translation--chapter1

   Translation is of value to the foreign language learner only when he has in the main mastered the mechanisms of the source language as well as those of the target language. A translator or an interpreter, can hardly meet with success if he is unable to compare the ways of thinking and the modes of expression of the two languages concerned.

   So far as its function is concerned ， translation undoubtedly proves a valuable aid to the foreign language learner, because it gives him a better understanding of the two languages in question ． One knows one's own language better only if he compares it with other languages ． The knowledge of foreign languages can make one's own language more flexible and expressive ． Needless to say, actual practice in translation helps a translator or all interpreter brush up his foreign language used as either the source language or the target language ．

3. Prerequisites for a Translator

   As translation is a bilingual art, we have to know both languages, if we are going to do translation work with competence. We have to know the language to be translated from and the language to be translated into. In the case with the student in the English Department both Chinese and English must be mastered. Many books are said to be poorly translated because some English terms, idioms, slang or fictions in them are misunderstood or misinterpreted. Other books are equally poor because they are not well expressed in Chinese. Most of the translators are poor in Chinese, so they cannot do justice in expression to their translated works, which would contain sentences in Chinese characters but in English construction, quite contrary to good usage of the Chinese language.

   Besides a good knowledge of the two languages, acquaintance with the subject matter covered in the book or article is also an indispensable factor in doing translation work well. Suppose you are going to translate a textbook on physics, you have to know something more about the science than the book deals with; otherwise you will run the risk of making mistakes in the subject matter imperceptibly. Just imagine bow much harm your work will do the readers, who usually take for granted that the book is one hundred percent correct!

   A translator must be armed with the ability of live his part. A translator must be also capable of perceiving the true intention of the original author and change his works into the target language according to the author's intention.

   A translator must hold the excellent ability of expressiveness and imagination. Moreover, experience plays an important part in a good translation as well as one more point born in mind —— “keep objectivity of the original and shun subjectivity”, because translators sometimes make some changes of the original text purposely or accidentally out of the causes of politics, social system or religious belief. But as a truly qualified translator, one should in no circumstances modify, let alone change, the will and attitude of the author of the original text.

4．Criteria for Translation

   Speaking of translation, we tend to think of Yan Fu （严复） who advocated for the first time the three words as translation criteria, namely, “faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance.” Yan Fu's “faithfulness” means the full and complete conveying or transmission of the original content or thought. His “expressiveness” demands that the version must be clear and flowing without any grammatical mistakes or confused logic and sense. So the first two words as translation criteria are acceptable. But his “elegance” is unadoptable because it refers to the use of classical Chinese before the Han Dynasty. Yan Fu held that only the language before the Han Dynasty could be considered elegant and old vocabulary, old structure of Chinese must be used in order to represent the original fully and adequately. Therefore he can be said to object to the use of the vernacular or popular language of the people. As a matter of fact, the vernacular began to be in fashion when Yan Fu lived. Facts prove the vernacular or the popular language of the people can be used to translate any foreign language in the world. But Yan Fu opposed the application of the vernacular in translation, which is why many people criticized his “elegance.” Of course Yan Fu's explanation of the translation criteria is limited by the age he lived in. Therefore we must look at his criteria with a critical eye.

   Furthermore, Yan Fu's “elegance” can only be regarded as one style. Its opposite is the style of “boldness and unconstraintedness.” “Elegance” and “boldness” constitute two different styles. Of course there are many other styles in translation. So “elegance” as an overall translation principle may give rise to diverse interpretations.

   Mr. Lu Xun ， the greatest modern Chinese writer proposed“faithfulness” and“smoothness”as translation standards and attached importance to the preservation of the original flavour. But he once said, “Rather be faithful (in thought) than smooth (in language).” This was only put forward in opposition to Zhao Jingshen's saying: “It's better to have a smooth version than a faithful one ． ” And this is ， of course ， understandable.

   Criteria for translation constitute the yardstick for measuring a piece of translated work ． The common criteria applied in translation can be summarized in the following two words ： faithfulness and smoothness ．

   1) “Faithfulness” first refers to the content of the original work ． The translator must bring out the original meaning both comprehensively and accurately without any distortion or casual addition or deletion of the original thought.

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