Comprehensive Translation

More often than not, the Comprehesive Translation can be applied to deal with the translation of long EST sentences. “Break the structural frameworks of the original text, then readjust the sentence according to order time, logic of the sentence and its modifier, abide by the original orders or reverse it, embody correctly the logical order and meaning of the original text”. To better understand the Comprehensive translation, we can refer to the following example:

More particularly, this invent ion relates to a method and apparatus for forming a film of metal ox ides continuously on the surface of ribbon g lass by spring thereon a solution of metal compounds at a point in the neighborhood of the inlet to a lehr or the inside thereof when the ribbon glass is being conveyed to the lehr after it has been formed from molten glass.

Translation: 更具体地说，本发明涉及在带玻璃表面上连续地喷涂一层金属氧化膜的一种方法和一系列的装置。当玻璃由液态成型为带玻璃后，要被送往退火窑，此时， 从退火窑入口附近或入口里将金属化合物溶液喷到玻璃表面上。

The original text can be understood with two levels of meaning respectively: one level of its meaning is the contents before the preposition “by”, which expounds what the invention has involved. The part after the preposition “by” is the other level of its meaning, which introduces the operational ways to put the invention into practices.

The first level of meaning is the backbone of the sentence, including subject (this invention), predicate (relates to), object (a method and apparatus) and prepositional phrase led by “for” as adverbial modifier to explain the application of “a method and apparatus”. This section is in line with Chinese habitual expression, so natural-flow translation is adopted.

The other level of meaning is prepositional phrase led by “by” as manner adverbial. In the meanwhile, there appears time adverbial clause led by “when” modifying “spraying” and time adverbial clause led by “after” that modifies predicate “is being conveyed”.

“From the aspect of its logical relation and professional knowledge for the contents, the adverbial clause led by “after” is ahead of that led by “when”, and in some sense the action of “spray” happens a little later.” 8

This level of meaning contains a few modifiers. Therefore, the translating strategy of division is employed to separate the modifiers, narrating one by one, at the same time, the original text is supposed to be translated reversely according to the logical relation of the meaning.

When the divided, natural-flow and reverse methods are adopted hand in hand during the process of translating, we call it a comprehensive translation method.

Read Also: Natural-Flow Translation and Inverted Translation