Abstract

Numerical words and expressions are endowed with rich cultural connotations and thus the translation of them into another language worths considered and due attention. The Chinese numerical words and expressions are just such a case, especially when they are translated into English. Keeping this in mind, this paper takes A New Century Chinese-English Dictionary (NCCED for short) as the scope and selects nearly 3,000 numerical words and expressions to discuss their translation. Firstly, the definition and features of them are clarified. Then the cultural connotations of them in both English and Chinese are contrasted and analyzed. Thirdly, a literature review on the English translation of Chinese numerical words and expressions is conducted and some translating methods in this regard are summarized: literal translation, liberal translation, adaption and paraphrase. Fourthly, the translating methods of the Chinese numerical words and expressions in NCCED are talked about on the basis of a brief introduction to NCCED and a survey of its numerical entries. After an investigation, it is found that the major methods employed in the English translation of the Chinese numericals in NCCED are none but literal translation, liberal translation, adaption and paraphrase. In short, there are two conclusions and the first is that the English translation of Chinese numerical lexicon is a cross-cultural communicative activity, so only the cultural backgrounds of the two languages are comprehended clearly, can the translating results will be good enough. The second conclusion is that the four translating methods mentioned above are used not only for the numerical lexis in NCCED but also for those in the Chinese language.  

Key words: numerical words & expressions; NCCED; cultural connotations; translating methods 

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction.1

2 The Numerical Words & Expressions in the Chinese and English Language.2

 2.1 The Definition and Features2

  2.2 The Cultural Connotations of both Chinese and English Numeral Vocabulary.3

3 The Translation of Numerical Words & Expressions4

  3.1 A Literature Review4

  3.2 Some Translating Methods of Numerical Words & Expressions6

3.2.1 Literal Translation.6

3.2.2 Liberal Translation.6

3.2.3 Adaption.6

3.2.4 Paraphrase7

4 Some Summarized Translating Methods for the Numerical Words &  Expressions in NCCED.7

  4.1 A Brief Introduction to NCCED.7

  4.2 The General Situation of Numerical Entries in NCCED8

  4.3 The Four Translating Methods Concerning the Numerical Entries in NCCED.9

4.3.1 Literal Translation9

4.3.2 Liberal Translation.10

4.3.3 Adaption.11

4.3.4 Paraphrase12

5 Conclusion14

References.15