论文分类
《认知翻译学前沿》（节选）翻译报告
时间：2026-01-13 14:12 所属分类：论文分类
点击次数：
A Translation Report on Advances in CognitiveTranslation StudiesLIANG Xu-HaoSupe
A Translation Report on Advances in Cognitive
Translation Studies
LIANG Xu-Hao
Supervised by
Associate Professor LIN Wen-Zhi
A Thesis Submitted in
Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Translation and Interpreting
COLLEGE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
SOUTHWEST UNIVERSITY
March, 2023Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................1
1.1 The Background of Translation Project.............................................1
1.2 The Significance of Translation.........................................................1
Chapter 2 Analysis of Source Text .............................................................4
2.1 The Authors of Source Text ...............................................................4
2.2 The Content of Source Text ...............................................................4
2.3 The Features of Source Text ..............................................................5
2.3.1 Lexical Features...........................................................................5
2.3.2 Syntactic Features........................................................................6
2.3.3 Textual Features ...........................................................................7
Chapter 3 Translation Design .....................................................................9
3.1 Theoretical Guidance .........................................................................9
3.2 Translation Strategies.......................................................................11
3.3 Translation Methods.........................................................................12
3.4 Translation Process and Tools..........................................................14
Chapter 4 Analysis of Translation.............................................................16
4.1 Application of Jiri Levy's Translation Theory at Lexical Level ......16
4.1.1 Translation of Proper Names .....................................................16
4.1.2 Translation of Subheadings........................................................19
4.2 Application of Jiri Levy's Translation Theory at Syntactic Level ...20
4.2.1 Translation of Modifiers.............................................................21
4.2.2 Translation of Complex Sentences.............................................22
4.2.3 Translation of Passive Voice ......................................................22
4.3 Application of Jiri Levy's Translation Theory at Textual Level ......24
Chapter 5 Conclusion................................................................................27
5.1 Theoretical Generalization...............................................................27
5.2 Practical Gains .................................................................................28
5.3 Implications......................................................................................29
References.................................................................................................32
Appendix Source Text and Target Text.....................................................33
附件...........................................................................................................74A Translation Report on Advances in Cognitive
Translation Studies
Abstract
The source text is an academic paper entitled Spillover Effects in Task-Segment
Switching: A Study of Translation Subtasks as Behavioral Categories Within the Task
Segment Framework, by Italian scholars Ricardo Muñoz Martín and Matthias
Apfelthaler. It focuses on cognitive translation studies, introducing The Task Segment
Framework (TSF) as a systematic approach to describing and analyzing the whole
translation process, and depicting translation as a translator-directed metacognitive
control activity.
The source text is from Advances in Cognitive Translation Studies, published by
Springer Group in 2021, a collection of ten leading-edge papers in the field of cognitive
translation studies, which aims to capture the latest developments in translation research.
The main focus is on data-based empirical translation research, where quantitative or
definition methods are used to illustrate and explain the scientific nature of cognitive
translation studies. So far, there has not been a Chinese translation of the work in the
literature yet.
The source text is a piece of academic writing on cognitive translation science and
is highly technical. The difficulties in translation mainly include the translation of
technical vocabulary, a large number of impersonal sentences and complex sentences,
logical levels of language, and cases of illustration and explanation combined with
pictures or mathematical calculations, etc. This paper adopts Jiri Levy's translation
theory as a theoretical basis and guidance and discusses the translation treatments of the
source text at the lexical, syntactic, and textual levels, thus proving that the translation
theory is not only a guide for translation practice but also can provide a different
analytical framework for translation practice and offer a new way for English-Chinese
translation research.
Keywords: Cognitive Translation Studies; Advances; Translation Strategies;
Translation Methods
III
《认知翻译学前沿》（节选）翻译报告
摘
要
这是一篇翻译实践报告。源文本是一篇学术论文，题为 Spillover Effects in
Task-Segment Switching: A Study of Translation Subtasks as Behavioral Categories
Within the Task Segment Framework，由意大利学者 Ricardo Muñoz Martín 和 Matthias
Apfelthaler 所著。原文内容聚焦认知翻译学研究，把任务段框架（The Task Segment
Framework，以下简称 TSF）作为一种描述和分析整个翻译过程的系统方法，把翻
译描绘成一个由译者引导的元认知控制活动。
源文本出自《认知翻译学前沿》（Advances in Cognitive Translation Studies），
由施普林格出版集团（Springer Group）于 2021 年出版。该书汇集了关于认知翻译
学领域的前沿论文共十篇，旨在介绍翻译研究的最新发展。主要集中在以数据为
基础的实证翻译研究，由量化或定义的方法对认知翻译学的科学性进行说明和解
释。目前，该书尚无中文译本出版或发表。
源文本是一篇关于认知翻译学的学术论文，有着极强的专业性。翻译的难点
主要包括专业词汇的翻译，大量的非人称句和复杂长句的翻译，语言的逻辑层次，
结合图片或数学计算进行说明解释的情况较多等。本文采用了吉里·列维的翻译
理论为指导和主要基础，从词汇、句法、文本等方面对源文本进行了翻译实践的
讨论，从而证明该翻译理论不仅对于翻译实践具有指导意义，还可以为翻译实践
提供一个不一样的分析框架，并为英汉翻译研究提供一条新的途径。
关键词：认知翻译学；前沿；翻译策略；翻译方法Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 The Background of Translation Project
Research on the cognitive processes of translation has made great progress in the
last three decades. Since entering the 21st century, the combination with cognitive
science and the use of the latest scientific and technological tools has produced many
research methods that facilitate the collection of experimental data, and a large number
of research results have been achieved (Chen, 2020). This translation project is one of
the achievements of cognitive translation study, completed by Ricardo Muñoz Martín
and Matthias Apfelthaler's, Spillover Effects in Task-Segment Switching: A Study of
Translation Subtasks as Behavioral Categories Within the Task Segment Framework.
The time frame for the translation was approximately four to five months, which
included preparation, the entire translation process and revision and proofreading. The
most basic translation requirements are to be as faithful as possible to the original
English text, not to over-elaborate or exaggerate, and to preserve the characteristics of
the original text and its period in the translation; to avoid as far as possible additions,
omissions and mistranslations so that the translated work can genuinely serve the
purpose of introducing foreign works to the reader and disseminating knowledge; at the
same time, to maintain an objective and neutral position when translating, to follow
every sentence in the translation, and to strive to make every sentence stand up to
scrutiny and verification.1.2 Significance of Translation Significance.
1.2 The Significance of Translation
The cognitive path of translation is arguably the earliest area of empirical research
in modern translation studies (Martin, Lei, & Sun, 2022). In the new historical period of
economic globalisation, cognitive translation studies interact on different aspects and
dimensions. The extensive changes in the discipline necessitate a reorientation of
translation studies based on a theoretical paradigm with a holistic approach (Tan, 2021,
p. 81). Cognitive translation research is therefore based on inherent cognitive
mechanisms, integrating research paradigms from several cognitive science
sub-disciplines based on a new cognitive research paradigm, proposing an
1西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
understanding of the core theories and concepts of traditional translation research, and
exploring research paths for future translation practice. In modern society, disciplines in
various fields are developing rapidly. The social problems faced by human beings are
becoming increasingly complex and integrated. There is an urgent need for the
intersection and integration of knowledge to cope with new changes and challenges and
solve complex problems. The liberal arts are no exception. Their innovative
development also requires transcending the boundaries of disciplines, languages and
fields, an essential practical impetus to constructing a liberal arts academic system
(Shen, 2021, p. 31). The importance of integrating knowledge in the development of
various fields in modern society can thus be understood, which is similar to the point
made by Rojo and Ibarretxe-Antuñano (2013): the relationship between translation and
linguistics. The evolution of the relationship between translation and linguistics marks
the progress of both disciplines (p. 3). This is precisely the significance of this thus
translation report, namely that it promises to bring a new perspective that will help
readers and researchers to understand the intellectual context of different knowledge.
Furthermore, from a developmental perspective, cognitive translation studies still
have shortcomings and limitations as an emerging discipline with a relatively short
history.The theories and findings of cognitive linguistics have not yet been completely
reflected in translation studies (Wen & Xiao, 2019, p. 3). For example, its theoretical
framework has yet to be refined, and the research paradigm needs to be refined.
However, the whole perspective of translation is novel; therefore, the translation of
source texts contributes to a better understanding of the development of the language
discipline and the field of translation studies and a more profound study of translation
practices. This project also reflects the need to break down disciplinary barriers,
promote deeper integration between the liberal arts and other disciplines, and actively
integrate new technologies and scientific tools to achieve proper development and
innovation in the liberal arts (Tan, 2021).
In conclusion, the source text brings together the latest scholarship in cognitive
translation and is a tremendous boost to expanding readers' understanding and research.
The text maintains traditional academic papers' concise and objective narrative
character and expresses a wealth of content that merits in-depth study. The author has
2西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
therefore translated the work in order to make the essence of the work accessible to a
broader general audience and to make it easier for readers to analyse the linguistic art
displayed in work. This project's translation is expected to reach a systematic
understanding of the development and current status of cognitive translation and its role
in linguistic studies and translation studies.
3Chapter 2 Analysis of Source Text
2.1 The Authors of Source Text
Ricardo Muñoz Martín has been a full professor in the Department of Interpreting
and Translation at University of Bologna since 2019, where he directs The Laboratory
for Multilingual Communication and Cognition (The MC2 Lab), which focuses on the
empirical research of the cognitive aspects of multilingual tasks from 4EA cognition
perspective. 4EA is a concept of “embodied, embedded, enactive, extended, and
affective cognition”（Muñoz Martin, 2017, pp. 556-572, as cited in Tan, 2021). He is
currently studying translation process tracing through keylogging, cognitive effort, load,
demand and friction; attention and variation; multitasking and code switching; and
common features of oral, signed, and written multilingual texts, mediated
communication. Muñoz founded and directed the Research Group “Expertise &
Environment in Translation” between 2000 and 2018. He participated or led several
research projects funded by the Spanish Ministry. Muñoz also won a research contract
from the publisher Planeta-DeAgostini to hire and support the team of translators who
rendered the second edition of UNESCO's 8-volume Encyclopedia of Humanity. He also
has contributed to many small competitive research projects on innovative translator
training（Martín, R. M., Sun, S.-J., & Li, D.-F, 2021)
Matthias Apfelthaler (MA in translation, University of Vienna) is a cognitive
scientist, translation researcher and technical writer/translator/terminologist, pursuing a
doctoral degree in translation studies at the University of Graz. Apfelthaler’s main
research interests include the sociocognitive aspects of translation, translation and
interpreting directionality, research design and methods, statistics and open science. He
is a member of the Cognitive Science Society, IATIS and the Society for the
Improvement of Psychological Science, and an associate member of TREC.（Martín, R.
M., Sun, S.-J., & Li, D.-F, 2021)
2.2 The Content of Source Text
The source text is a chapter in the book Advances in Cognitive Translation Studies,
published by Springer in 2021. As shown in the book title, the book introduces some
4西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
theoretical frontiers of cognitive translation, which is currently a heated perspective in
translation studies in China.
The full text of the article is 29 pages long, with 12,680 English words. It describes
the Task Segment Framework (TSF) as a systematic method for analyzing the entire
translation process. The article introduces the method, preparation of experiments,
experimental procedure, analysis of the experimental data, summary and limitations. It
documents and analyses the data of a series of experiments from people who can
translate and draws a conclusion about the phenomenon of spillover effects in
translation, a method that describes the translation process as a metacognitive control
activity.
2.3 The Features of Source Text
Generally speaking, academic papers undertake the task of publishing cutting-edge
information, carrying a huge amount of information, and are an important way for
experts from various countries to learn about scientific progress in cutting-edge
international fields, mostly used for the introduction of propaganda on scientific
frontiers, science and technology or the statement of objective laws (Sun, 2014). The
source text is an academic paper and a scientific and technical document (Scientific and
Technical Document), which records the textual material of science and technology and
other knowledge. This type of text is similar to scientific and technical English, mainly
in that the text is highly specialised, has extensive coverage of different professional
fields, and contains many specialised vocabularies. The main features of the texts are as
follows：
2.3.1 Lexical Features
In terms of vocabulary, the source text English deals with proper nouns, some of
which rarely occur in everyday English usage, and some of which are extremely
common but denote different meanings in different areas. The main ones are the
following.
"Multiple meanings" is one of the most distinctive features of proper nouns,
especially in the wide range of fields they cover and the wide range of meanings they
have, including physics, geography, medicine and mathematics. For example, "power"
5西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
6
means "electricity"（电力） in the electrical field and "multiplication"（倍数） in the
mathematical field. "; "vision" can mean "sight"（视力） in medicine and "image"（视
图） in computer science. Specialised nouns are also distinctive in that such words have
a single meaning and are more limited in their use. These words are generally used only
in specific areas of expertise and are international terms. These words are generally
straightforward to translate and can be dealt with by paying more attention to
accumulation and consulting relevant materials.
In addition, some words come from the common vocabulary of our daily lives,
which are given new meanings when applied to different fields of science and
technology. For example, "solution" commonly means "solution"（解决方案）, but in
chemistry, it translates as "solution"（溶液）; in mathematics, it means "proof process"
（证明过程）
; "difference" means "different
"
（
不同的）
, but in mathematics, it translates
as "difference "（差值）.
2.3.2 Syntactic Features
Academic English is mainly used to describe specific laws or features that occur in
the natural or scientific world. The language requires a strong sense of logic, objectivity
and rigour. Therefore, long sentences are used extensively to describe what happens or
occurs in the objective world; on the other hand, since technical English is mainly used
for the expression of objective facts or laws, the focus of the sentences is often not on
the "person" but on "what was done" and "how it was done". "This makes the performer
of the action irrelevant so that the passive voice becomes a more frequent form of
sentence in technical English. Long sentences and the frequent use of the passive voice
are the two most critical syntactic features of academic English.
At the same time, academic papers in English generally use the general present
tense to indicate the universality of truth to be objective and often use multiple
verb-forming phrases. There are also many impersonal and complex long sentences,
which not only convey the author's meaning accurately and avoid ambiguity in the
expression but also improve the persuasiveness of the text. The objective rigour of the
content of academic papers dictates how the language is worded in writing so that the
reader is fluent in the correct meaning of the words in the text when they see it.西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
Source texts tend to speak in terms of facts or experimental data, and their
objectivity is expressed on a linguistic level by the use of fewer verbs, more nouns or
present participles. More passive voice expressions state facts to achieve accurate and
objective linguistic descriptions. Academic English states that objective laws reflect
objective phenomena and describe objective facts, highlighting the word 'objective' and
avoiding subjective assumptions and personal preferences, which also determines how
the language itself needs to be worded in writing so that readers can fluently translate
the words in the text to understand them in their correct meaning when they see them.
2.3.3 Textual Features
Theme states the subject of discourse(Newmark 1982, p. 177). Academic English
has a specialised subject, and its linguistic conventions, logical relationships and writing
style are very different from general English. The stylistic features of the source texts
discussed in this thesis are mainly more complex long and subordinate sentences; more
logical levels of language; more definitive explanations combined with pictures or
mathematical calculations; little or no use of general negation; and more objective facts
involved, whether definitions, data or summaries of experimental results.
Regarding narrative style, the source text is mainly based on logical argumentation,
i.e., data and experiments are used to support the study's conclusions. In order to
improve the accuracy and clarity of the presentation and communication of information,
the article has a high level of visualisation of information, with diagrams, formulae and
calculation processes being essential elements of the discourse.In general, academic text
focuses functions of sender, code, message, subject, channel and receiver (Fawcett,
1997, p. 101).
Levy points that translations must faithfully reflect the reality of the original text to
make it more acceptable and understandable in terms of content and language. At the
same time, considerable attention needs to be paid to the role of the human subjective
factor during the translation process. Although the objectivity of an academic text is
paramount, it can still reflect the unique ideas and habits of expression of the researcher,
so care needs to be taken in the translation process to ensure that the translation is
accurate and fluent, clear and easy to understand, in order to achieve the purpose of
7西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
information exchange (Cong 1986).
"Persuasion' is one of the textual features of the text and is used to persuade the
reader to believe or reject a point of view. The source text fulfills the persuasive and
communicative function of scientific and technical discourse, helping the reader
understand the discourse's meaning in depth with rigorous logic and precise descriptions
and facilitating the efficient communication of the textual information.
8Chapter 3 Translation Design
3.1 Theoretical Guidance
Jiri Levy represents the Soviet East School of translation theorists and pioneered
modern translation studies in Czechoslovakia. He based an aspect of his translation
theory on Prague linguistics circle (Gentzler, 2001, p. 84). His masterpieces on
translation theory include The Art of Translation, Will Translation Theory Be of Use to
Translators? (1965) and Translation as a Decision-Making Process (1967). In his
writings, Levy discusses translation standards and techniques using linguistic theories.
The main features are summarised as follows (Cong 1986).
(1) Regarding purpose, translation is a communicative process that aims to transfer
knowledge of the source language to the reader (Guan, 2009). The translation process
should always follow the purpose guidelines and not deviate from the original text (N.
Wang, 2019). However, as far as translation operations are concerned, translation is a
selection process. In this process, the translator encounters several situations and must
choose between various options. Such choices are made throughout the translation
process and are interconnected, with one choice creating a specific context for another.
In this sense, the outcome of the translation depends on the translator's ability to make
correct and satisfactory judgement and choices, from initial understanding to the final
touches.
(2) The translator must deal correctly with the problem of changing the source text.
Levy has demonstrated experimentally that translators often change the source text in
two ways.
First, in choosing a word among several equivalents for the source text, the
translator inevitably tends to select a target word with a broader meaning than the
original word;
Secondly, in wording sentences, the translator often tends to express logical
relationships between ideas that are not expressed in the source text, 'normalising' the
expression by expressing logical relationships between ideas that are not expressed in
the original text to fill in the 'gaps' in the original ideas. Both types of alteration have
their ideological reasons.
9西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
In the first case, when choosing between synonyms, the translator naturally
chooses the one that comes to mind first. Generally speaking, such a word is generic
and easy to think of.
In the second case, the translator must explain the original text and clarify the
implied semantic-logical relationship so the reader can quickly understand the
translation. In other words, the translator does express what does not formally appear in
the original text but is already present in the understanding.
It is essential to have the right attitude towards these two variations and to stop at
the right time. The wrong choice of general terminology deprives the original of its
concrete and vivid character; the ready translation of implicit elements into explicit
form makes it appear simplistic and superficial rather than thought-provoking. This has
also traditionally been the focus of translation discourse, i.e. translation for content or
form (K.-F. Wang, 2021).
A perspective points that standard of translation is changing all the time (Munday,
2001, p. 127), but Jiri Levy also has a strict criterion for translators. A good translator
must be adept at dealing with this contradiction. There are two ways to deal with it: one
is to focus on conveying the ideas of the original text to the reader of the translation,
replacing the complex parts of the original text with means that the reader of the
translation can understand and accept; the other is to focus on introducing the reader of
the translation to the background of the original text, such as the specific content of the
text. The other focuses on introducing the reader to the background of the original, such
as the specifics of the text. Thus, as long as the translation is comprehensible, the
original text is translated word by word as far as possible without fear that the reader
will find it difficult to understand. In practice, however, this is often a compromise
between the two approaches, and the extent of the compromise depends on the intention
of the translation. Before embarking on a translation, it is necessary to determine the
translation's primary intention and deal with this contradiction accordingly to ensure
consistency of style and approach (Cong 1986).
As for the way to deal with the above situation, it can be concluded from Levy's
theory that literal translation and free translation are among the ways to deal with the
contradiction since the main task of translation is to convey the ideas and content of the
10西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
original; thus, the interplay between free translation and direct translation allows us to
maximise the criteria of faithfulness and fluency without being constrained by the
content, to avoid what Hermes (1999) considers to be a widespread problem in
translation: Treat the source and target text on an equal basis.
3.2 Translation Strategies
In this paper, the following translation strategies and methods are used to explore
the translation from the perspective of Jiri Levy.
Translation strategies: domestication and foreignization (Venuti, 2000), in The
Translator's Invisibility A History of Translation (1995), which proposes the strategies
of domestication and foreignization. Domestication translation helps the audience to
understand the original text better, improves the readability and appreciation of the
translation, and achieves a clear understanding of the reader. Foreignization, on the
other hand, is the acceptance of the linguistic and cultural differences of a foreign
language text, bringing the reader into the way the author of the source language
expresses the content of the original text, advocating that the translation should conform
to the habits of the readers of the source language and retain the linguistic and cultural
characteristics of the source language as far as possible.
In translation, translators inevitably use both domestication and foreignisation
strategies. Domestication is localising the source language by drawing closer to the
target reader. Domestication strategy helps the target language readers understand the
translation better and enhances the readability and appreciation of the translation;
however, to a certain extent, the detailed information carried by the source text will be
lost in the translation.
Foreignization strategy is that the translation is closed towards the source language,
and the translation must faithfully convey the original author's exotic ideas and style.
However, due to cultural differences and the fact that English and Chinese are different
language families, many technical terms cannot be found in equivalent translations and
therefore have to be 'created' secondarily by the strategy of foreignization, taking into
account the fluency of the original text and the possible comprehension difficulties
encountered by the reader.
11西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
According to Fang (2021), it is not the translation strategy itself that determines the
translation strategy, but first the question of "why" and "for whom", and then the "how"
- what strategy to adopt. Therefore, for the translation of this text, first, the relationship
between the original text, the target text and the target audience needs to be coordinated
in the translation; secondly, the translation should focus on being close to the target
language and the readers, so that the translation is easy to understand and readily
accepted by the readers of the target language; thirdly, for proper nouns, professional
terms, fixed collocations, do not add subjective thoughts and judgments to the
translation to avoid ambiguities.
In the cognitive process or translation process, multiple possibilities of choice may
occur at each point; hence different people are bound to have different translations of
the same original work, even if the same person in a different time and space may have
different choices depending on their state of mind and emotions (Y. Wang, 2017). When
choosing a translation strategy, the choices are very numerous, but the core point is the
same, i.e. to consider the author's intention, culture, text type, and the reader's
acceptance. Translating does not strictly pursue exact equivalence between the
translation and the original. Instead, it focuses on the intended purpose of the translation
and follows the principles of purpose, coherence and faithfulness in the process. Based
on this, this paper takes examples of translation style, such as style, semantics, proper
nouns and terminology, as the study's objective. It analyses the differences between
domestication and foreignization strategies according to different contexts and purposes
to achieve the true purpose of translation as cultural transmission.
3.3 Translation Methods
Translation methods are specific ways, steps and means to achieve a specific
translation purpose based on a particular translation activity (Xiong, 2014). Besides, it is
worth pointing out that the "translation method" is a "general approach to translation
rather than a specific, local approach" (Chesterman, 2005, p.26, as cited in Xiong, 2014).
The following translation methods are applied in this paper.
Literal translation is a word-for-word translation method that conveys the correct
message of the original text while maintaining the form of expression and syntactic
12西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
structure (Chan, 2007). It is commonly used to translate everyday, academic, scientific
and technical, and political and economic texts. This method of translation preserves the
vocabulary and syntax of the source language so that literal translations are more
acceptable and easier to understand, and the target reader can understand the sentence's
meaning more easily.
Free translation means breaking the linguistic form of the source text and replacing
it with the linguistic expression of the target language, reproducing the meaning of the
original. Because the source text will carry a foreign culture, it is necessary to consider
cultural differences before translating to ensure the translation's accuracy.
Conversion：The translation technique of conversion is very important in academic
texts, which are more strictly regulated. As English is a morphological language, the
way in which sentences are constructed is strictly limited by grammar, so in translation,
conversion can effectively increase the flexibility of the vocabulary, thus allowing for a
harmonious shift in semantics and style. For example, the word 'sad' can be translated as
'他留下了悲伤的眼泪' (adjective) or '他泪水中饱含着悲伤' (noun).
In addition, when translating, it is possible to encounter situations where the
content of the translation would be consistent with both the English expression and the
Chinese expression; for example, in the sentence "The defeat of the team disqualified
for the final", the word " disqualified" acts as a verb in the sentence. If the verb is not
changed, the sentence would be translated as "球队失利，未能晋级决赛", but if it is
changed to a noun, it could be translated as "球队失利，错失决赛资格". Two different
wordings, but both translations are in line with Chinese idioms, which requires the
translator to make the best choice in the context of the source text or the context.
In English translation, methods such as literal translation, free translation and
conversion are prevalent in English, and the three are inseparable and complementary.
Translation method refers to the trend of translation of the whole text as a whole and is a
macro concept which acts on the text as a whole (Dong, 2021). Consequently Excellent
translations are often the result of the use of correct translation methods, and it is only
by combining a variety of translation methods that the meaning of the translation can be
conveyed; in addition, specific problems should be analyzed in the translation, and no
rigid application should be made in order to make the translation more fluent and
13西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
authentic.
3.4 Translation Process and Tools
The entire translation process is divided into the following stages.
In the beginning, there is the preparation for translation. Translation preparation
refers to all the preparations made before translating the original text, including a
thorough understanding of the relevant background of the text (author, writing context,
the meaning of the material chosen.), collecting relevant translation references, learning
to use the translation work that may be used. Translation preparation is like a
'reconnaissance operation' in warfare, enabling the translator to obtain the purpose and
meaning of the translated text in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible
cost.
The author's translation preparation began with several thorough discussions with
the supervisor to determine the guiding theories; secondly, before the project began, the
author selected some reference books on relevant theories from the supervisor and the
library and used the university's online foreign language books to download the same
type of texts for reading; in addition, the author accessed CNKI, SSCI, VPCS（维普）
and other databases to collect some relevant information on cognitive translation studies,
the frontiers of translation studies and translation practice.
Tool selection: The author has prepared various translation tools. For example,
translator downloaded Oulu Dictionary on personal computer, which contains several
specialized dictionaries that provide online translation in real time; translator
Bookmarked the OpenStax website to find foreign language textbooks; in addition,
translator found some other websites for syntactic correction and revision, such as
pigai.com, Merriam-Webster and other websites and digital applications.
The translation project began in mid-September, and the author began to work on
the translation. In the process, the author ensures the quality of the translation by
making a small number of precise translations, keeping the weekly translation volume at
around 2,000-2,500 words.
Before each translation practical, the author would read through the whole paper,
mark the terminology, and search online or ask students in the relevant field. For some
14西南大学翻译硕士学位论文
of the more strict terms, the author calls on a variety of aids to translate, such as with the
help of a professional dictionary, and builds up a terminology database in time for the
translation process, to facilitate the following translation and ensure the consistency of
the terminology translation.
For the translated parts, the author will also reorganize them, and will delete some
words and make some minor changes within the appropriate scope when encountering
semantic repetition; for the translation methods and techniques that should be used for
sentence translation, the author tries to read relevant books, papers or textbooks, so that
every translation work can be theoretically completed. The last thing is to check for
minor mistakes. For phrase structures that are unsure of, the author uses a combination
of translation aids to search and compare and then uses tools such as Grammarly and
Pigai.com to make the translation more authentic and more by the style of academic
papers.
