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Article published In:
Translation and Interpreting Studies
Vol. 12:1 (2017) ► pp.162–179

A relevance-theoretic account of the use of the discourse marker well in translation from Chinese into English

| Beijing International Studies University

Discourse markers are a special category of words or expressions which have been shown to pose challenges during the translation process. This article adopts a relevance-theoretic perspective and, based on the two English translations of the Chinese play Leiyu (Thunderstorm), explores the use of the discourse marker well in translation from Chinese into English. The findings show that the discourse marker well in translation from Chinese into English is added in two scenarios: to intensify weaker forms of a similar Chinese discourse marker or as an addition when omitted in Chinese. Moreover, interlingual pragmatic enrichment will ensue and the English translations, in comparison with their Chinese originals, become more determinate. Based on this study, we can conclude that discourse markers are important pragmatic elements in translation from Chinese into English. Likewise, contrastive pragmatics is shown to be of potential in the process of translation.

Keywords: relevance theory, discourse marker, well , Chinese-English translation
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Studies on the translation of discourse markers and the discourse marker well
    • Translation of discourse markers
    • The discourse marker well
  • Relevance theory and translation
  • A case study: The translation of the Chinese drama Leiyu (Thunderstorm) in English
    • Well as a marker of insufficiency in translation from Chinese into English
    • Well as a face-threat mitigator in translation from Chinese into English
    • Well as a frame in translation from Chinese into English
    • Well as a delay device in translation from Chinese into English
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References


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Published online: 13 April 2017
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https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.12.1.08gua
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