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A General and Analytic Study on the Translation of English Plural Expressions into Korean
The Journal of Translation Studies
Abbr :
JTS
2013, 14(4), pp.61-90
DOI : 10.15749/jts.2013.14.4.003
Publisher : The Korean Association for Translation Studies
Research Area : Interpretation and Translation Studies
2013, 14(4), pp.61-90
DOI : 10.15749/jts.2013.14.4.003
Publisher : The Korean Association for Translation Studies
Research Area : Interpretation and Translation Studies
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In this paper which aims at discussing the translation of English plural nouns into Korean, we have emphasized two subjects: one is to present resonable translation rules of English plurality into Korean with the aid of contrastive study of English and Korean; the other is to test and supplement the efficacy of the above translational rules with the analysis of parallel corpus collected in a novel. Through the discussion the translation rules of English plural nouns into Korean presented here are as follows:(R1a) Plural nouns of English should be translated into Korean with suffix ‘-deul’, if a plural category is logically required. In this case they are interpreted as sum of individual members. (R1b) Plural nouns of English are translated into Korean with suffix ‘-deul’, if a heterogeneity is found in those nouns. In this case they are animate and active or dynamic. (R2a) Plural nouns of English are translated into Korean as unmarked forms (i. e. forms without suffix ‘-deul’), if they only represent plurality or numeral concept. In this case, numeral expressions absent in original English text or classifiers specifying quantity, might be introduced. (R2b) Plural inanimate nouns of English could be translated into Korean as unmarked forms with adverbs, if they are interpreted as sum of individual members. (R2c) Plural inanimate nouns of English could be translated into Korean as compound nouns combined with nouns signifying collectiveness or declension forms combined with a particle ‘-mada’ adding individuality. The above two rules (R1) and (R2) theoretically form a complementary or exclusive distribution. Yet they could be supplementarily utilized in real translation of English into Korean. The author hopes that these rules will be adjusted and readjusted towards better solutions to the issues in question.
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