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Translation is a process of connection between two cultures. There are several translation methods that may be chosen, depending on the aim of the translation: interpretative-communicative (translation of the sense), literal (linguistic transcodification), free (modification of semiotic and communicative categories) and philological (academic or critical translation).

In the following text, let's talk about more on “free translation”. To be more specific, one broad definition of what might be termed “free translation”, in a sense, is communicative translation which attempts to produce on its reader an effect as close as possible to that obtained on the readers of the original. In free translation, the translator should be familiar with target language and culture, and should be free from “fixed meaning” of any given word, so the translator works mostly in message, not single code units and tries to render cultural concepts into target language and culture.

Borrowing is a strategy that translators quite frequently use. It is a very precise transmission of cultural information, but only when it is reasonable to believe that the TL reader would recognize the term and know what it means.

Also, the translator can resort to substitution where the two cultures display a partial overlap. The disadvantage of substitution is that it identifies concepts which are not identical, eliminating the “strangeness” of the foreign culture and treating foreign-culture concepts as its own.

Besides, translators can also resort to the following techniques in dealing with “free translation”.

· Adaptation. To replace a ST cultural element with one from the target culture. (e.g. Talk of the devil and he will appear. 说曹操曹操到（literal translation: 说魔鬼魔鬼就会出现）)

· Compensation. To introduce a ST element of information or stylistic effect in another place in the TT because it cannot be reflected in the same place as in the ST. (e.g. Sense comes with age. 老马识途 (literal translation: 时光出真知) )

· Discursive creation. To establish a temporary equivalence that is totally unpredictable out of context. (e.g. You don't say! 是吗？(literal translation: 你别说话！))


NOTES

This classification of translation techniques has been tested in Molina 1998, where it was used as an

instrument to analyse translations.


References

Bassnett,Susan and McGuire.1998.Translation Studies.New York: Methuen & Co.Ltd. Newmark,Peter.1998.A Textbook of Translation. UK: Prentice Hall International Ltd.