Abstract: China's traditional translation theory is only macroscopic and lacks methodology and operability. This paper briefly introduces functional translation theory, discusses its theoretical basis in detail, and proves it with relevance theory, which enriches its content.

Keywords: functional translation theory; Basic theory; explain

Abstract: China's traditional translation theory only has translation principles and no specific methodology, so it can't be applied to translation practice. This paper briefly introduces the theory of functional translation, discusses its theoretical basis, and makes a convincing explanation by using relevance theory, thus enriching its content.

Keywords: functional translation theory; Basic theory; exhibition

Functional translation theory emphasizes that translation is a special form of communication, involving three kinds of texts: the original text, the translator's schema text and the translation. For the original text, the most important thing is to grasp the rhetorical function of the author and correctly understand the rhetorical function of the original text, which is the key to produce an ideal schema text. Correctly grasping the cognitive schema of the original text is the basis of correctly understanding the rhetorical function of the original text. The ideal schema text comes from the cognitive schema of the original text and from the accurate grasp of the rhetorical intention of the original author. On the basis of this schema text, what kind of translation will be produced, besides rhetorical equivalence, we should also consider the purpose and target audience of translation.

Firstly, the theory of functional translation is briefly introduced.

(A), the main points of functional translation theory

According to papers published in magazines, papers read at academic conferences, academic reports and published monographs, the main points of functional translation theory are briefly described as follows:

1, analyze the rhetorical function of conceptual paragraphs (one or more natural paragraphs with clear thematic meaning) and sentences, so as to reproduce the form of rhetorical function and obtain the equivalence of function and meaning from the equivalence of form. This kind of translation is called functional translation. On the premise of rhetorical function equivalence, translation should follow the norms of "faithfulness, expressiveness and X"; Different styles, different translation purposes and different X. (Zhang Meigang, China Sci-tech Translation, 1994, (3); Liu Zhongde, On Sanxiang Translation, Hunan Publishing House,1995; Zhou Du-bao, Chinese Translation, 2000, (2)

2. Functional translation theory emphasizes the consistency of formal equivalence and functional equivalence, and rhetoric is a means and a form; Function is the result or purpose of rhetoric and the sum of contents. Rhetoric includes rhetoric in conceptual paragraphs and sentences, that is, rhetoric in linguistic context, as well as rhetoric in situational context, cultural context and pragmatic context. (Rhetoric of English for Science and Technology, 1998) In other words, in conceptual paragraphs and sentences, semantics, grammar and pragmatics are integrated to express rhetorical functions.

3. Function is embodied by structure. Any language is composed of four symbolic elements (words, word symbols, word order and intonation). The cognitive schema of language structure is similar to that of other cognitive fields, from simple to complex, from concrete to abstract, forming a causal network of language. Conceptual segments run through a topic chain, or causality. This causal relationship is composed of propositions or linguistic events, and it is also the reference point for their conceptualization. (Chinese translation, 1998, (5) This article has been published by Colby Science Information Center &; Cultural collection, reproduced online. )

4. Functional translation theory emphasizes the role of cognitive schema theory in translation practice and translation research. The more concrete and rich cognitive schemata with various general and special structures are, the stronger their translation research and practice ability will be, which is the basis for translators to form schemata texts.

5. Functional translation theory emphasizes that translation process is an intermediary reasoning process, and causal chain is the basic structure of logical reasoning. By using the known information, we can judge the rhetorical functions of non-linguistic factors (such as situation, culture and pragmatics), so as to draw correct inferences. (English-Chinese Functional Translation, 1999)

Methodology of Functional Translation Theory

We treat translation and translation studies with the principle of rhetorical functional equivalence, and naturally have a set of corresponding methodology for correctly understanding the original text and translation expression. This is the most prominent part of functional translation theory. As functional translation has a relatively complete system, this paper can only summarize some basic and main methods to study it.

1, the theme cognition method of concept segment

Firstly, divide the original text into conceptual paragraphs, study the theme of conceptual paragraphs, find out the signs of connection, grasp the causal chain of conceptual paragraphs (rhetoric of scientific English), grasp the functional orientation of language, and correctly understand the overall content of conceptual paragraphs.

2. Classification by function

According to functional typology, English is divided into five categories of rhetorical functions: description function, statement function, definition function, classification function and deixis function. Each category of functions is divided into several small functions, and then the classification function is compared with Chinese to explore translation rules. For example, the declarative function (declarative part) of English is always placed at the beginning of a sentence, while Chinese is placed at the end of the sentence. (Zhang Meigang: Chinese translation, 1999, (5); 2000,(5); China Sci-tech Translation, 1998, (1, 4))

3. Schema research method

According to the schema theory, this paper studies and compares the cognitive schemata of various structures in the source language and the target language, such as the structural patterns of various sentences in English, such as SVO sentences, SvoO sentences, SVOC sentences and passive sentences. By comparing with the structural patterns of the target language, we can find out their translation rules and methods. (Zhang Meigang: Chinese translation, 1994, (1, 5); English-Chinese Functional Translation (1999) It is worth pointing out that it is particularly important to study structural diagrams with cognitive theory. Please look at the following two sentences:

The police caused Mary's death.

The police forced Mary to die.

The structure of these two sentences is exactly the same, but the semantics of the verbs are different, while the first sentence is logical and correct, and the second sentence is illogical, so it is incorrect. From the cognitive schema of this SVOC structure, the subject always indicates the cause, OC indicates the result, and V mainly plays a connecting role, making it a grammatical sentence. Force means "force"; Since the police have become the reason for Mary's death, there is no need to add "persecution". According to the cognitive schema theory, the internal structure and semantics of the subject, predicate, object and complement of the structure must be analyzed in detail in order to correctly grasp the function of the sentence.

4, building block segmentation method

Figuratively speaking, language is composed of building blocks and clauses (Zhang Meigang,1994; William Croft, 1998), using language is playing with "building blocks", because clauses are generally inseparable from building blocks. Building blocks include nouns, synthetic nouns, noun phrases and nominalized structures. In addition to proper nouns and concrete nouns, building blocks generally have internal structures, and their internal structures are sentences. The surface layer of sentence components represents the deep content of sentence meaning, which is of great significance to translation, because the basic task of translation is to translate the sum of the internal elements of things, that is, the internal meaning.

5. Event segmentation method

Language is a causal network of events. According to the basic laws of cognition and semantic principles, events must be separated from causal networks.

Cut it out of the network and conceptualize it. The basic method of segmentation is to study the internal structure of events, that is, time structure and causal structure. It is necessary to analyze the participants of the event and the causal interaction between the participants. (Chinese translation, 1998, (5) The segmentation of events is very complicated, which is the key to understanding and expressing in translation.

6. Logical reasoning method

Logical research helps translators to determine the true meaning of translated paragraphs. The existence of all sentences has its preconditions. When the sentence is ambiguous, the translator must determine what the prerequisite is. (Newmark)

Language is a causal network, the relationship between sentences is causal, and every sentence has background information (known information). Using logical reasoning method, unknown information is obtained and expressed logically in the target language. (Chinese translation, 1995, (6); 1996,( 1); Shanghai Science and Technology Translation, 1993, (1); English-Chinese Functional Translation 1999)

7. Concept transformation method

The concept expressed in the source language is transformed into the concept expressed in the target language, which is the conceptualization process of translation, which is the first step in the translation process. Generally speaking, translation is not only the correct transformation of concepts, but also involves the rhetorical environment of the source language and the author's rhetorical intention, that is, rhetorical function. The author's intention, or pragmatic meaning, is produced on the basis of sentence meaning and influenced by rhetorical language environment. Therefore, translation must also consider the dynamic meaning of discourse. The choice of translation unit is closely related to the translation. If the conceptual meaning of the source language code can express enough contextual effects, that is, rhetorical functions, "building blocks" will become the main carrier of concepts. Generally, the target language has equivalents, so it naturally becomes an ideal translation unit, and literal translation is often used. If the code meaning of the source language cannot fully express the contextual effect, we must consider the language environment and rhetorical intention of the whole conceptual segment, and take the sentence or clause (Xuanmin Luo) as the translation unit, and generally adopt the free translation method.

8. Literal translation

Under the principle of functional equivalence, when the semantics of code can produce equivalent contextual effect, it should be "straightforward, visual and figurative, and eliminate language differences while retaining them." (Feng Shigang, Translation Communication, 1982, (2) Keep the metaphors, images and national characteristics of the original text, "Don't interpret the text of the original text". In other words, as long as it conforms to the norms and habits of the target language and equivalent language, the full meaning of the original text can be reproduced. Sometimes, words and sentence patterns that are not in the target language, but are necessary to express functions, even if they are mechanically copied from the starting language, can be regarded as Buddhism. For example:

(1) He walked at the front of the funeral procession and wiped the crocodile's tears with a handkerchief from time to time.

He walked in front of the funeral procession and wiped the crocodile's tears with a handkerchief from time to time.

This translation shows the purpose of the original author's rhetoric, that is, "cats cry mice."

(2) If you don't understand, telling you is "casting pearls before swine".

You can't understand. If I explain, it's "casting pearls before swine".

Although "playing the lute to a cow" in English also means "playing the lute to a cow", it has a strong religious color and cannot achieve the rhetorical function of the source language.

9. Free translation method

On the premise of functional equivalence, translation methods such as addition and subtraction, repetition, conversion of parts of speech and sentence patterns, inversion of word order, disassembly, sentence formation and inversion of positive and negative sentences should be regarded as free translation while eliminating language differences. We classify changes (ellipsis, borrowing, etc. ) and adaptation (free translation, free translation plus literal translation, no translation at all) as free translation. Because these methods are the same in essence, they are too detailed, unclear, impractical and unnecessary. For example:

(1) Her mother's pride in the girl's appearance made her take a step back.

Her mother looked at her daughter and was very proud, so she stepped back a few steps. (translated by Zhang Guruo)

He also said that the focus of utilizing foreign capital is agricultural scientific research, education and technology popularization, personnel training and intellectual development.

He added that these foreign currencies should be mainly used for education and research in agricultural science and technology.

10, traditional inheritance method

The translation history of China has been 1700 years since written records. The first article on translation was Preface to French Sentences written by Zhi Qian during the Three Kingdoms period. The long tradition of translation culture is worth inheriting. How to inherit is worth studying. Functional translation theory holds that China's traditional translation theory has made a detailed exploration from a macro perspective, and in the final analysis, it is centered on "faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance". The exposition of translation is mostly a summary of the practical experience of literary translators, and there are many insights. Yan Fu's translation standard of "faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance" has become a model of later translation and is regarded as the golden rule. With the great achievements of modern linguistic theory, especially semantics, cognitive linguistics and functional classification linguistics have had a fundamental impact on translation theory. Functional translation theory holds that the traditional translation theory is very incisive and has a theoretical basis, that is, based on contrastive linguistics. With a clear theoretical basis, many translation expressions in traditional translation theory, such as addition, omission, retranslation, reverse translation, sentence splitting and sentence combination, are practical. Translation includes two aspects: "understanding is one thing, and expressing it in Chinese is another." (Fu Lei) "Understanding" is more important. However, the traditional translation theory does not systematically explore the methods and theories of understanding the original text. Functional translation theory emphasizes that while inheriting, it is necessary to reflect on traditional translation theories in order to establish a theoretical system that conforms to translation laws. (Zhang Meigang, translated in Chinese, 1999, (5) Zhou Dubao; 2000,(2); Shanghai Sci-tech Translation 2000, (2)

Second, the theoretical basis of functional translation theory

In recent years, the author has studied the basic theory of functional translation theory, which is based on modern linguistics (cognitive linguistics, functional classification linguistics, comparative linguistics) and logical thinking.

Theory refers to the rational knowledge of a system, and the concepts, principles and methods of a certain knowledge field become a system. It is formed in the repeated process of practice and develops with practice. Functional translation theory is a methodological system based on rhetorical functional equivalence, which has strong practicability and operability in translation practice.

(1) Cognition of Functional Translation Theory

What is a function? "Function is meaning" (Hu Zhuanglin Foreign Languages 1998, (3)). What's the point? According to systematic semantics and conceptual semantics, meaning is the content of proposition. Words express the most basic concepts. Words constitute clauses, and clauses represent propositions. Proposition set constitutes a discourse and becomes a causal chain (T.Givon, 1998, University of Oregon, USA). Therefore, function is the content, meaning and rhetorical purpose of the proposition; Proposition is a form and a means. In other words, function is the result or purpose of propositional means. Function is embodied through form, "form refers to the structure and organization of internal elements of things".

"Content refers to the sum of the internal elements of things" and "is the whole meaning of the internal elements of things". In the fifth chapter of Semantics (second edition, 1983), Professor G. leech discussed the concept of translation equivalence, and thought that the ideal translation should fully express the communicative value of the original text. The second chapter describes seven aspects of the equivalence of communicative value between the translated text and the original text: conceptual meaning, connotative meaning, social meaning, emotional meaning, reflective meaning, collocation meaning and thematic meaning. The second to sixth words are also called associative meaning.

Translation, to achieve the equivalence of these seven aspects, is the ideal translation. Translation with meaning equivalence is translation with function equivalence. On this issue, our predecessor, Professor Wang Zongyan, made a clear exposition as early as 198 1. He pointed out that "the most appropriate translation in function is the most appropriate translation in sense" and "it is not functional with the original, so it is not necessarily faithful as a whole". (Wang Zongyan, 198 1)

"Formal equivalence" and "functional equivalence" are the relationship between content and form. "Everything has its content and form", "Content is always a certain form of content, and form is always a certain form of content", "The same form can embody different contents under different conditions". Functional translation theory emphasizes that "form consists of rhetorical function, rhetorical skills and sentence structure". The decisive factor is rhetorical function, because rhetorical function determines rhetorical skills, sentence patterns and sentence structures, and even many grammatical phenomena can only be explained by rhetorical function. (On Functional Translation of EST 1994) From these discourses, we can see that functional translation theory closely combines the semantics, grammar and rhetoric of conceptual segments, influencing each other and being inseparable. Highlight the importance of rhetorical function, which is embodied by form and structure. Functional equivalence translation should first highlight the linguistic context of conceptual paragraphs, and then study situational context, cultural context and pragmatic context from the perspective of rhetorical function. Because rhetorical function is dominated by word meaning, grammatical structure and pragmatic meaning of sentences. The meaning of each word in a sentence is determined by the context of the sentence. According to Fan Dike's macro theory, the meaning of context, such as situation, culture and pragmatics, will also play an important role in the function of conceptual fragments.

(B), the interpretation of functional translation theory

The translation theory of functional equivalence can also be correctly expounded and explained by relevance theory. Relevance theory is a cognitive pragmatic theory based on cognitive theory and behavior theory, which is developed from relevance principle. Next, we will use relevance theory to prove the correctness of functional translation theory.

Definition of relevance theory: relevance is the relationship between proposition and context set Cl-Cn. Relevance is the basic feature of proposition and the relationship between proposition and context. How should this definition be understood? We can think that this definition has two meanings: first, "context set" refers to a concept fragment with a clear theme, and relevance is the meaning chain of this concept fragment; Second, the proposition itself has relevance and is a short segment in this meaning chain. This idea is consistent with functional translation theory, that is, one or more natural paragraphs with clear thematic meaning are conceptual paragraphs with thematic chains.

The optimal relevance principle of relevance theory emphasizes that any communication behavior must ensure its own optimal relevance. What is "communicative behavior"? That is to say, a language event unfolds according to internal time in time structure and sweeps causal logic in causal structure. We can say that events have the best correlation. Moreover, the functional translation theory expounds the "building block" theory, which holds that "building block" is an assembled language unit, that is, the content structure of "building block" is the most relevant clause.

Relevance theory also holds that relevance is related to context implication, which is not the product of proposition itself, but the meaning produced by the combination of proposition and context set. Our "rhetorical functional equivalence" holds that the communicative function involves semantics and language, and the two cannot be completely separated. The referential events in the communication between the two sides are semantic categories. It is in line with pragmatic significance for both sides to adjust the language according to the context. As far as written language is concerned, according to the requirements of writing purpose, different means and methods are used to describe language events, so as to achieve the expected writing intention and realize the rhetorical function. Translation makes the original text and the translated text equivalent in rhetorical function. In addition to linguistic context, situational context, cultural context and pragmatic context of the source language should naturally be considered.

Relevance theory holds that translation is a special form of communication between two languages. As long as one party's intention is known and understood by the other party, this is translation. Under the relevance theory, the "communicative effectiveness" of translation has the greatest weight, followed by "reliability" and other elements. So, what is "communicative effectiveness"? It is the communicative function, that is, the equivalence of rhetorical function that carries the most weight. Therefore, syntactic meaning, rhetorical meaning, associative meaning and semantic meaning of sentences must obey the functional meaning of rhetoric. The equivalence of rhetorical functions is the highest equivalence. "(Functional Translation from English to Chinese, page 55)

Relevance theory holds that relevance is closely related to inference, and points out that the process of discourse understanding is mainly an inference process, in which the judgment of relevance plays an important role in the form of inference conclusion. Functional translation theory clearly puts forward and demonstrates that language is a causal network, and conceptual fragments run through a causal theme chain. Explain how to grasp this chain and understand and express the original text. (See Research and Translation of Causality Chain, Chinese Translation 1998, (5); Rhetoric of est, 1998)

Keywords: Functional Translation Theory