point;B.Make clear which comes the first, which the second. Some people hold that in Yen Fu’s theory he lays a particular stress on “expressiveness” and sets “faithfulness” and “expressness” against each other. But, in fact, this charge is not true. It seems to us that Yen Fu’s words are just something which he expressed in translation. He only stresses that translation is no easy thing. He doesn’t create contradictions between “信” and “达”. This may find proof in the following passage: “至原文词理本深，难以共喻，则当前后引衬，以显其意。为此经营，皆所以为达。为达即所以为信也。”“As the meaning of some words in the original are difficult to be understood by all, so in translation modification and amplification are needed so as to make them clear. All this aims at expressiveness, namely,faithfulness.”As far as “elegance” is concerned, perhaps, it doesn’t mean, as has often been taken to mean, beautification, for obviously it would be quite inappropriate to give elegance to a piece of writing which is in the original language inelegant, but signifies to “express the original writer’s idea better” (“实则精理微言”) in the words of his own. As he holds“subtle ideas are better expressed in the vocabulary and syntax of pre-Han language than those of the vulgar writing of today”（“用汉以前字法，句法，则为达易。用近世利俗文字，则求达难”） He also uses classical Chinese as sugar coated on pills to appeal the appetite of readers to swallow the pills willingly. Part III Standard for Business English Translation Faithfulness, idiomaticness and consistency Ⅰ. Faithfulness
The translation of business English is always scientific . That’s to say, the translation of business English should be always reflecting exactly what the original text is talking about, giving the exact information, accurate facts and relative regulations and laws to the readers.
Ⅰ).Significance
Business English is a language characterized by its accuracy, exactness and full of information. What’s more, honesty is the most important principle in business transaction. So it is not allowed to make any mistake or misunderstanding in this process of translation.
That is ,no matter whether from the aspect of the features of business English, from the principle of business transaction, or from the definition and purpose of translation,faithfulness is the basic
requirement a translator has to reach in business English translation. In a word,faithfulness is the life of Business English translation . Without it our translation means nothing. Ⅱ).Content (to be faithful to what ) A .Information or Meanings
乙方应提前10天向甲方确报散客的抵达日期(即入住日期)、房数及天数。 B should send A detailed information of guests (date of arrival,number
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of rooms needed,nights)ten days prior to the arrival.
A simple sentence as the original is,attention should be paid to the complete transfer of all information in translation.
It is understood and agreed that each of the parties hereto is an independent contractor and that neither party Is ,nor shall be considered to be ,an agent,a distributor,fiduciary or representative of the other.Neither party shall act or represent itself ,directly or by implication,as an agent of the other or in any manner assume or create any obligation on behalf of ,or in the name of ,the other.
双方理解并同意，合同各方均为独立承包人，任何一方不是、亦不应被视为另一方的代理人、经销商、受托人或代表。任何一方不得直接或暗示其作为另一方或以另一方的名义承担或产生任何义务。
For accurate rendering of this sentence,it is essential to keep the differentiatioin of “is(present state)” and “shall be (the idea of will)”,“on behalf of(as the representative of)”and “in the name of (with the authority of)” as well as the exact meanings of “contractor( firm that enters into a contract)”,“agent（aparty acting on behalf of）”,“distributor（a wholesaler engaged in the distribution of a category of goods）”,“fiduciary(trustee)”and “representative(deputy)”.
This Agreement shall take effect on the Effective Date and shall continue for a period of ten(10)years .This Agreement shall be automatically renewed for one-year terms thereafter unlrss and untill terminated by either Party hereto by giving six(6)month’s written notice to the other.
本协议自生效日起生效，有效期为十（10）年。此后，除非一方提前六（6）个月向另一方发出终止本协议的书面通知，本协议逐年自动延长一（1）年。 In the above example,“for one-year terms”does not mean “一年期限” but “a succesion of one-year term ”. To come up to this criterion in translation of BE, two important aspects should draw our attention. One is accurate and exact choice of words in the translation of technical terms and some key words in BE because these words have strict legal definition. For example, the English equivalent for “独占区域”is exclusive territory, a term often found in BE for know-how licensing, which means that the licensor shall not grant like contracts for know-how licensing to any third party in the territory and even the licensor shall not employ such know-how in the territory. Take another example. We associate formal with “正式的”but “正式批准”should be translated into official approval while “正式签署”should be rendered into duly sign. The former means authoritative whereas the latter denotes that the legal representatives or the duly authorized representatives of the parties concerned sign in an appropriate and due way.
The other aspect where accuracy should be attached much more importance to is the translation of figures, such as time, amount and quantity. Careless or wrong translation of such figures may bring about inestimable
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losses. In translation of figures special attention should be paid to the translation of amount. As a rule, the English translation of amount should have numeral and word expressions at the same time even when there is no word figure in the original. This will reduce the chance for errors. For example:
聘方须每月付给受聘方美元500元整。 Party A shall pay Party B a monthly salary of US$500 (SAY FIVE HUNDRED US DOLLARS ONLY).
It is necessary to point out that by equivalence in translation we mean keeping the information and meanings of the original .And owing to diffrences in way of thinking ,wording and structure between English and Chinese ,for achieving equivalence often we have to convert the original word forms. e.g.不动产
fixed assets
?unmovable property 温饱
to make both ends meet ?to have warmth and food 休息室
? rest-room/rest room/resting place
lobby/lounge 试衣间
?clothes trial room dressing room 自动门
?self-turning door
automatic(revolving/swinging) door ?营业时间
?Operation Time
Business Hours/Open Hours Avoiding pseudo-equivalence:
We will seize every opportunity to innovate and lead the industry on behalf of our customers.
?我们将代表顾客抓住每一时机开拓创新。
我们将代表顾客抓住每一时机开拓创新，引领行业潮流。
In this example ,“开拓创新”only covers the meaning of “innovate” but gives up the signification of “lead the industry”.
承担所有由此引起的法律和经济上的责任?To bear all legal and economic responsibilities arising from
To bear all legal and financial responsibilities which may arise. Though they are not synonyms ,“economic” and “finacial” are both turned into “经济的”.However, as the original belongs to contractual language ,in line with the contex “经济的” here should refer to monetary affair,that is, “finacial”.Besides,“arising from” expresses a
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“certainty” while “may arise” suggests“a possibility”.Of course,the original phrase shares the sense of the attributive clause rather than the participial phrase.
从4月1日起到10月20日止这一其间内交货.
?Time of delivery begins on April 1 and ends on October 20.
Time of delivery begins on April 1 and ends on October 20,both dates inclusive.
The first version leaves unclear whether the time of delivery includes or excludes April 1 and October 20.
乙方没有按合同规定及时把货备妥,致使甲方派去装货的船只滞期48小时.
?Party B failed to get the goods ready for loading in accordance with the time of shipment as stipulated in the Contract. Therefore it resulted in time delay for the vessel sent by Party A for 48 hours.
Party B’s failure to get the goods ready for loading in accordance with the time of shipment as stipulated in the Contract has resulted in time on demurrage for the vessel sent by Party A for 48 hours
In the first version ,the use of simple past tense ,which indicates a finished action or state having nothing to do with the present,may easily render this article to invalid. To be faithful to the whole text
Translation unit usu. should be: sentence B. style of times
nation
writers
language elegance(high-flown style) formal informal slang vulgar
e.g.
独立寒秋?I stand alone in the cold autumn. Against the chill of autumn I stand alone.
The second version better keeps the original positive image by using a pun “against (which may suggests double meanings here:opposed;with…as the background)” and a parallel structure.
The banker was going over the account books.(Pompeii) ?银行主/钱庄老板在查看账本儿.
“钱庄老板”is faithful to the original in stlye of times. 三个臭皮匠胜过一个诸葛亮。
Two heads bare better than one.
Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Chukeh liang the master mind.
The second translation is better because it keeps not only the meaning of the original but also its cultural setting.
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Send cools to Newcastle.
将煤送到纽卡斯去——多此一举. ?鲁班门前弄斧.
Talk about the devil,and the devil will appear. 说魔鬼魔鬼就到。 ？说曹操曹操就到。
The second translation belongs to a poor one as it enforces the culture of one language upon that of another. death
死亡，故去，过了，没了，去世，逝世，弃世，即世，下世，谢世，毕命，绝命，送命，丧命，丧生，灭亡，灭折，归西，长眠，见背，弃养，物故，跨鹤，羽化登仙，入土，归道山，大去，大行，崩，驾晏，寂，灭，圆寂，见阎王，一命呜呼，呜呼哀哉，翘辫子，见上帝，见马克思，上八宝山，去火葬场，上西天，牺牲了，光荣了，献身了，英勇就义了……
die, pass away, breathe one’s last, expire, pay one’s debt of nature, go to the west, cease to think, depart to world of shadows, drop off the hooks.
Mr.and Mrs.Hurst requests the pleasure of your company at dinner on Sunday,the fifth of June at half past six at Ocean Hotel.
黑斯特及夫人谨定于6月5日(星期日)六点半在远洋宾馆举行晚宴,敬请光临. We should be pleased if you would offer.
如蒙报盘，将不胜感激。(收悉,乞谅,见告,为盼,赐复……) Tide’s in, dirt is out 汰渍到,污垢逃
Sweet,Smart & Sassy 蜜、美、迷—advertisement for an American orange __sunkist(sun kiss it,新奇士). Ⅱ.Idiomaticiness
It means that what we translate should be in keeping with the usage of the target language in wording,collocation and structure,which requires that in our translation no inventions should be made and the language should be concise,professional , clear in meaning and strong in logic.
e.g. 1. He bent solely upon profit. 他只屈身于利润之前。 只有利润才能使他低头。 他唯利是图。
2．The carp originates in Africa and has been transplanted to beds of waters in China’s inland provinces. 那种鲤鱼发源于非洲， 在非洲繁殖， 早初产于非洲。 现在在中国内地几省的水乡移植， 接种成活， 安家落户。
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