A Study on Numeral Translation in Literary Works

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  Abstract:This paper is a study on the numeral translation in various literary works from the perspective of Peter Newmark’s translation theory.
  Key Words;Peter Newmark;communicative translation;semantic translation;numeral translation
  1.Introduction
  Many researchers both at home and abroad have studied numeral translation in different kinds of literary works.
  Some of them analyzes the differences between Chinese and western figures in traditional concepts and cultural connotations.For example,the domestic researcher Zheng Dan.In her study,she tells us the difference in quantifier translation.In addition to the computational significance of the Numbers,the number of English and Chinese figures has cultural significance.Therefore,to understand the difference between Chinese and Chinese digital culture can do us a favor to translate.
  Through reading literature,we found that,from Eugene Nida’s dynamic theory,to Fermi's skopostheory,to Mary Hornby's synthesis and so on,they all have a discussion about numeral translation.Some people adopt the method of semantic translation and communicative translation from the theory of Peter Newmark,and some people translate Numbers from the point of view of domestication and foreignization.
  Finally,Newmark's text functional theory gives a clear direction of numeral translation,which solves the problem of the expression from Chinese into English.
  2.The Differences between China and the West in Numeral Translation
  Maybe quite a few people hold the view that digital translation is simply to translate number 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 into one,two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten and so on.it is not true.Actually,due to the differences in religious beliefs,due to the differences in traditional culture,due to the differences in personal cognition,due to the differences in thought patterns,each person has obvious expression in digital translation.The existence of such differences directly leads to a great variety of changes in the process of digital translation.
  In particular,there is a big difference between Chinese and foreigners in numeral translation because each translator will inevitably bring his own country's cultural customs in the process of translation.China has been known as the land of courtesy since ancient times,with the traditional virtue of taking pleasure in helping others.Chinese people advocate Confucian culture and pursue the hundred schools of various thoughts so they are more emotional.Therefore they would prefer the even number such as two,four,six,eight and so on because they think that the even number represent auspiciousness and happiness.   Nevertheless,foreign countries advocate a variety of sects,receiving the edification of Christianity and ancient Greek culture so they are the states of solemnity.They are more logical.Therefore,they would prefer the odd numbers such as one,three,five,seven,nine and so on.Therefore,there are many taboos in the process of digital translation.
  2.1 The Cultural Difference
  For Chinese people,"four" is considered to be an unlucky number because its pronunciation is the homonym of "dead" in Chinese,so it will be avoided to use for Chinese people deliberately in many important events such as in major festivals and international compete even the license plate numbers,cell phone numbers,and home addresses,which is a special feature of Chinese pronunciation.
  However,for foreigners,"two" is considered to be an unlucky number.The origin of "two" in English is “dice”.Dice is a plural of “die”,but “die” itself is the meaning of “死亡“,so there are taboos in English.
  2.2 Methods of Numeral Translation
  In the process of translation,if there are sentences that need communicative translation,there is still a great degree of difficulty,because the meaning of some sentences cannot simply pay attention to the sentence itself,but also need to contact the context to figure out the effect of this sentence in the paragraph.In this process,in order to make the translation smoother or more consistent with the original meaning of the original text,it is inevitable to delete or cenvert the content of the digital translation,making the translation more consistent with the article and more artistic.Basically apply the following three methods:
  2.2.1 Numbers' Retention
  Under normal circumstances,in order to maintain a high consistency with the original text,the method of semantic translation will be easy to use under the situation that the number has the same meaning of the text,which is to keep the numbers themselves,not to be replaced by other words.This method of translation is the most convenient,and it is also highly coherent with the text.
  For example,“一箭雙雕” which directly retains the number and it is translates as:“Kill two birds with one stone.Here “一”和“双” are directly represented by the English “one” and “two”.
  2.2.2 Numbers' Abandon
  In many cases,numbers translation cannot be translated literally.If numbers are translated in accordance with the method of semantic translation,it may not be in line with the Chinese people's habits of speaking,or make the text very rigid.At this time,some unnecessary digital translations need to be deleted,but these figures are basically virtual numbers.These numbers,in terms of meaning,is that the translation of these numbers is dispensable,and the removal of the text has no effect,but it will make the text translation more concise and clear.   For example:"they were talking with nineteen to the dozen".If you keep the number literally translated,you should translate it into that they are talking about from 19 to 12,but it's clear that the true meaning of this sentence is not intended to mean this.It's like saying nineteen words when you say twelve words,so that people can't be heard,so the meaning that comes out of it is "they're in full swing."
  2.2.3 Numbers' Commutation
  Numbers transformation refers to converting the number in the original text.Maybe it was "two" before,but when it was translated,it became "three".This is not an error because of different methods or habits of Chinese and foreigners in using numbers,which cause the different meaning of numbers.It is necessary to find the most suitable number to translate according to the meaning expressed in the article.
  For example:"six of one and half a dozen of the other",it does not interpret as six of a dozen and half of the other dozen,but instead interprets as "half a pound",because in ancient China,半斤is equal to八两
  The transliteration of numbers is often based on the understanding of sentences,and it is not arbitrarily translated.The meaning of the modified sentences is also connected or similar to the original.
  3.A study of Numeral Translation in Literary Works
  3.1 Numeral Translations in Poems
  3.1.1 Numeral Retention-----Semantic Translation
  “飞流直下三千尺,疑是银河落九天”
  Translation:its torrent dashes down three-thousand-feet high,as if the Milky Way fell from the ninth sky.
  Many translators will translate“疑是銀河落九天” into "as if the heaven's silver river dropping from the top" because they feel that using such anthropomorphic rhetoric is actually more of an image,but the ancients believed that "九天"represents that the sky has nine levels."九重天",in fact,is the highest level of the sky,where the use of semantic translation is to highlight the original image of Chinese characters and charm.
  3.1.2 Numeral Abandon------Communicative Translation
  “死去元知万事空,但悲不见九州同”
  Translation:After my death I know that all hopes are vain,but I’m still grieved to see our country not united。
  "九州同" here refers to the ancient China.Ancient China was divided into nine continents,so "九州" is generally referred to China,and "九州同" here refers to the unity of China Because this poem was written when Lu You lay dying.The Central Plains' territory at that time was being occupied by the Nuzhen nobles.It is in line with the reality that Kyushu needs to understand the historical background of this poem before it can be translated.   3.1.3 Numeral Transformation----Modified Translation
  “亦余心之所善兮,虽九死其犹未悔。”
  Translation:For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart,I'd not regret a thousand times to die.
  "九死" here don't be translated into "nine times to die" and is translated into "a thousand times to die".Because "a thousand times to die" is more in line with the English habits.In fact,"九死" here have no real word meaning,and it is the meaning of "many times".
  3.2 Numeral Translation in Drama----《The Story of the Western Wing》
  3.2.1 Numeral Retention-----Semantic Translation
  “十五日是佛受供日”
  Translation:“The fifteenth is the day for the Buddha to receive offerings
  “十五日”here is the meaning of the fifteenth days,which means quantity,so there is no need to change the translation forms.in china,according to the requirements of the precepts,the monks and nuns must settle for the summer in the annual lunar calendar from April 15th to July 15th.They will settle in one place during the period of the growth and reproduction of the animals and plants.The one reason is that it can avoid the insect ants.the other reason is that the monks and nuns can focus on chanting or meditation.By July 15th,they must each make a self-criticism or introduce their practice experience.This is called "self-criticism." After three months of special training,the monks’ performance will inevitably improve,and the buddha will rejoice.This day is called “Buddha Rejoice Day”.
  3.2.2 Numeral Abandon-----Communicative Translation
  “娶了個四德三从宰相女”
  Translation:“who has all virtues women adore”
  四德三从 are divided into four virtues and three obedience.In ancient China,a woman was required to obey her father before marriage,and to obey her husband during married life and to obey her sons in widowhood,which is three obedience,and fidelity,physical charm,propriety in speech and efficiency in needle work are four virtues.As you see,they are too too lengthy and protracted to translate into English.
  At this time,it is necessary to understand the meaning of this sentence.Four virtues and three obedience are actually the part of Chinese ancient women's moral concepts,but also a kind of Confucian culture.If it is directly translated according to numbers,then foreigners are not necessarily able to understand the meaning of this sentence,so communicative translation can be easy to understand.Four virtues and three obedience are actually “virtues women adore”.   3.2.3 Numeral Translation----Modified Translation
  “贞元十七年二月上旬”
  Translation:“early in the second moon of the year 801’
  The numbers here represent time and year,but what is difficult is that it is the unique way for Chinese to record years so it is difficult for foreigners to understand.Therefore,if the translator literally translates it,readers will have doubts about the year.贞元 is the year of Tang Dezong,and贞元17年refers to AD 801.If you use the AD to record the year,people in other countries can understand this year.Therefore,the seventeen here is translated into “the year 801”,which will eliminate the Cultural barriers among countries.
  3.3 Numeral Translation in Novels
  3.3.1 Numeral Retention------Semantic Translation
  老通宝现在已经没有自己的田地,反欠出三百多块钱的债。《春蚕》
  Translation:Today,Old Tong Bao had no land of his own,in f act he was over three hundred silver dollars in debt。
  The author used semantic translation here.Three hundred yuan here is just to express the concept of a quantity,so it is a real word and can be translated directly without causing ambiguity.This sentence would like to show that Old Tong Bao owes a lot of debt,resulting in a very difficult life
  3.3.2 Numeral Abandon------Communicative Translation
  “臉上总共有十来根比较重一点的胡子茬儿。”(老舍《二马》)
  Translation:To begin with he only had a few fairly thick hair.
  The aim to write the quantity of “十来根” by Lao She does not mean there are only five beards.He really wants to express a concept of a very small number of beards.But if he only speaks very few beards,it will be less obvious.Image,so it is more interesting and less rigid to show the concept of the small quantity by using the digital translation.
  3.3.3 Numeral Transformation----Modified Translation
  把平日嫌恶宝玉之心,不觉减了八九分。(红楼梦第23 回)
  Translation:And as he thought,much of his customary dislike of Bao-yu slipped away,so that for the time being perhaps only ten or twenty percent of it still remained.
  In the original article,it uses 减了八九分 to describe the improving degree to the attitude of treating Bao Yu,but in the translation process,the meaning has been changed,turning “减了八九分” into “ten or twenty percent of it still remained”.The word “Remain” is used flexibly to convey the emotional expression that the hero likes Bao Yu gradually.One is addition and the other is subtraction.However,the readers’ feeling is completely different.This is where the power of transforming digital translations lies.   4.Conclusion
  This thesis provides a study of numeral translation in Chinese literary works.The study proves the practicality of Peter Newmark’s translation theory—— semantic and communicative translation.
  In order to render the accurate meaning and style of the original,the translator has employed different translating methods to treat different parts while the aim of translation is same,which is to reproduce the same effect on TL readers as the original on SL readers through the transference of the original information.Then Peter Newmark provides us a good translation theory to produce a perfect translated version of ancient Chinese poems.But the semantic and communicative translation play different roles in numeral translation.
  References
  1.Britten,Tony.1995.Digital poetry for digital portfolios [J].Metaphor,4(1):22-23.
  2.David,S.2012.Poetry’s Afterlife:Verse in the Digital Age by Kevin Stein [J].World Literature Today,6(2):78.
  3.Newmark,P.2001.Approaches to Translation [M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
  4.Wagner,Cynthia G.2008.Poetry in the Digital Age [J].Futurist,6(1):16.
  作者簡介
  胡龙青 1971--,女,安徽,上海电力学院外语学院副教授,专业为文学翻译与文学评论
  蔡倩文 1995--,女,上海电力学院外语学院大四毕业生 专业为翻译
  (作者单位:上海电力学院)
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