A study on the Amplification and Omission in E-C Translation

【Abstract】Due to the difference of expressions and language structures between English and Chinese， when we translate English into Chinese， we should add some necessary words or delete some unnecessary words on the basis of the original meaning according to the need of the grammar. The object is to make the translation fluent， smooth， natural and be in line with the Chinese expressions. Therefore， the quality of the translation can be improved by using the strategies of amplification and omission while keeping faithful to the original texts. In order to acquire the professionalism and accuracy of the translation， the thesis elaborates these two strategies of the translation through analyzing a large number of E-C translation assignments.

【Key words】amplification; omission; E-C translation

【作者簡介】赵金华（1986-），女，云南大学滇池学院，研究方向：大学英语教学。

1. Introduction

As a matter of principle， a translator is not supposed to add or subtract any meaning from the original work. However， this does not mean that a translator should refrain from adding or omitting any words at all in translation. In fact， nothing shows greater difference in syntax between English and Chinese than the amplification and omission of words in the sentence.

Just as Tytler once said， “If it is necessary that a translator should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work， it becomes a question， whether it is allowable in any case to add to the ideas of the original what may appear to give greater force or illustration; or to take from them what may seem to weaken them from redundancy. To give a general answer to this question， I would say， that this liberty may be used， but with the greatest caution. It must be further observed， that the superadded idea shall have the most necessary connection with the original thought， and actually increase its force. And， on the other hand， that whenever an idea is cut off by the translator， it must be only such as is an accessory， and not a principal in the clause or sentence. It must likewise be confessedly redundant， so that its retrenchment shall not impair or weaken the original thought.” （Tytler， 1791： 22）

2. Amplification in E-C Translation

By amplification we mean supplying necessary words in the translation to make the version correct and clear， to make it appear more like the language translated into. Thus， words supplied must be indispensable syntactically， semantically or rhetorically.

2.1 Syntactic Necessity

Due to the structure disparities between English and Chinese， amplification is necessary for the sake of syntax.

2.1.1 Measure Words

Measure words are rarely used in English， esp. before the countable nouns. Thus， when an English text is translated into Chinese， some measure words must be added.

Example 1： Balancing Act uses ten social， environmental and financial indicators.

Translation：“平衡行为”使用了10项社会、环境及财务指标。

Example 2： Every president since Clinton has been trying to persuade China to float its currency.

Translation： 自克林顿以来的每届总统都一真在努力说服中国浮动其货币汇率。

Analysis： The words “项” and “届” underlined are added according to the nouns they modify.

2.1.2 Tense Markers

In English， tense is marked through conjugating the verbs， while in Chinese， tense is marked by some words like“了”，“会”，“曾经”， etc. Thus， adding some tense markers in E-C translation is necessary.

Example 1： Today the $3.5 billion energy-beverage market is 6 percent of the nonalcoholic beverage industry， which includes soft drinks. Thats up 75 percent since last year and is expected to top $10 billion by 2010—thanks to peppy consumer demand and profit margins that are three times that of soda.

Translation： 現在，价值35亿美元的能量饮料市场占到了非酒精饮料（含软性饮料）行业的6%。由于强劲的消费者需求以及三倍于碳酸饮料（汽水）的利润率，其市场份额自去年以来上升了75%，预计到2010年其市场价值将超过100亿美元。

Example 2： The bottom line is clear enough： once， not so long ago， we were working in another universe.

Translation： 事情的本质是非常清楚的：不久以前，我们曾经为攻克疾病而奋斗在另一个世界里。

Analysis： The tense markers “了” and “曾经” underlined are added to demonstrate the past tense in English.

2.1.3 Plural Meaning

In English， plural meaning is conveyed through the conjugation of nouns， while in Chinese， it is conveyed by some words like“许多”，“大批”，“们”， etc. Sometimes， it is even conveyed through adding some adverbs.

Example 1： Patients newly diagnosed throng into our clinics， many of them very young， and utterly underwhelmed by their infection.

Translation： 大批新诊断出来的患者拥进我们的诊所，其中很多人还很年轻，但他们对自己被感染一事漠然置之。

Example 2： But candidates always talk tough. Presidents opt for a gentle， nudging approach.

Translation： 然而，候选人们嘴上总是很强硬，总统们态度总是很委婉柔弱。

Example 3： With dictators ousted， many researchers remain optimistic that the Arab Springs new freedoms will lead to progress in science， education and democracy.

Translation： 随着独裁者被陆续赶下台，很多研究人员都乐观认为，阿拉伯之春所带来的新自由会促进科学、教育和民主的进步。

Analysis： In example 1 and 2， the words underlined“大批”and“们”are added to convey the plural meaning. In example 3， the adverb“陆续”is added to convey the plural meaning.

2.1.4 Conjunctions

In English， the logic between sentences is not necessarily conveyed by way of conjunctions. Sometimes， non-finite verb phrases or adjectives can be used to link the sentences. Therefore， when translating such sentences into Chinese， the translator should bear in mind that some Chinese conjunctions should be added to define the logic.

Example 1： Sites devoted to big-ticket purchases—particularly cars， real estate and travel—are feverishly refining features and marketing strategies in an effort to attract the growing number of consumers searching the Web for buying advice.

Translation： 由于越来越多的消费者在网络上寻求购物咨询，为吸引这些消费者，各种大额购买专门网站，特别是汽车，房地产和旅游网站都在玩命似地改进其特色及市场策略。

Example 2： And November saw the dramatic arrest and brief jailing of Judy Mikovits， prominent for her work （now partially retracted） linking chronic fatigue syndrome to a virus.

Translation： 十一月，朱迪·米柯维茨被戏剧性地逮捕并被短暂监禁，她之所以声名远扬是因为其将慢性疲劳综合症与某种病毒联系在一起的研究工作（现在已被部分撤销）。

Analysis： In example 1， “to+ verb base” infinitive phrase is applied to express a kind of purpose or reason. Thus， the cause-and-effect conjunction “由于” is added in the Chinese version. In example 2， the adjective phrase “prominent for” is applied to express a reason. Thus， the cause-and-effect conjunction phrase“之所以……是因為……” is added in the Chinese version.

2.1.5 Verbs

Noun and noun phrases are more frequently used in English than in Chinese. Some noun or noun phrases convey an action. Thus， when translating such noun and noun phrases into Chinese， the translator should add some verbs.

Example 1： There， almost 200 feet below what was once a forest， giant machines cleave the earth into a cratered moonscape.

Translation： 那里曾经覆盖着森林，但现在，几乎两百英尺以下的地方都被大型机器挖得坑坑洼洼，看起来就像月球表面一样。

Example 2： From her home on the bluff of the river， she can see billowing steam rising from a vast strip mine 10 miles away.

Translation： 从她位于河岸悬崖上的家望去，可以看到滚滚浓雾从十英里之外一个巨大的露天矿井上升起。

Analysis： In example 1 and 2， the verbs “覆盖着” and “望去” are added to convey the action of the doers.

2.2 Semantic Necessity

Sometimes， the translator has to add some category words like “情况”，“原因”，“现象”， etc. to define the nouns and to complete the semantic meaning.

Example 1： “Google and Yahoo are getting better at these markets， so theyre a competitor too， but theres a level of depth to these categories that lends itself to even more of a vertical approach，” Mr. Brisco said， using industry vernacular for content devoted to a particular category.