In these knowledge-based times, cultural exchanges between China and Korea are frequently occurring. It is certain that the role of translation in exchange procedures in many areas is getting more important now than ever. But translation is not easy a...
In these knowledge-based times, cultural exchanges between China and Korea are frequently occurring. It is certain that the role of translation in exchange procedures in many areas is getting more important now than ever. But translation is not easy as there is no perfect translation in the world. As such, more efficient and effective translation strategies should be examined which is why translation strategies warrant further research.
After translating the work of Youngmoo Yoon's To Live as an Eldest Son in Korea (2004), Nana Sun tried to develop more effective strategies in Korean and Chinese literature centered on various aspects of vocabulary including Sino-Korean words, loan words, proper nouns, onomatopoeic words, mimetic words and idioms.
This thesis is composed of four parts: an introduction, research on the vocabulary translation strategy shown in the work To Live as an Eldest Son in Korea and a conclusion.
In chapter 2, translation theories regarding concepts, standards and methods of translation were studied as the focus in order to help the analysis of translation examples.
In chapter 3, translation strategies of the Chinese language including Sino-Korean words, loan words, proper nouns, onomatopoeic words, mimetic words and idioms were studied with the literature work of To Live as an Eldest Son in Korea as the focus. In translation of Sino-Korean words, it was found that three kinds of translation methods are mostly used: equivalent, substitute, and liberal translation. Regarding Sino-Korean words which are used in Korea, Sino-Korean words which have the same meaning and usage as the Chinese language were treated as words with equivalent translation, and Sino-Korean words which have a similar meaning and usage to the Chinese language were translated using the substitute translation method. Regarding Sino-Korean words which have a totally different meaning and usage than the Chinese language, the meanings of the words were untangled and translated with the liberal translation method. Regarding the translation of loan words, both liberal translation and voice translation were used as the most appropriate methods. If the loan words in the Korean language are not habituated to the Chinese language and are difficult to understand, they were not treated as loan words in the Chinese language even though they were treated as loan words in the Korean language as well. In this case, the liberal translation method was used to preserve meaning. Where the voice translation method was used, translations were carefully executed by keeping the differences in voice marks in mind between the Korean language and the Chinese language. The translation of proper nouns, names, place names, and special object names were a special focus. In translating Korean names, the sentences which have Chinese characters in the Chinese language were translated, and if there was no Chinese character in the sentence, Chinese characters which could convey a similar meaning were sought from dictionaries or relevant materials and translated that way. For proper and original names, translations were made by voice translation or by consideration of their meanings. Regarding translation of foreign names, it was thought to be appropriate to translate using the voice translation method. Place names could be translated by coping with Chinese characters because most Korean place names are made of Chinese characters. Translation of special names was executed by substituting words which have similar images or meanings in that domain of Chinese. Translation of onomatopoeic words and mimetic words are the areas where the most diverse translation strategies could be used. In this thesis, six translation methods were used which include the translation of Chinese to onomatopoeia, translation of duplicated syllables to words, translation of quantity words, translation of four-character idioms, and expression, addition, and omission through descriptive vocabularies. The most difficult vocabulary translation is that of idioms. This is because idioms include various meanings other than what appears on the surface, such as meanings of designation, meanings of association, figures of speech, and meanings of changes. In translating idioms, it is most important to identify what meaning is being put across and subsequently render it. In this thesis, three translation methods including substitute, literal, and liberal translation were suggested as a reliable idiom translation strategy. In the case of Chinese language idioms which have the same vocabularies and meaning as Korean idioms, the substitute translation method was used and in opposite cases, literal or liberal translation methods were used.
The above translation methods could be relatively frequently used translation methods in Korean and Chinese vocabulary translations. As To Live as an Eldest Son in Korea was chosen as a translation subject and the translation was completed by the author of this study, the language rendering cannot be perfect. From a translator’s view point, this research could be helpful for the realization of Korean and Chinese vocabulary translation because the most proper translation methods were considered and selected.
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