Translation of Environmental Science Texts from the Perspective of Translation Shift Theory

Abstract

Environmental science text, a kind of EST (English for Science and Technology), essentially belongs to the category of expository information texts. The core purpose is to convey objective information through an accurate linguistic representation system. John Catford’s Translation Shifts theory emphasizes semantic equivalence rather than formal equivalence, a perspective that aligns with the requirement in EST translation on content over form. To effectively enhance the target language readers’ understanding of the original content, adjustments and transformations in linguistic expression may be necessary. This paper, from the perspective of Catford’s Translation Shifts theory, analyzes the challenges encountered in translating environmental science texts through the dimensions of level shifts and category shifts, and explores solutions. The aim is to provide valuable references and insights for future translation practices of related texts.