Rhetorical Function and Translation of numerals
Abstract
Besides the function of reflecting the exact quantitative differences, numerals are used frequently in figures of speech. This thesis makes study of rhetorical functions of numerals, which updates the conventional focus on their ordinary functions as mathematical reasons. Since numerals are widely used in rhetoric , the diversity of rhetorical numerals makes it imperative to clarify their different uses. Thus rhetorical numerals are classified in the light of their specific functions in figures of speech. This thesis makes a comparative analysis of the usage of concrete rhetorical numerals between English and Chinese. A clear understanding of the similarity and discrepancy is a must to the appropriate translation of them. Meanwhile, the similarity and discrepancy in the usage of concrete rhetorical numerals between English and Chinese is a challenge to translators, that is, how to faithfully and precisely convey the original meaning and to make the translation conform to the linguistic norms and practice of the target language. Accordingly, this thesis approaches the actual process of translation through a host of examples from the angle of the linguistic norms and practice. Thereby, three basic methods of translation are proposed, namely, maintenance of original numerals, transformation of numerals and additions or deletions of numerals.
Key Words: numerals; rhetoric function; translation；maintenance；
transformation；additions or deletions
摘 要
數字，除了含有顯示嚴格的數量差別的功能外，也具有修辭功能。本文對數字的修辭進行了研究，把對數字的傳統關，提升到了修辭功能上。由於數字在修辭中的廣泛使用，其多樣性使得我們對其不同用法的區分勢在必行。因此本文透過對用於修辭手段的數字以其在修辭格中各自的用法進行分類，比較分析了英漢兩種語言在數字修辭運用過程中採用具體數字方面的異同。對此異同的`充分認識是對此類數字進行地道翻譯的前提。同時，英漢兩種語言在數字修辭運用過程中的共同點和差異也給我們翻譯工作者帶來了挑戰，那便是如何翻譯數字才能做到既忠實而又確切地表達原意，又能使譯文更符合對方的語言規範和語言習慣。因此，本文透過大量例句探討了翻譯的實際操作過程中如何從符合語言習慣的角度翻譯用於修辭手段的數字，從而總結出了最基本的3種譯法，即：數字保留法，數字轉換法，數字增舍法。
關鍵詞： 數字； 修辭功能； 翻譯； 保留；轉換；增舍