On Omission in C-E Translation: From the Principle of Condensation

Abstract

With the implementation of China’s “going-out” cultural strategy, the English translation of Chinese voice and relevant methods have attracted increasing attention. The omission is one of the common techniques of C-E translation, which is applied to achieve the conciseness and fluency of the translation. However, omission leads to different understandings and practices in C-E translation. To explore whether omission refers to the deletion of both forms of the original text and its meaning, this paper carries out a study based on the principle of condensation in C-E translation brought forward by Wang Jianguo. Through the case analysis of omission, this paper finds that in some cases, the meaning of the original text is thought to be deleted in the translation, the content is actually condensed and thus implied in the translation. And by analyzing cases from the perspective of the principle of condensation in C-E translation, this paper elaborates on the discrepancy of the consciousness of boundary between English and Chinese, which also serve as the foundation of the principle of condensation. Therefore, compared with omission, the principle of condensation possesses specific methods that can be applied on different levels of word, sentence, and text, and thus can guide the C-E translation practice more sufficiently. Moreover, through the exploratory study of the differences between English and Chinese, this principle of condensation can help C-E translation be well-received by target readers.