Each language entails a lot of underlying information which the natives can perceive without much explanation with their linguistic and cultural background. However, no receptors for whom a translation is made can expect to be as completely informed of the background information, and hence be in a position to understand and appreciate the message which is known only from the cultural context. Therefore, if a literal translation is insufficient to fill out all the underlying information or the function of the original message, a partial or complete explanation is preferred [10].
4. 4 Explanation
Anything that can be said in one language can certainly be said in another language. However, for some Chinese-flavored expressions in political texts, no direct correspondents can be found in English, nor can literal translation or literal translation plus explanation be used to reflect the original meaning to the full extent. In this case, explanation, which is also a kind of translation as held by Peter Newmark in 1991,can be resorted to at the sacrifice of the form to fill out the underlying meaning. Take the translation of“化”(-ize) for example:
经济法制化manage economic affairs according to law(or put economic operation on a legal basis)
科研成果产业化apply scientific research results to industrial production
国民经济信息化build an information-based national economy
社会知识化build a knowledge-driven society
国际关系民主化Democracy should be practiced in international relations
All the above new coinages are words specific to Chinese political texts. A literal translation of“化”into“-ize” as that in English will only perplex the readers. For example, a literal rendering of“经济法制化”into“legalization of economics”is quite ambiguous in expressing how the economics can be legalized. Since translating means translating meaning, in such a case the translator have to abandon the formal element of the original message by making up all the underlying parts with explanation.
There are other expressions particular to Chinese political words which can not find formal equivalents in English. For example:
继续开展扫黄打非斗争 We should continue to eliminate pornography and other illegal publications.
深入开展严打斗争和专项治理 We cracked down on all criminal activities and launched special campaigns to fight the crime and social evils that the people detest most.
In the above two examples, due to the lack of established terms for the highlighted terms in English, the translator has no other way but to explain how the Chinese readers perceive these terms in natural and intelligible English.
This translation technique can retain the sense of the original rather than following the original words. However, it shall not be overused in case the readers will feel bored at the excessive use of explanations.
4. 5 Free translation
Free translation is another way of “reproducing the content without the form of the original, i.e. to get the “flavor” or the “spirit” of the original”. It attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both content and language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readership. Free translation sometimes reads smooth and is closer to the original in deep structure. In fact, the above-discussed explanatory translation is also a kind of free translation. Free translation is found to be effective in translating cultural words which have no equivalent images in the target language. In this case the original images have to be changed to fit the target setting. For instance:
三角债chain debt
拳头产品knockout product
“三角债”and“拳头产品”in the above examples are both cultural-bound images. The English images for the two terms are greatly different from but similar in sense to the original ones. In example “三角债”, the translation “chain debts” vividly reflects the original connotation of“三角债”compared with the literal translation of “triangle debt” which will result in confusion of meaning on the part of the target readers. Perhaps it is all right to render“拳头产品”into“a highly competitive product”because the meaning is clear. But its image is lost. The explanatory translation is wordy and may not be able to impress the target reader as strongly as the converted version. If literally translated into “fist product” it will demand greater effort on the part of the target receptor to perceive it. By free translation, the readers are sure to get more information which is clearer and closer to the original, and the version is smoother and idiomatic English. Therefore, a change of image is more recommendable here, according to Nida.
These devices explored in light of Nida’s functional equivalent of course are not the only possible or effective ones in translating Chinese political words. It is very difficult to find general rules and almost impossible to find rules which have no exception. We certainly can find more practical ways. Also these devices have to be applied flexibly as illustrated by the above examples. Furthermore, the method of translating the same expression may change with the context as words take on meaning from context.
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