Let’s understand the eight sentences.(1-4)  The sender selects a message in the source language.  Encodes the message in signal 1 with the SL context.  Transmits signal 1 containing the message.  The translator receives signal 1 manifesting the message.

Let’s understand the eight sentences.(5-8)  Decodes signal 1 in the light of the SL context  Comprehends the message.  Encodes the message by means of the target language via the TL context  Transmits signal 2 containing the message.

The importance of comprehension and reproduction of the SLT at the macro-level  A thorough macro-comprehension of the SLT is indispensable for a faithful or correct reproduction of the original.  A correct understanding of the SLT is the prerequisite of its adequate reproduction.  A thorough or very good macro-comprehension of the SLT will facilitate its adequate micro- comprehension and contribute to the good quality of the whole version.

The major aspects of macro-level comprehension of the original  The major aspects comprise a good understanding of such important aspects as the text type, the background or setting, the writing style, the topic category, the theme, the writer’s intention or purpose, the communication addressees, ect., of the SLT.

Question 1  How to judge the text type of the SLT?  Answer: As is known to all, there are four types of texts: narrative, descriptive, expositive and argumentative texts. In order to immediately recognize and determine the original text type, the translator ought to bear in mind the particular distinguishing features of each text category.

Question 2  How to get to know the original style?  Answer: Then how to grasp the SLT style? Normally, it is extremely necessary to read through the SLT and have a clear idea of the lexical and syntactic features of the SLT, as well as its content before it is possible to understand the SLT style. If the SLT contains many colloquial words, phrases and sentences, or if it includes dialogues and short oral sentences, the original style must be informal or colloquial. If the SLT contains formal words and expressions and plenty of long and complex sentences, it must be in a formal or written style. If the SLT is characterized by conciseness and succinctness, its style is certainly concise and terse.

Question 3  How to reproduce the original style?  Answer: Having grasped the original style, the translator is supposed to work hard to reproduce it in the TLT by selecting words, phrases and sentences in the TL that clearly reflect the original style.  E.g. There are symbols and many short sentences in Hemingway’s novels. To duplicate his style, the translator should employ symbols and short sentences in the TLT. Generally, he or she is not supposed to combine two or more than two sentences in the SLT into a single one in the TLT. For another example, if the SLT gives an account of some scientific knowledge and contains plenty of technical words and involved sentences, the translator should be well aware of this language feature and employ many corresponding technical terms and some complex sentences in the version.  Evidently, it is absolutely necessary for the translator to grasp the original style and reproduce it by making much effort in order to produce a faithful version.

Question 4  If the SLT is recognized as a text of narration, what aspects should the translator pay attention to?  Answer: If the SLT is recognized as a text of narration, the translator ought to be quite clear about the following questions: Is the text narrated or described from the first person angle or from the third person perspective? Does the narrator relate real events or fictitious ones? Are the events or human activities in the SLT organized in a chronological order or in a spatial sequence? Is it characterized by flashbacks, inverted narration, and supplementary narration? If the translator has a good grasp of the correct answers to all the above questions, he or she will benefit a great deal in the course of translation.

Question 4  What does an expositive article tell us?  Answer: If the SLT is a piece of exposition, it either explains things or provides information and knowledge in an objective and scientific manner. Expositive articles, essays, or papers deal with processes and relationships. They are organized according to logic and on the basis of reasoning. In a piece of exposition, the writer may present a concept, a fact, a discovery, a process, etc., and explain it by using various techniques such as definition, classification, illustration, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, etc. The translator has to grasp the linguistic characteristics and writing techniques of expositive texts and adequately reproduces them in the version.

Question 5  What do you know about a piece of argumentation?  Answer: If the SLT is a piece of argumentation, the translator is supposed to well understand that an argumentative article contains an argument which is a set of statements in support of an opinion or proposed course of action, and that persuasive writing is designed to convince the readers that the opinion or course of action presented is correct.

Question 6  What should a translator do before he translates an argumentative article?  Answer: The translator ought to grasp the outstanding features of argumentative writing by finding out the argument, the orderly way it is presented and the reasons provided logically before he or she is able to reflect them in the version. While translating a piece of argumentation, the translator is supposed to bring to light the original logical relations and logical meaning by using appropriate diction and employing both coordinating and subordinating conjunctions and other devices.

Question 7  Can you give examples to show that different writers have different styles.  Answer:. As we all know, different writers write in different styles.  Lao She’s writings show a cordial and humorous style.  Winston Churchill’s famous speeches exhibit a vigorous and sprightly style.  Ernest Hemingway’s novels demonstrate a simple and symbolic style.  Charles Lamb’s essays are written in his humorous and inimitable style.  William Hazlitt’s essays are characterized by a lucid and forceful prose style.  Some writers write in an elegant or graceful style. Others write in an ornate style. Still others write in a straightforward style, and so on and so forth. Furthermore, a number of styles are organically integrated in some works. Since there are so many different styles, it is quite necessary for a translator to make much effort to have a good grasp of the style of the SLT before he or she sets pen to paper.