Abstract:Numbers are widely used in our daily life. They do not exist just for counting, but also have rich associated meanings after the generalization of numbers. Because of the differences in national culture and thinking model, Chinese and Westerners often have different preferences to the using of numbers, which makes it necessary for the translator to think how to keep both the meaning accurately and form in line with the target language people's habits during the process of transforming the source language to the target language.

This thesis will discuss the necessity of taking the cultural elements into consideration when translating firstly. We then try to understand the number culture both in China and west through the examples of one to nine, and at the same time research on the main causes of number culture differences-region difference and thinking model difference. Here the so-called western culture refers ro those mainly English-speaking countries represented by the United States and the Great Britan. Next, we will talk about the advantages and characteristics of alienation and adaptation, and then combing them with the number culture we have known, we can judge out the more appropriate principle for the translation of numbers. Following this principle, we discuss several concrete methods of number transltion-preservation, replacement and omission. In the end, the new trend of number translation is researched, that is, since the culture communication is being promoted, more and more chances are given to the alienation principle from the adaptation principle. In this part, several measures to make up for the alienation's disadvantage in conveying meaning will be discussed. Through such a systematic research, the translators might better master the skills of number translation.

Keywords: translation of number; cultural differences; adaptation; alienation

Contents

摘要

Abstract

Chapter 1   Introduction-1

Chapter 2   Translation and Culture-3

2.1 Definition of Culture-3

2.2 Language, Culture and Translation-3

Chapter 3   Number Culture: Chinese and Western-5

3.1 Number Symbolism-5

3.1.1 One-5

3.1.2 Two-5

3.1.3 Three-5

3.1.4 Four-5

3.1.5 Five-6

3.1.6 Six-6

3.1.7 Seven-6

3.1.8 Eight-6

3.1.9 Nine-6

3.2 Factors Influencing the Use of Numbers-7

3.2.1 Religion-7

3.2.2 Thinking Model-7

Chapter 4   Translation of Number-9

4.1 Alienation and Adaptation-9

4.2 Number Translation under the Adaptation Principle-10

4.2.1 Preservation of Original Numbers-10

4.2.2 Replacement of Numbers-10

4.2.3 Omission of Numbers-11

4.3 Trend of Alienation-12

4.3.1 Combining the Literal Translation and Supplementay Translation-12

4.3.2 Literal Translation with the Note-12

4.3.3 Transliteration-12

Chapter 5   Conclusion-15

References-17

Acknowledgement-19