顺应论视角下学术论文翻译(英文版)

Structural Objects of Adaptability

in E-C Translation of Academic Thesis

Adaptation Theory thinks that “... using language must consist of the continuous making of linguistic choices, consciously or unconsciously...” (Versehueren, 2000: 55-56) Versehueren points out that the process of making-choice can be comprehended on three linguistic properties -- variability, negotiability and adaptability. Adaptability can be viewed from four perspectives, namely contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, dynamic adaptability and salience of adaptability process. (Versehueren, 1999: 65-66) This passage will analyze the translation of academic thesis mainly from the perspective of structural objects of adaptability.

Structural objects of adaptability means making choices at various layers of linguistic structure including sound, word, syntax, cold, style and chapter. In this thesis, the author will mainly analyze E-C translation of academic thesis from the perspective of structural objects of adaptability.

1 Adaptation at the Lexical Level

In order to achieve better the informative and communicative function of the text, we need to make adaptability in the process of translation. At lexical level, the translator needs to understand correctly the meaning of words combining specific contexts and also convey the meaning in appropriate way of expression.

1.1 Transformation of Lexical Meaning

Transformation of lexical meaning means the meaning of the word can be transformed into another one, with one as literal meaning in the dictionary and the other one as specific meaning considering specific context. (Yang Man, 2015) In the process of translation, the translator should comprehend the meaning of the word combining the context and choose the most suitable expression to convey the meaning. Adaptation at lexical level conforms to the reading habit of target reader so as to improve reading experience.

ST1 Hume interprets our tendency to assign identity through time as a "natural propension,"

TT1休谟把我们确定长期身份的倾向解释为一种“自然天性”

ST2 pension" to ascribe identity where evidence shows diversity "is so great,"

TT2 迹象呈现多样性时，确定身份的“倾向”“极大”

Analysis: Common meaning of “assign” in the dictionary is “distribute, attribute”. In the text, we can see a paragraph explaining that people start to investigate question of identity “what makes an individual the same through time despite partial changes” and we “constructs experience to conform to our modes of cognition”. Here we know the “assign identity” means we “determine identity”. For example, we may assign identity to a “dog” saying “this is a dog”, which means we are also determining identity for it. Therefore, the word “assign”is translated as “确定”. So it is the same as the translation of the word “ascribe”. In the dictionary it means “be caused by”or “make sb possess”. In the context, “ascribe” has the same meaning as “assign” so it is translated as “确定” as well. By choosing the best expression of a word, we convey the meaning of the word correctly and improve the reader’s understanding.