuemin (2016) thought information transmission should come to the first place of EST translation.

Little studies of translation compensation of EST have been touched abroad according to all of the materials which have been studied, while more materials researches are done at home.

三、The Analysis of Translation Compensation of EST

1.Characteristics of EST

Before translating, characteristics of EST should be made known.

EST has its own distinct characteristics compared with other English writings. In translators’opinion,all of the subjective matters may be the same things,what may be different are ways of expression. Moreover, translators may not have the idea about what the texts mean, they even have not much knowledge about what the texts describe, because translators aren’t familiar with materials that scientists and engineers describe. So translators must know the characteristics of EST if they want to do a perfect translation practice. After comparing so many studying materials that research characteristics of EST, a common agreement about characteristics of EST has been reached. Generally speaking, characteristics of EST include： objectivity, accuracy, clarity and formality. (Li Jian 2006)

2.Translation Compensation Methods and Their Application in EST

According to Hervey and Higgins (1992), translation compensation includes the following four kinds：compensating in kind, compensating in pace,compensating by merging, compensating by splitting.

According to the four kinds of translation compensation, compensation methods from linguistics aspect have been widely researched, and many translation compensation methods are summarized and used, and the compensation methods mainly cover amplification, explanation, domestication, specificationand shift of place(Yue 2011).

（1）Amplification

Amplification： amplifying some words,phrases,or sentences to translate the target meanings of original material according to the differences between two languages. Eg：

The main drawback of piccolo cushions is the high cost of machining a large number of orifices in the cushion spear.（笛形緩沖器的主要缺點是，由于要在緩沖器柱端加工大量小孔，所以成本高.）（EST Reading, p204. )

In this sentence, there is no cause and no result in the original language, but it should be amplified in target language. The effect of amplification in this example is to amplify logical relationship to make readers know the cause and result clearly.

（2）Explanation

Explanation： explanation is the translation compensation method by explaining something in the EST materials that are difficult for target readers to understand.

Eg：The upcoming DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) “Grand Challenge”, in March 2004,which will award a $1 million prize to the winning research team.（EST Reading, p114. )

（即將到來的國防高級研究計劃局的大挑戰比賽，即2004年3 月，將獎勵一百萬美元給獲勝的調研組。）Grand Challenge:“大挑戰”比賽。指由美國軍方組織的無人駕駛車輛的設計者將會獲得高額獎金。

In this sentence, there are two phrases that are not familiar with most readers, DARPA and Grand Challenge, if these two phrases are translated directly,most people could not understand, so explanation must added to the translated sentence. In the process of EST translation, some backgrounds may be explained to help readers understand easily.

（3）Domestication

Domestication： domestication is to localize the original language, putting target language or target readers in the first place, and taking a method that readers are familiar with to convey the meaning and details. Domestication translation requires the translators to target language readers and helps readers to better understand the translation and enhance the readability.

Eg：Each of us has his carrot and stick. In my case, the sticking is my slackening physical condition, which keeps me from beating opponents at tennis whom I overwhelmed two years ago. My carrot is to win.（我們人人都有自己的壓力和動力。就我而言，這壓力就是我日趨衰弱的身體狀況，兩年前還是我手下敗將的網球對手，現在卻打不過了。我的動力就是想贏球。）

Carrot and stick may be translated into “胡蘿卜和棍 棒”，which may make readers confused and have no ideas about that. In dictionary, the meaning of carrot may be the lure and meaning of stick is menace. So carrot and stick can be clearly translated into “壓力和動力”by method of domestication, or it can not be understood by readers.

（4）Specification

Specification：specification refers to the specific way to translate the original in a more general expression. Many words in English are abstract and are difficult to understand, or they may be too general, and it is hard to translate them into Chinese accurately. In facing of this materials,translators can connect the original part to the context and get the real and specific meaning of it,then it will be easier for translators to translate and easier for target readers to understand, since target language will be more specific and accurate.

Eg:For anti-aircraft and anti-missile applications considerable importance must attributed to an unmanned fully automatic gun and to a substantial reserve of ready use ammunition which can be fired without human intervention.

（在防空和反導彈戰斗中，必須強調以下兩個因素的重大作用：一是無人操作的全自動火炮；二是勿需人工裝填、隨時可以發射的大量備用彈藥。）

As for this example, the translation version makes up for the logical default which does not exist in the source language. In order to make the target language clearly,“一是”and“二是”can be added to make the logical relationship clear.

四、Summary

From the examples, it is easy to find that there are some existing problems when take translation compensation as method. Comparing translators one by one,it canbe found that certain translation version is better than others. There are three main problems that result in this phenomena. First of all, the problem is that the translators have not ample knowledge about the scientific and technological texts in English that they are translating, which can influence the veracity of translating work. Secondly, problems of EST in the process of translating are that background knowledge is always neglected. Many translators think conveying purport is more important than to know background knowledge. Thirdly, the evaluation system is still to be made, it is very difficult to appraise whether the achievement of translating are of value.