The Language Characteristics and Translation Strategy of English Advertisements 广告英语的语言特点和翻译策略25.doc

The Language Characteristics and Translation Strategy of English AdvertisementsABSTRACTWith the influence of globalization, it seems that advertisements have touched us at any corner and on any occasion, which really reveal the integration between advertisements and life. Certainly, English advertisements have been showing their charm to us and we nearly cannot deny them, because they are not only possessed of considerable commercial value, but also much language study value. In view of three aspects, that is, word, syntax and rhetoric, this essay will give details about the translation strategy by vivid examples. Keywords: English Advertisements, Language Characteristics, Translation Strategies 广告英语的语言特点和翻译策略摘 要在全球化浪潮的推动下，广告无处不在，无时不有。真可谓是广告生活化，生活广告化。而广告英语正从普通英语中凸显自己的个性，它不仅具有很高的商业价值，更具有一定的语言研究价值。本文主要从广告英语的词汇、句法、修辞三个方面的语言特点,并结合实例分析广告英语的翻译策略。关键词: 广告英语 语言特点 翻译策略 CONTENTSABSTRACT摘要1. Introduction2. Language Characteristics of English Advertisements12.1 What are English Advertisements12.2 Language Characteristics of English Advertisements12.2.1 The Aspect of Word.22.2.2 The Aspect of Syntax32.2.3 The Aspect of Rhetoric62.2.3.1 Personification62.2.3.2 Simile and Metaphor72.2.3.3 Pun83. Translation Strategies of English Advertisements113.1 Literal Translation113.2 Free Translation123.3 Transliteration143.3.1 Pure Transliteration143.3.2 Semantic Transliteration143.3.3 Semantic Half Transliteration143.4 Transformation153.4.1 Different Viewpoints153.4.2 Virtual and Non-virtual Translation153.4.3 Substitution for Image164. Conclusion16Bibliography17Acknowledgements18 IntroductionWith the wave of globalization approaching, advertisements have brought us great benefits from every aspect, which add more vigor to our life and work. Especially, English advertisements have outstood from the common ones, and they are possessed of their own features. It is very obvious that English advertisements have influenced us so much that we are eager to study more about them. They give the advertisement producers much benefit, and render customers pleasant and willing to enjoy them, which is the charm of advertisements. In order to find the essence of them, people have to learn more about English advertisements. After all, we have entered a new globalizing century, and nobody hopes to be sifted out from the new trend because of the blank knowledge of English advertisements.Then, what are the exact features and how should we have a perfect translation of them? In this thesis, English advertisements have been distinguished from the aspects of language characteristics, and we should translate them in a special way to make them more attractive and persuasive. As for the translation, people should not be confined to the so-called equivalence of language forms, but take more profound factors into consideration, such as cultural difference, individual habit, and specific occasion and so on. There is no denying that English advertisements have been playing more significant role in peoples life and work, so it is full of great importance for us to know more about advertisements with our mind and heart. If so, I believe there will be a more harmonious and brilliant tomorrow. 1 Language characteristics of English advertisements1.1 What are English AdvertisementsEnglish advertisements are distilled from the common advertisements, which can be seen as a kind of art. They always vary from time to time, from space to space. Exactly speaking, English advertisements are means to introduce goods and service to consumers by means of a variety of methods and tools (Qi Yunfang, 2003:1).1.2 Language characteristics of English advertisementsSince English advertisements are different from the common advertisements, they have their own characteristics. English advertisements are a developing language, and tend to be more mature with the trend of globalization. Certainly, its own language system will also be further polished. Then, this thesis gives details from three aspects: word, syntax and rhetoric. In fact, language learning has played an important role in this point, and especially pragmatics is a very necessary branch, which can help to master the essence of English advertisements (Xia Qing, 2003:98).1.2.1 The aspect of wordAs the tool of transforming information, English advertisements are brief, vivid, and flexible. Therefore, some verbs and adjectives are used to convey effective and brief information, and also strengthen the expressiveness of language. Such as, get, buy, use, new, big, bright and so on (Zhao Jing, 1997:264-268). For example:Getting places in the business world is easier if your banker is there to meet you. (Bank advertisement) We buy just a boat, when you could buy a CHRISCRAFT. (Yacht advertisement)From the two examples, we strongly sense that brevity in English advertisements is a kind of beauty, which captures eyes and hearts of consumers in the shortest seconds. In order to strengthen sense of participation of consumers, English advertisements often adopt personal pronouns, such as: the first personal pronoun usually refers to the advertiser, the second personal pronoun refers to the consumer, and the third one refers to people who are familiar or understood by readers. For example:We made this watch for you to be part of your life-simply because this is the way. We always make watches. And if we may draw a conclusion, it would be this: Choose once and choose well（Guo Guilong, 2008:5）.She usually complains about my anniversary gifts, but this year she is going to smile. (Perfume advertisement)The above examples explain advantages of personal pronouns to us, and there is a very short distance between consumers and advertisements makers. Thus, people have stronger desire to buy those products. 1.2.2 The aspect of syntax Syntax, put simply, is the grammatical arrangement of each element of a sentence. Its main concern is to ensure the coherence of your subject, verb and object, as well as the relationships that tie them together. Involving a logical sequence, it's the framework from which you build sentences correctly.1.2.2.1 Simple sentencesMost of the time, English advertisements tend to use simple sentences to get high readability from readers. Because of the brevity of words used in advertisements, sentences are not too complex. For example:Got milk? This is an advertisement of brand milk. Cock adds life. This is the advertisement of Coca-cola. From the above examples, we can see that it is very easy to have a good impression on the brief English advertisements. It seems that they are incomplete in form, but in fact they are enriched in essence.Meanwhile, imperative sentences can be always adopted to promote the products, because they can increase persuasive or seductive function, and customers can be easily advised or even persuaded. For example:Buy one pair. Get one free. This is an advertisement of sunglasses. In this advertisement, there are two imperative sentences. If we use the following expression, we will find that there are totally different effects. If you buy one, you can get one more free of charge. There is no doubt that this sentence is less attractive and persuasive than the former one. Try this price! (Tan Weiguo, 2007:54). What an easy sentence! Most importantly, this advertisement has strong power to get attraction of customers. It is because of the use of imperative sentences, readers have been conquered by it, and it seems that there is no reason for them to refuse such an advertisement. 1.2.2.2 Familiar quotations Although advertisers are main addressers, consumers are the god who can take the final benefit. Therefore, some comments are produced by consumers so as to increase the credibility. These quotations make the forms of English advertisements brisk, the contents of them novel, and the essence persuasive. For instance:I absolutely refuse to have damaged hair! And now I dont have to. I have handfuls of shiny, healthy-look hair. Because I finally got my hair dresser to tell me his secret- Infusium 23 (Hair conditioner advertisement)“Its like were all in the same office. The office just happens to spread across 7,000 miles of ocean,” Tom Hughes, MIS Director. They are introductory expressions of an advertisement, and this advertisement appears vivid and concrete. “Through the NVQ initiative we have discovered talents and competencies, which we would never otherwise have known about,” says Lan MeDermot of Philips Components (Qian Cuilan, 2007:21).This is the appreciation showed to NVQ occupational training organization by employers. 1.2.2.3 Conditional sentences Sometimes, English advertisements also use conditional sentences or other phrases so as to regard condition as fact, and add subjective consumption or persuasion to them, thus propagandistic and persuasive power is strengthened. For example:If you suffer from indigestion, this is something you want to know. (Nutrition food advertisement)Without vitamins, life itself would be impossible. (Medicine advertisement)Although it is not brief to use conditional sentence in English advertisements, sometimes it is necessary to express advertisers persuasion and sincerity. When we read the two examples, we have to be moved by the effect of conditional sentences. 1.2.2.4 Interrogative sentences Interrogative sentences are very popular in advertisements, because no matter what kinds of those interrogative sentences are, it is very easy to arouse consumers interest and curiosity. Therefore, products can be promoted without too many difficulties. For instance:How to get 100 watts of light for only 44 watts of electricity? (House appliance advertisement) (Chen Meilian, 2006:59).How can the wrong system affect a perfectly good portable telephone? (Cell phone advertisement) Are you still feeding your six-month-old an infant formula? (Baby food advertisement)According to the grammatical function, interrogative sentences usually pose questions on consumers. After questions, it is very natural for consumers to consider them. Therefore, interrogative sentences in English advertisements not only attract them, but also give them more space to contemplate. For instance:How can you succeed in Europe if you arrive tired and sixty minutes behind your competition?What makes the finest tasting coffee in the world? The roasters art. (Coffee advertisement)Dinner? Done. (Pisa advertisement ) All of the above examples include interrogative structure of interrogative sentence, and are made up of two parts. For one thing, they ask questions to attract readers attention; for another thing, consumers can get information from answers. On the contrary, if not using the interrogative form, it will be difficult to express the same content in an easy way. Then we compare the advertisements words of the above airlines with the following sentences: Next time by using London city airport, you can succeed in Europe if you want to arrive much earlier without being tired. This is a relatively complex narrative sentence structure. Because this sentence doesnt ask any question from consumers, it is not so easy to take notice of readers, and let alone make consumers grasp key points. Thus it can be seen, the structure of interrogative sentence is a necessary form of attracting attention. Interrogative sentences introduce a question, which stirs peoples interest and curiosity, and they are eager to find answer and make decision. For example:Whats so special about Lurpak Danish butter? Well, can you remember what butter used to taste like real frag fresh butter? Do you remember how you used to enjoy it when you were young? Today- the taste of Lurpark brings it, all back to you. -thats why its so special. There are there interrogative sentences in this butter advertisement, and they can stimulate the longing for fresh butter of ideal group, so there will be a better advertisement effect. 1.2.3 The aspect of rhetoric A rhetorical figure can be defined as an artful deviation in the form taken by a statement. Since dozens of figures have been catalogued, ranging from the familiar (rhyme, pun) to the obscure (inimitable). Despite the frequent appearance of rhetorical figures in print advertisements, their incorporation into advertising theory and research has been minimal. This paper develops a framework for classifying rhetorical figures that distinguish between figurative and non-figurative text, between two types of figures (schemes and tropes), and among four rhetorical operations that underlie individual figures(repetition, reversal, substitution, destabilization). These differentiations in the framework are supported by preliminary validation data and linked to suggested consumer responses. The paper concludes by considering the theoretical import of the proposed framework for future research on rhetorical structure in advertising. In the matter of fact, English advertisements are full of life, and the figure of speech can further make their features outstanding in this aspect. We can make an inclusion that without rhetoric, there is without the art of advertisements. 1.2.3.1 PersonificationPersonification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is given human qualities or abilities. This rhetoric device endows English advertisements with dynamic beauty, and we can capture a vivid picture through them. For example:She has her own spirit and it graces everyone she comes near. (Lauren) 她有自己的精神，能使她所到之处，人人因此更加美丽。（Allen advertisement）In this English advertisement, the word “she” makes perfume possessed of the feature of female, which refers to the person who loves Lauren perfume, and refers to perfume, and naturally explains that this sort of perfume is specially used for women.Opportunity knocks! 机会在敲门。（Real estate advertisement）It is apparent that the word opportunity is seen as a person, and we can feel the preciousness of it, and from another aspect, we can find that it is time to grasp it, otherwise we may lose it. Flowers by Interflora speak from the heart由Interflora花说出我的心里话。 This is an advertisement of flower shop named Interflora. Reading such an advertisement, we cannot help addicting to the sweet of flowers and entering a world of flowers. What a beautiful picture it is!1.2.3.2 Simile and metaphorSimile is a figure of speech by which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as. For instance:Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. (State Farm Insurance)像个好邻居似的，州农场保险公司就在那儿。This sentence has a very obvious feature, that is, to use the word “like”, and compare insurance c