| Status | 已發表Published |
| Translating a Citation with the Golden Mean: Reflection on the Translation of Citation for Mr Li Zhaoxing (中庸之道译赞辞: 翻译"李肇星先生赞辞”有感) | |
| Alternative Title | Translating a Citation with the Golden Mean: Reflection on the Translation of Citation for Mr. Li Zhaoxing |
| Zhang, M. F. | |
| 2011-05-15 | |
| Source Publication | Shanghai Journal of Translators (上海翻译)
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| ISSN | 1672-9358 |
| Pages | 39-44 |
| Abstract | In China, “Zhong Yong” (中庸, Golden Mean) is a way of wisdom of the Confusian school, which advocates impartiality, reconciliation and compromise in one’s approach to people or matters. Golden Mean in this article refers to the reconciliatory principle and flexible strategies adopted in translating the Citation for Mr. Li Zhaoxing from Chinese to English. A citation is a formal statement of the reasons for honoring a person in public with an award or degree. The reasons given in the citation usually include factual information of the appraised as well as the positive attitudes of the appraiser. Hence a citation is normally expected to serve two textual functions: informative function and expressive function. According to Reiss (1971/2000: 30-33), in an informative text the content or “topic” is the main focus of the communication; therefore, in the process of translation, informative texts require “invariance in transfer of their content” . Whereas, an expressive text is a kind of “creative composition” in which the author uses the aesthetic dimension of language and in translating expressive texts, the aesthetic effect of the source text should be preserved and the semantic content should be reproduced in the target text. This paper discusses the English translation of the Citation for Mr. Li Zhaoxing, which was translated by the present author and presented by Dean of FSH, University of Macau at the Ceremony for Conferment of Degrees of Doctor honoris causa on December 10, 2008. Problems of and solutions for the translation are reviewed and possible factors affecting the translator’s decision making are discussed. It is found through the analysis of the ST and TT that in the Citation factual information and the appraiser’s opinions are not clear cut, but very often mixed together; and that the language used to carry information of the appraised is not as plain as it is in common informative texts, and the wordings expressing the appraiser’s attitudes are not as illusory and unpredictable as those in literary writing. As a result, neither literal translation nor free translation strategy alone, nor any radical translation strategies, can help to produce an adequate target text of the Citation. It is suggested that a reconciliatory principle be adopted and balanced translation strategies be chosen so as to produce an appropriate target text for the target reader. |
| Keyword | the Golden Mean translation citation appraisal balance |
| Language | 其他語言Others |
| The Source to Article | PB_Publication |
| PUB ID | 6766 |
| Document Type | Journal article |
| Collection | CHEONG KUN LUN COLLEGE |
| Recommended Citation GB/T 7714 | Zhang, M. F.. Translating a Citation with the Golden Mean: Reflection on the Translation of Citation for Mr Li Zhaoxing (中庸之道译赞辞: 翻译"李肇星先生赞辞”有感)[J]. Shanghai Journal of Translators (上海翻译), 2011, 39-44. |
| APA | Zhang, M. F..(2011). Translating a Citation with the Golden Mean: Reflection on the Translation of Citation for Mr Li Zhaoxing (中庸之道译赞辞: 翻译"李肇星先生赞辞”有感). Shanghai Journal of Translators (上海翻译), 39-44. |
| MLA | Zhang, M. F.."Translating a Citation with the Golden Mean: Reflection on the Translation of Citation for Mr Li Zhaoxing (中庸之道译赞辞: 翻译"李肇星先生赞辞”有感)".Shanghai Journal of Translators (上海翻译) (2011):39-44. |
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