The Use of Parallel Texts

German scholar Hartmann categorizes parallel texts into three major types: Type A consists of translations and original texts that are very consistent in form; Type B includes translations and original texts that are not entirely consistent in form but are functionally equivalent; and Type C refers to two different language texts that arise independently within the same communicative context. Domestic scholar Professor Li Changshuan defines "parallel texts" as reference materials in the target language that are related to the content of the original text and serve similar functions, with forms including thematic articles, encyclopedia entries, dictionary explanations, and example sentences.

How can we obtain parallel texts? Firstly, regarding specialized knowledge in specific fields, we can look up professional dictionaries, browse relevant literature, and read newspapers and magazines to find some proper nouns or articles for reference. However, these methods provide limited information, and the efficiency of searching is relatively low, offering little help to translators in terms of language. Nowadays, we can make full use of online resources to obtain parallel texts and verify the information. The first part of online resources includes a variety of websites, such as Baidu, Microsoft Bing, Google, etc. We can start by extracting keywords from the source text and further brainstorming, then inputting these keywords into the aforementioned websites to search and access relevant pages, especially official sites, to see if there are corresponding expressions available. Once we find valuable references, we cannot simply incorporate them into the translation; we still need to verify their authority and reliability, the universality of the expression, and whether they match the context of the translation.

The second part of online resources includes various online or desktop dictionaries, such as Youdao Dictionary, EC Dictionary, Baidu Dictionary, CNKI Translation Assistant, etc. By inputting a word or phrase, we can check its definition, usage, and context, which aids us in using foreign languages more accurately.

Referencing parallel texts during the translation process undoubtedly helps translators acquire professional knowledge, learn technical terms, adopt appropriate expressions, and mimic the writing styles found in parallel texts. For instance, when translating advertisements, translators can look for existing expressions in parallel texts to ensure that their translations conform to advertising norms. In translating an automotive advertisement stating, "超长质保：新能源车六年或十五万公里质保；燃油车四年或十万公里质保," we could search online for a mainstream automotive brand's official website, accessing a specific model's detail page, which states: "Our cars are covered by a new vehicle limited warranty, and almost all come with a 3-year/36,000 mile limited warranty (whichever occurs first) and a 5-year/60,000 mile limited warranty for powertrain components (whichever occurs first)." Based on this parallel text, we can translate the previous Chinese automotive advertisement as, "Our vehicles are covered by a long vehicle limited warranty: new energy vehicles come with a 6-year/150,000 km limited warranty (whichever occurs first); petrol vehicles come with a 4-year/100,000 km limited warranty (whichever occurs first)." Effectively utilizing parallel texts allows the translation to appear both professional and easy to understand.

◀️：Proofreading of English Academic Papers

▶️：Foreign Proofreading by Foreign Translators