This book, adopting the perspective of cross-cultural communication, theoretically justifies and addresses human variational translation practice for the first time in the area of translation studies, focusing on the adaptation techniques and variational translation methods, as well as general features and laws of the variational translation process. It classifies and summarizes seven main adaptation techniques and eleven translation methods applicable to all variational translation activities. These techniques and methods, quite different from those used in complete translation or full translation, are systematically studied together with examples, allowing readers to not only understand their interrelations and differences within the context of variational translation methods, but also to master them in order to improve their translation efficacy and efficiency. Readers will gain a better understanding of how variational translation is produced, and of its important role in advancing cross-cultural communication and in reconstructing human knowledge and culture.

This book is intended for translation scholars, translation practitioners, students, and others whose work involves the theory and practice of translation and who want to enhance their translation proficiency in cross-cultural communication for the Information Age.

Autorentext

Zhonglian Huang is a Professor of Translation at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. He is a distinguished translation theorist, the initiator of variational translation theory, and founder of science translatology and applied translation studies. His main interests lie in translatology and the comparative study of translational Chinese and foreign languages. He has conducted four research projects sponsored by the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences and six projects funded by the Ministry of Education. He is the author of 26 monographs and translated works, and over 300 academic articles and the Editor-in-Chief of three academic book series. His current titles include Expert of the 100-Talent Program of Shannxi Province, Pearl River Scholar of Guangdong Province, board member of the accreditation committee of academic programs of the State Council, and committee member of the National Social Science Foundation.

Yongzhong Zhang is an Associate Professor of Translation at Hubei University of Economics, China. Holding a Ph.D. degree in Translation and Intercultural Studies, he has published two monographs and 23 academic articles in these areas.

Inhalt
Preface: Profile of the Variational Translation TheoryChapter 1 Complete Translation and Variational TranslationSection 1 Traditional category of translationSection 2 Newly-established category of translationChapter 2 Variational Translation Theory: A Brand-new Translation TheorySection 1 What is variational translation theorySection 2 Context of establishing variational translation TheorySection 3 The system of variational translationChapter 3 Variational Translation Research: A Scientific Research LineSection 1 Fact-based research strategySection 2 Pyramid-shaped research objectSection 3 Research tasks for effective developmentChapter 4 The Essence of Variational TranslationSection 1 The nature of translationSection 2 The features of variational translationSection 3 The nature of variational translationChapter 5 Variational Translation SystemSection 1 The diagram of variational translation systemSection 2 Three elements of variational translation systemChapter 6 Adaptation TechniquesSection 1 Adaptation and Its ClassificationSection 2 Seven adaptation techniquesChapter 7 Methods of Variational TranslationSection 1 Classification of variational translation methodsSection 2 Eleven variational translation methodsChapter 8 Hierarchy of Variational TranslationSection 1 Table of variational translation hierarchySection 2 The relations of variational translation methods in the hierarchyChapter 9 The Unit of Variational TranslationSection 1 An outline of translation unitSection 2 The unit of variational translationChapter 10 The Process of Variational TranslationSection 1 The macroscopic process of variational translationSection 2 The microscopic process of variational translationChapter 11 The Mechanism of Variational TranslationSection 1 Reader's restriction on the choice of translatorSection 2 Adaptation techniques determined by translatorSection 3 Adaptation techniques constituting the variational translation methodSection 4 Adaptation techniques acting on the originalSection 5 Form change depending on content ingestionChapter 12 The Special Effects of Variational TranslationSection 1 Abundance: Large amount of informationSection 2 Swiftness: Quick spreading of informationSection 3 Excellence: High quality of informationSection 4 Economization: Saving time and space of translationSection 5 Preciseness: Precise positioning of informationChapter 13 The Standards of Variational TranslationSection 1 Brief discussion of translation standardsSection 2 The standards of variational translationChapter 14 The Scope of Variational TranslationSection 1 Literary and art worksSection 2 Social science worksSection 3 Scientific and technological worksChapter 15 The Value of Variational TranslationSection 1 Embodying translator's life valueSection 2 Highlighting the use value of original workSection 3 Meeting readers' special requirementsSection 4 Pursuing the social efficiency of translationReferencesGlossary