A Brief Analysis of Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation

摘要

This paper aims at facilitating translating practice by reinterpreting Peter Newmark's theory from a different linguistic viewpoint blending with cultural factors. The research methods adopted in the paper include literature review, comparison and case study. Communicative translation and semantic translation are two major translation methods put forward by Peter Newmark in one of his masterpieces Approaches to Translation. Meanwhile, he classified the texts into three types according to their functions, namely, expressive, informative as well as vocative texts, and accordingly explored the adoption of ST or CT from the perspective of the dominant function of the text. However, the present paper takes a new look into the theory of ST and CT by analyzing them in terms of syntax, culture and pragmatics, which can shed some light on translating practice. The conclusion is that the combination and flexible use of both is the most ideal translation method.