Key points for translation of nuclear power construction claim letter 开题报告定稿

Nuclear power is a clean energy with high quality and efficiency. The nuclear power plant is a cutting-edge project with high technical standards and high quality requirements. Nuclear power technologies, from France, Russia, Canada, and the United States have been introduced into China. The contracts for nuclear power plant construction Cooperation with other countries are signed in English. Chinese-English translation is becoming more and more important in the process of nuclear power plant construction.

The fulfillment process of the nuclear power plant construction contract is complex. The cost increase caused by the Field Change Request and Engineering field Instruction needs to lodge claims, and submit nuclear power construction claim letters. Those need to translate Chinese into English professionally and accurately. Through searching China National Knowledge Infrastructure, author did not find studies about the Chinese-English translation of nuclear power construction claim letter. But many experts and scholars have done a lot of studies on Chinese-English translation, nuclear power English translation and claim letter translation.

English Characteristics and Translation Skills written by Xueqin Zhu(2013), mainly carries out a discussion on English characteristics, Principles and translation skills. Author points out that, English characteristics are distinct cultural difference, lexical meaning with strong specialty, sentence pattern with strong flexibility, Principles of English translation are accuracy principle, professional principle and following usual practice principle, also proposes the following English translation skills, such as “literal translation”, “free translation”, “method of adding”, “method of omitting”, “method of conversion”.

The epistemological space of translation written by William F.Hanks(2014) points out “The key point for now is that in the passage of meaning from one language or society to another, translation does not come into play only after the translator has understood the original. It is not an ancillary rendering or glossing, but is itself the basis for understanding.”

Characteristics and Translation Skills of Business English written by Chengzhen Li (2013) respectively analyses overall characteristics of Business English and specific characteristics in words, phrases and sentences and describes translation skills of Business English. and points out that the translator required to first fully understand characteristics of Business English and master basic technical terms, meanwhile understand and be familiar with the cultural background of Business English and language use habits in this cultural background and use the most accurate vocabularies, phrases and sentences to convert the meaning embodied by Business English through comparison between two different cultural backgrounds before and after translation.

Study of Business English Translation Based on the Three Rules of Skopos Theory and Error Analysis of Business English Translation Based upon Functional Theory written by Lili Zhang(2016) introduces the three major rules of Skopos theory, i.e. skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule, proves to be good guidance for business English translation. At the same time, based on the explanation of this translation theory, the author makes a thorough analysis of business English translation errors.

An Analysis of the Present Situation and Problems of Business English Translation in China written by Yanfang Hou(2017) presents a detailed analysis of the present situation and problems of business English translation, such as Being lack of cultural awareness in translation, etc.

Study on Business English Contract Translation Based on Nida’s Dynamic Equivalence written by Xiangwen Sun, Chenxi Liu(2017)  studies the business English translation based on Nida’s dynamic equivalence in the translation of business English contracts and concludes some specific translation strategies to improve this practice. 

A Tentative Study on Domestication and Foreignization in Business English Translation from the Perspective of Cultural Context written by YanLiu(2017) analyzes the principles and the processes of business translation from the perspective of cultural context. Domestication and foreignization are two basic translating methods concerning culture differences.

Strategies of Business English translation from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence written by Fan Hui(2018) combines the language features of business English with the study of business English translation. It explores a systematic analysis from the functional view and proposes several strategies in the business translation practice, which indicates that Nida’s theory of functional equivalence can be best applied in business English translation and functional equivalence can be achieved.

On Textual Coherence in Chinese-English Translation and Translation Strategies written by 马清清(2018), analyses the aspects of textual incoherence in Chinese-English translation and proposes tentative strategies, that is, to use coherence and cohesion methods to deliver the information flow in the translated text through logical thinking and textual awareness.

The main skills of translating Science and Technology from Chinese to English written by颜炼(2010), points out that, in science and technology, Chinese-English translation follows the principles of clearness, accurateness, and briefness, together with skills in grammar and language, combination, inversion and other means are often used, and according to the specific situation, the conversion of parts of speech, addition of words, subtraction and other techniques are used to translate.

Nuclear power English is a branch of English for science and technology, covering nuclear engineering and nuclear technology. In China, textbooks such as Nuclear Power Professional English, Fundamentals and New Concepts for Nuclear Engineering have been published. About nuclear power English translation, there are the following studies:  On the Features of Nuclear Power English and Chinese Translation written by叶梅(2011), summarizes the features of nuclear power English and its Chinese translation. The author points out that the features of nuclear power English words include abstract nouns, compound words, acronyms, and so on. The features of sentences include simple tenses that are descriptive present tenses, passive voices, and long sentences. A Research Report on the Translation of Nuclear Power English written by张阿姝(2013) and Nuclear Power English Translation Difficulties and Countermeasure Exploration written by张子秀(2017), expounds the translation problems and solutions from three aspects of vocabulary, syntax, and paragraph. 姜欣欣(2014) proposes the translation strategies of nuclear power English vocabulary in English Vocabulary Translation Strategies for Nuclear Power Specialty, that is, part of speech conversion, word omission, word increase, and logical citation.

The following is the studies of the English Claim Letters.

An Analysis of Business English Claim Letter written by熊有生(2012), analyzes business English claim letters from the perspectives of the field, tenor, and mode. The author's opinion is that some specific textual features of claim letter are closely related to the use of its context and pragmatic function. It depends entirely on the inherent requirements of the subject matter that there the claim letter should be outlined, detailed, expressed directly or indirectly. The declarative sentence is usually used.

Functional Discourse Analysis of Letters of Claims and ESP Teaching written by李科, 谢美蓉(2016), points out that the main semantic functions of English claim letter are notification, presentation, and claim. There are more passive voices used in notification and presentation phases, frequent active voices used in the claim phase. Declarative sentences are to be used to describe the claim events and losses at all phases of the claim in claim letters. There are more high-value modal expressions in the phases of lodging claims, giving suggestion and exerting pressure.

Stylistic Features and Translation Research of Business English Correspondence written by范松, 黄俊逸(2018), analyzes the stylistic features from word formation, sentence style, and text. Business English correspondence and telegraphy professional terms, acronyms are frequently used. Sentence structure is rigorous, concise and clear, and most use complex sentence patterns, such as compound sentences, inverted sentences, passive sentences, split sentences, etc. Texts are usually written in stylized languages. Three basic translation principles are submitted, that is, accuracy, brevity, and conformity with industry norms.

These studies have done a very brilliant exposition from English features, translation principles and translation skills, situational context, systemic functional, stylistic features, and so on. They have a guiding role for people engaged in nuclear power related translation work. The above studies are highly pertinent, but the contents are a little disperses.

Nuclear power construction claim letter is written in a formal nuclear power English style and claim letter style. However, the specialization of nuclear power English and the particularity of claim letters make translation difficult. Based on the theory of stylistics and translations, this paper analyzes and expounds the features of nuclear power construction claim letter, and Chinese-English translation strategies of nuclear power construction claim letter.

Outline

Introduction

Feature of nuclear power English construction claim letter

The characteristics of words

The characteristics of sentence 

Characteristics of Format

Translation strategies of nuclear power construction claim letter

Translating in the reverse order

Conversion between Active Voice and Passive Voice

Omission and the method of division

Conclusion

References

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