Abstract

In recent years, due to the frequent exchanges between China and foreign countries and the rising status of China, an increasing number of people want to learn about the culture with Chinese characteristics. The annual Government Work Report is one of the most important means of spreading Chinese culture, helping people around the world gain a better understanding of China’s development in economy, politics and culture. The Government Work Reports over the years have used a lot of words with Chinese characteristics that reflect the culture with Chinese characteristics. The 2014 Government  Work Report in particular contains the largest number and widest range of words with Chinese characteristics, thus how to translate these words is a problem worth pondering. In Hans Vermeer’s opinion, the translated text is determined by the purpose of translation and he put forward Skopos Theory, whose three major rules (skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule) are instructive to translation practice to a certain degree. Under the guidance of Skopos Theory, this thesis attempts to explore the translation strategies of words with Chinese characteristics in the 2014 Government Work Report.

key words: words with Chinese characteristics; Skopos Theory; translation; strategies

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature Review-2

2.1 About Skopos Theory-2

2.1.1 The Development of Skopos Theory-2

2.2.2 The Main Contents of Skopos Theory-3

2.2.3 The Three Rules of Skopos Theory-3

2.2 Previous Studies on the Translation of Words with Chinese Characteristics-4

3 Words with Chinese Characteristics-5

3.1 The Definition of Words with Chinese Characteristics-5

3.2 The Features of Words with Chinese Characteristics-6

3.2.1 Uniqueness-6

3.2.2 Extensiveness-7

3.2.3 Richness in cultural connotations-7

3.2.4 Vitality-7

3.3 The Categories of Words with Chinese Characteristics-8

3.3.1 Names of Policies and Institutions-8

3.3.2 Abbreviations with Numbers-8

3.3.3 Four-character Words in Parallel Structures-8

3.3.4 Colloquial Words-8

4 Translation Strategies of Words with Chinese Characteristics from the Perspective of Skopos Theory-9

4.1 Translation Strategies of Names of Policies and Institutions-9

4.2 Translation Strategies of Abbreviations with Number-10

4.3 Translation Strategies of Four-character Words in Parallel Structures-11

4.4 Translation Strategies of Colloquial Words-13

5 Conclusion-14

References-16