On the Application of the Functional Equivalence Theory in the WTO Terms Translation 英语专业毕业论文.doc

On the Application of the Functional Equivalence Theory in the WTO Terms Translation ? Abstract ? The composition of this thesis derives from a feeling of unease towards the current situation that heaps of WTO documents need Chinese versions while a lack of standardization of translated WTO terms under the guidance of certain translation theory may impede this cause. The thesis is an attempt to study the translation of WTO terms under the guidance of Nida’s functional equivalence theory. Here follows a brief summary of its five chapters: Chapter One introduces the study background, current studying achievements and defects, as well as the significance lying in the study of WTO terms translation. Chapter Two analyzes the distinct features of the WTO terms supported by abundant examples cited from original WTO texts, which serves as a foundation for the summary of translation principles in the following chapter. Chapter Three first introduces Nida’s functional equivalence theory and readers’ response theory. According to the features of the WTO terms and the analysis of Nida’s theory, the author concludes that correct understanding is the basis of the most natural translation. Therefore, the qualities of a WTO terms translator are spelled out as the prerequisite to good translations. Guided by Nida’s theory and based on the features of the WTO terms, the author then proposes five principles in translating practice, i.e. word-for-word translation, transference plus explanation, direct employment of English abbreviations, explanatory translation and indirect translation via French version. Chapter Four conducts a comparative study of the current translated versions of WTO documents. Problems, such as discrepancy and mistranslation, have been pointed out with some illustrations. The author hence emphasizes on the way to the standardization of the translated WTO terms and proposes to make a translation system innovation, say to set up an academic institute speci