Abstract:This thesis aims at discussing the translation of business English correspondence under the guidance of Relevance Theory, a theory that can provide a brand-new perspective of translation and help people understand the advantages and limitations of different approach to translation. The important concepts and basic viewpoints of Relevance Theory will be stated to help readers to understand the theoretical framework. Then the characteristics of business English correspondence will be discussed. In addition, comparison of Relevance Theory with other translation theories, say, Functional Equivalence Theory and Text Typology, is made to illustrate Relevance Theory’s own advantages when it is applied to the translation of business correspondence. And the discussion of Relevance Theory’s application to business English correspondence will be developed by a number of translation examples of business English correspondence.
Key words: Relevance Theory; translation; business English correspondence
CONTENTS
Abstract
中文摘要
1.Introduction.1
2.Literature Review1
2.1 Business Correspondence and its Characteristics
2.2 Previous Approaches to the Translation of Business English Correspondence
2.3 Relevance Theory and its Application to Translation
3. Relevance Theory.3
3.1. The Origin and Definition of Relevance Theory
3.2. The Important Concepts in Relevance Theory
3.2.1 Informative Intention and Communicative Intention
3.2.2 The Principle of Relevance and the Presumption of Optimal Relevance
3.3 The Application of Relevance Theory to Translation
4. Business English Correspondence.9
4.1 Characteristics of Business English Correspondence
4.2 Translation from Perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory
4.3 Translation from Perspective of Text Typology
5. Translation of Business English Correspondence from Perspective of Relevance Theory11
5.1 Translation of Words
5.1.1 The Words Specially Used in Business and Trade
5.1.2 The Special Meaning of Common Words
5.1.3 Abbreviation
5.1.4 Old Style Words
5.2 Translation of Syntax
5.2.1 Basic Skills
5.2.2 Translation of Long Sentence
5.2.3 Translation of Passive Sentence
5.3 Translation of Style
6. Conclusion17
Bibliography.17
Acknowledgements19
