An Application of Tury’s Descriptive Translation Studies in Science and Technology Text

2482019年42期总第482期翻译研究ENGLISH ON CAMPUS

An Application of Tury’s Descriptive Translation

Studies in Science and Technology Text

文/张婉清

【Abstract】 Science and technology text occupies a great proportion in non-literature translations, while most

related studies applied translation techniques directly, and ignored hidden translation norms. In application of

Tury’s Descriptive Translation Studies, this paper applies translation norms by comparing science and technology

translations, which may provide reference for other translators. The analysis shows that addition is suitable in this

case, including the addition of association words.

【Key Words】 Descriptive Translation Studies; Translation norms; Science and technology; Addition

【作者简介】张婉清(1992.09-)，女，成都东软学院，翻译硕士。

TT2:因为某些减少污染的办法会导致燃料消耗增长，或者反

之，能源消耗减少但污染随之加重，所以要合并讨论环境和能源

两个问题。

In TT1, the translation of “vice-versa” obviously shows

that the translator subjects to the target culture, aiming to

acceptability. However, the connotation of “vice-versa”

should not be uncovered, otherwise readers may cannot

understand the text completely. That is to say, the hidden

information should be added. Besides, “the two problems”

in ST is not revealed in TT1. Therefore, under the guidance of

initial norms, TT2 with proper addition is more suitable.

ST: The electricity needed to fuel electric and hybrid

vehicles and to produce hydrogen through water electrolysis

may be generated by thermal, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind or

solar power stations (p. 517).

TT1:热能、核能、水能、风能或太阳能发电站可以提供用来

驱动电动汽车和混合动力车，以及水电解制氢所需要的电能。

TT2:热能发电站、核能发电站、水能发电站、风能发电站或

太阳能发电站不但可以提供电动汽车和混合动力车所需的电力，

还能提供水电解制氢所需要的电能。

In this case, those underlined words actually match more

than one objects.

3. Conclusion

Science and technology text contains information which

should be fully passed to target readers, and become a

part of the target culture. Therefore, as for the initial norms,

translators ought to make the target text adequate firstly,

and then consider acceptability. It influences the choice of

translation policy. Examples show that addition is often used

to achieve the goal, not only syntactically omitted information

is restored, but also association words could be added upon

the situation.

References：

[1]FerderickLing.(2014).TheMotorCar:Past,PresentandFuture.

NewYork:Springer-Verlag.1. Study Objectives

This paper aims to apply Tury’s Descriptive Translation

Studies, which is not much used in scholars’ researches.

Then, the writer hopes that other translators, especially those

in the science and technology field, could be inspired.

2. Application of Tury’s Descriptive Translation Studies

(1) Overview of Descriptive Translation Studies. According

to Toury, descriptive approaches are about looking into

existing texts and describing the rules they seem to follow.

He came up with the term “translation norms”, as hidden

rules followed by the majority discovered by descriptive

observation of actual translation.Toury defined the norms

as (1995, p. 55) “the translation of general values and ideas

shared by a community, as to what is right or wrong, adequate

and inadequate, into performance instructions appropriate

for and applicable to particular situations.” There are three

translation norms. First are initial norms, a translator may

subject to him-/herself either to the source text, or to the

norms active in the target culture. If it is towards the ST, then

the TT will be adequate; if the target culture norms prevail,

then the TT will be acceptable. Second are preliminary

norms, which involve the choice of translation policy and the

directness of translation. Third are operational norms, which

involve the presentation and linguistic matter of translated

text.

(2)Translation of Science and Technology Text. This paper

uses a typical science and technology work, The Motor Car:

Past, Present and Future, which is a popular science reading

edited by Ferderick Ling. It is an introduction to automotive

engineering, to give normal people ideas about this

technology. Since the book belongs to informative text, and

target readers are normal people, the translator is required

to apply plain language to convey as much information as

possible under the guidance of initial norms, preliminary

norms and operational norms mentioned above.

TT1:这两个问题需要同时处理，因为某些减少污染的办法会

导致燃料消耗增长，反之亦然。