The Translation of Automobile Brand-names from

the Perspective of the Principle of Equivalence

Abstract: Like any other translations, the translation of automobile brand-names is

also a kind of form of intercultural communication, it involves language laws, cultural

psychology, aesthetic interest and some other factors. The principle of equivalence of

Nida has great help to the translation of automobile brand-name. According to this

principle, the receptors of the brand names in the receptors language should respond

to it in substantially the same manner as the receptors of the brand names in the

source language. On the premise of knowing the sources and the features of

automobile brand-name, the translator should realize the big significance of this

principle to translation and implement the principle of equivalence in the process of

translation. Also, the translator should master various translation principles and four

different translation methods such as transliteration, literal translation, free translation

and transliteration combined with literal translation to achieve the desired effect.

Key words: principle of equivalence; brand names; translation strategies

从等效原则看汽车品牌名称的翻译

摘要

:汽车品牌名称的翻译同任何翻译一样, 是一种跨文化交际形式, 也涉及到语

言规律、文化心理、审美情趣等方面的因素。而奈达的等效原则理论对于品牌名称

的翻译有很大的帮助。根据这一理论，奈达指出在翻译过程中，品牌译语中的信

息接受者对品牌译文信息的反应应该与品牌源语接受者对商标原文的反应程度

基本相同。在掌握好汽车品牌名称的来源及特征的前提下，译者应当了解等效原

则对翻译的重大影响和意义，并在翻译过程中彻底贯彻奈达的等效原则，熟练

掌握翻译时应遵循的四条原则及四种翻译策略：音译法、直译法、意译法、音意结

合法，以达到理想效果。