Abstract

Methods of addition and omission are common in Chinese-English translation, of which many relevant studies have been made. Both methods are applied into the translation of Xi Jinping’s speech at Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2015. So far, the study of translation of Xi Jinping’s Speech remains far from being sufficient or influential. This paper uses methods of literature review, textual analysis, induction and summarization to make a study on the addition and omission used in the translation of the speech, summarizing the statistic data of addition and omission used in the translated text. In conclusion, the author finds out that there are altogether 106 additions in the translated text, among which additions of conjunctions are used most frequently. The main reason for this is that conjunctions are used more in English than in Chinese. Additions of conjunctions make the translated text coherent and conform to the reading habits of the English readers. The number of omissions is totally 75, of which omissions of the four-words make up 1/3. The paper finds out the reason that Chinese sentences are loose and short, when translated into English, we need to omit superfluous words and it will make the translated text more logical and coherent. Besides, there are 18 omissions of verbs, of which the number ranks second. The reason may be that verbs are often used in Chinese, while English speakers like to use nouns and prepositions. So omissions of verbs will make the translated text express the meaning of the original text completely and concisely. 

Key words: President Xi Jinping’s speech; addition; omission; Chinese-English translation

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction.1

2 Literature Review2

  2.1 Studies on Chinese-English translation in political speeches2

  2.2 Research on addition and omission used in Chinese-English translation.3

3 Addition used in the translation of speech4

  3.1 Definition of addition.4

  3.2 Analysis of addition in the translation.5

    3.2.1 Addition of words.6

    3.2.2 Addition of phrases and sentences7

4 Omission used in the translation of the speech9

4.1 Definition of omission 9

4.2 Analysis of omission in the translation9

4.2.1 Omission of words10

4.2.2 Omission of four-word phrases.11

4.2.3 Other types of omissions.12

5 Conclusion13

References.15

Appendix.16