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Chapter 4 Case Analysis

4.1 Level Shifts

According to Catford (1965), “level shifts” mean that: the source language from one linguistic level is shifted into the other equivalent linguistic level in the target language when translating. And in level shifts, grammar-to-vocabulary and vocabulary-to-grammar shifts are mainly applied. For example, there is a difference between Chinese and English in the representation of tenses, singular and plural, which should be shifted into expressions that conform to the style of the transliterated language when translating. 

Example 1:  (ST=source text; TT=target text) 

[ST]: It worked: during his presidency, Teddy Roosevelt signed into existence 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, 55 national bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges, and 150 national forests. (see Appendix A, p.46)

[TT]: 这件事奏效了：在罗斯福总统任期内，他签署建立了5个国家公园、18座国家纪念碑、55个国家鸟类保护区和野生动物保护区以及150个国家森林。（see Appendix B，p.71） 

Chapter 5 Conclusion

5.1 Major Gains

Electrify: An Optimist’s Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future is chosen as the translation material for this Translation Practice Report, and the task of text equivalence, guided by Catford’s Translation Shifts Theory, is accomplished as far as possible.

Today, the effects of climate change and other environmental issues are significant in the world, so it is imperative to take action to deal with these issues. In order to better understand the impacts of environmental issues on us, the translator practices translation of the book Electrify: An Optimist’s Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future in relation to the translation theory she learned, Catford’s Translation Shifts Theory. Under the guidance of this theory, the translator’s mastery of translation theory is further advanced, and translation methods are learned more deeply. 

Catford divides two types of shifts: level shifts and category shifts. Level shifts are to transfer the source language from one linguistic level to another equivalent linguistic level in the target language, which is usually grammar-word shifts, i.e., changes in singular and plural forms, tense, tone, etc. In the process of translation, this kind of shift can be accomplished through the addition of quantifiers, and adverbs indicating tenses. For example, adding quantifiers such as “个”, and “座” to present the plural in Chinese; adding words “已经”, and “正在”, etc. to achieve tense shifts. 

Catford divides two types of shifts: level shifts and category shifts. Level shifts are to transfer the source language from one linguistic level to another equivalent linguistic level in the target language, which is usually grammar-word shifts, i.e., changes in singular and plural forms, tense, tone, etc. In the process of translation, this kind of shift can be accomplished through the addition of quantifiers, and adverbs indicating tenses. For example, adding quantifiers such as “个”, and “座” to present the plural in Chinese; adding words “已经”, and “正在”, etc. to achieve tense shifts. 

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