A Study on Translation Process Based on Relevance Theory

社科學(xué)論Social Science TheoryA Study on Translation ProcessBased on Relevance Theory吳競(Harbin University of Commerce, Haerbin, Heilongjiang 150028)Abstract Relevance theory belongs to the field of pragmatics. Translation is a kind of communicative activity in nature. Inthe frame of relevance theory, translation is the process of cognition and inference. This paper focuses on the study of trans-lation process on the basis of relevance theory in order to improve the practice of translation.Key words relevance theory; inference; optimal relevance中圖分類(lèi)號:H315.9文獻標識碼:ADOI:10.16400/j.cnki.kjdkx.2015.08.069Introductiontexts. According to relevance theory, context of source texts isTranslation is a kind of transcultural and translingual activ-very important if translators want to interpret source texts exactly.ity of communication essentially. Based on relevance theory,Translators need to find optimal relevance of context by analysistranslation can be seen as an ostensive-inferential process. Trans-of context in order to get cognitive effects of source texts. Contextlators should know the intention of communicators and expecta-in relevance theory refers to cognitive context in which com-The quality of target texts relies on convergence of relevant ele-cessful communication relies on assumptions that speakers wantments between source texts and target texts.to convey and that hearers select from cognitive context. Transla-1 Introduction of Relevance Theorytion is an inferential process which includes communicative in-Sperber & Wilson first introduced relevance theory in Rele-tention from communicators' ostensiveness. Relevance theoryvance: Communication and Cognition in 2001. This theory rese-proposes lingual communication is mutual manifestness fromarches inferential process of information communication, espe-cognition to inference.cially discourse interpretation principle in exploring lingual com-The second step is to find relevance, which depends on themunication.information that translators possess and source texts offer. As we1.1 Ostensiveness and Inferenceknow, the degree of relevance is related to inferential efforts andRelevance theory takes lingual ccognitive effects. Everyone has a potential context in their brainsive-inferential cognitive activity, a process in which communi- where lots of information is stored. Translators should try to ma-cators recognize cognitive context again and do mutual manifes-tch intention from writers of source texts with expectation of re-tness. Ostensiveness from writers of source texts can offer someaders of target textsrelevant information and cognitive context that translators can in-Optimal relevance in translation process is a dynamic con-fer. Translators can find optimal relevance and infer communicat-cept. Translators should find the assumptions that writers of sou-ive intention from cognitive context of writer' s ostensive stimu- rce texts convey to readers of source texts. In this process, trans-lation. In different cognitive contexts, the understanding of thelators should infer from the source texts. At the same time, trans-same source text is different. Because different translators have lators should know the cognitive context of readers from targetdifferent cognitive contexts and structures, implicit conclusionstexts, that is, whether contextual assumption that writers of sou-can reach from the discourse interpretation.rce texts want to convey exists in the potential context of readers1.2 Optimal Relevanceof target texts. Context formed in source texts cannot be changed,According to relevance theory, successful communicationand meanings in that context is fixed in source texts. Therefore,needs two conditions: one is mutual manifestness from two-sidetranslators cannot add new understanding to meanings in sourcecommunicators, the other is optimal cognitive mode- relevance.texts randomly. In translation, writers of source texts have differ-Relevance is a relative concept, which depends on cognitive ef-fect and degree of inference. Here is a formula: degree of rele-rce texts is unequal to that from target texts. Moreover, informa-vance= cognitive effect/ inferential efforts.tion from target texts is based on the understanding of readers2 Translation Process on the Basis of Relevance Theorywhen they read target texts. In translation, writers of source texts,Translation is seen as a communicative activity in terms of translators and中國煤化Ieractive with eachrelevance theory. In translation, the first step is to interpret sourceother, formingMYHCNMHGance theory, peop-144 科教導刊 2015年8月(下)社科學(xué)論:Social Science Theoryle with different living environment, experiences and cognitive through the deductive inference. In light of relevance theory, theabilities must have different cognitive context and different translator should try to find optimal relevance and find the writer'understanding to the same thing. To translators, they should know s communication intention.how to convey writers' intention from source texts and how to .express information to readers of target texts, which means trans- things after he becomes a monk.lators should know the cognitive text of readers of target texts.b. The translator gets information that the man is in troubleThere are many translation theories in this field. Cognition- because there is a rumor about him and a nun.based relevance theory proposes new horizon to describe ternaryc.The style of source text is la novel written in informal way.relation among writers, translators and readers and new standardsConclusionto explore translation equivalence and other things.Relevance theory regards translation practice as a dynamic3 Application of Relevance Theory in Translation Processprocess, which is different from traditional theory. In the processNow we can apply the relevance theory to translation prac- of understanding source texts，translators should do all- roundtice.analysis to context that is a dynamic element in translation. Trans-他一氣之下，看破紅塵，遁入深山，索性在一- 個(gè)小廟里削lators should analyze context and language of source texts to-了發(fā).不多久，有人說(shuō)他和山麓的尼姑發(fā)生了友誼，沸沸揚揚，gether. In this process, translators try to find optical relevance in流言蜚語(yǔ)，愈傳愈盛。(徐鑄成, 1983:23)order to get sufficient contextual effects. Under this circum-The following explanation focusing on the underlined sen- stance, translators can make better understanding of source textstence is made in terms of relevance theory.and create better target texts to readers.(1)To the source text, the translator tries to perceive the auth-or' s ostensive stimulus which is rooted in his communicative in- Reference:tention. In perceiving process, guided by the principle of rele- [1] Hatim B. & lan Mason, Discourse and the TaslatorM1. Shanghai:ShanghaiForeign Language Education Press.2001.vance, all the ostensive stimulus related to the author' s com-[2] Lin Ying, Optimal Relevance-- The Pursuit of Translators[]. Journal ofmunicative intention would attract the translator' s attention.Hunan University of Science and Enginering:2005.(2) After knowing the author' s communicative intention, [3] Shen Lihong, Cognitive Context' s Role in Discourse ProductionJ]L Journalthe translator can decode the source text through his bilingualknowledge., then the semantic representation of the source text[4] Sperber D. & D. Wilson, Relevance: Communication and Cognition[M]. Be-ijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2001.can be reeived. The just reived semantic represenation isnot I5] Wu ing. ACogntive Study of Soure Texts in Tasaion on the Basis ofRea completed one because the word“友誼”in this text containslevance Theory[DI. China University of Petroleum.2007.muliple meanings and “沸沸揚揚，流言蜚語(yǔ)，愈傳愈盛”also (61 XuZhaohui, Zhou Yanchun, Rlevance Iheay And Is Apaioin 10 Adver-tising Interpretation[J]. Theory and Practice in Language Studies,2013.has many explanations. Therefore, the translator needs to activaterelevant contextual information by inference.(3) After stimulating relevant context, the translator, facingthe uncompleted semantic representation in mind, has to givemore information and understanding by inferential enrichment inorder to get complete semantic representation.Guided by the principle of relevance, the translator can getthe following understanding of the word“友誼”under differentcontexts:a. Literally, the word“友誼”can mean a kind of relationshipbetween friends.b.The word“友誼”in the source text is after“他和山麓中的尼姑”, and it means the relationship between a monk and anun.However, the translator, in his/her cognitive context, knowsthat there is no relationship between a monk and a nun in Chineseculture. Therefore, the translator can infer that the relationshiphappened between a monk and a nun in the source text is abnor-mal, which means love affairs.(4) Through the above analysis and stimulation to the source中國煤化工text, the translator can get complete semantic understanding ac-cording to the initial context，then the translator needs to goCNMHGMH2015年8月(下)|科教導刊145