基于语域理论的英语商务合同翻译策略_英语论文

Translation Strategies for English Business Contracts Based on Register Theory

摘要

近年来，中国的对外贸易发展迅速。合同承担着买卖双方各自的义务和责任。语域理论，作为系统功能语言学的一个核心理论，被广泛应用于合同翻译。

和其他文章比起来，本文提出合同翻译中存在的问题和困难， 分析合同用语的词汇特点，运用语域理论商务合同翻译的策略。也就是说，本文从语域理论的语场对等、语式对等和语旨对等三方面来研究。语场对等通过专业术语，普通词的不同含义，同义词并置以及及物系统来实现，从而使翻译者掌握合同翻译时所处的语境。语旨对等则通过正式词语，古体词和情态词来实现的，使翻译者明白所要翻译合同的正式性。语式则是通过主述位和信息结构、衔接来实现的，从而可以更准确地理解合同内容。

研究结果显示，如果使用语域对等会使翻译更加贴切原文，使读者更加清楚词语在不同情境下的不同意思。语域理论更适用于合同翻译。

关键词：合同翻译；语域理论；策略

Abstract

In recent years, the foreign trade of China develops quickly. The contract carries the obligation and responsibility between seller and buyer. Each word’s translation will concern the interests of contracting parties. Register theory, as a core theory of systemic-functional linguistics, used extensively in translation. 

Comparing with other papers, this thesis focuses on coming up with problems and difficulties in contract translation, analyzes the stylistic features of contract wording, and applies Register theory to finding strategies of business contract translation. That is to say, this thesis studies contract translation from field equivalence, tenor equivalence and mood equivalence of register theory. Field equivalence is realized by technical terms, common words with uncommon meaning, juxtaposition of synonyms and transitivity patterns to make translators master the language environment of contract translation. Tenor equivalence is realized by formal words, archaic words and modality to indicate the formality of contract translation. Mode equivalence is realized by thematic and information structure and cohesion to help the translator understand the contract translation more accurately. 

The study result indicates that contract translation would be better if using register equivalence, which helps readers understand word’s special meaning under a special circumstance. And register theory is more suitable for contract translation.

Key  words:  contract translation; register theory; strategies

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Literature Review 2

3 Features and Register in contract translation 3

3.1 Features of Business contract 3

3.1 .1 Lexical features 3

3.1.2 Syntactical features 4

3.1.3 Difficulties of the translation of business contract 5

3.2 Register theory 6

3.2.1 Definition of register 6

3.2.2 Three variables of register 6

3.2.3 Register variables and meta function 7

3.2.4 Application of register in translation 7

4 Strategies of coping difficulties in contract translation 8

4.1 Equivalence of field in contract translation 8

4.1.1 Lexical choices 8

4.1.2 Transitivity system 10

4.2 Equivalence of tenor in contract translation 12

4.2.1 Lexical choices 12

4.2.2 Modality 14

4.3 Equivalence of mode in contract translation 14

4.3.1 Thematic and information structure 15

4.3.2 Cohesion 16

5 Conclusion 17

References 19