Abstract: With the development of global economy, China’s integrated into world market and more and more foreign companies have entered into China’s market. So the economic exchange among countries has been increasing. Company name plays an important role in involving into the international market. A good company name is good for building up a nice corporation image and advancing its development and status in the international association.

     From the perspective of cognitive linguistics, the author did researches on the Chinese-English translation problems of Chinese companies’ names with foreign ones, taking world top 100 companies’ names as data. This thesis points out that the translation of company names is under the limits of human’s cognitive characteristics, and the translation methods are restricted by different cultures’ background. The Chinese-English translation of different company names should follow the different cultures, conveying the true meaning of company names, but also pays attention to the novelty and attraction.

Key words: cognitive linguistics  translation techniques  cognitive grammar  construal

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter 1   Introduction-1

Chapter 2   Literature Review-3

2.1 traditional naming theory-3

2.2 historical causal naming theory-4

2.3 conceptual blending theory-5

Chapter 3  Theoretical Basis-6

3.1 cognitive linguistics-6

3.1.1  philosophical basis of cognitive linguistics-7

3.1.2 psychological basis of cognitive linguistics-7

3.1.3 linguistic basis of cognitive linguistics-9

3.2 cognitive grammar-10

3.3 construal-11

3.3.1 specificity-11

3.3.2 perspective-11

3.3.3 selection-12

3.3.4 salience-12

Chapter 4  Data Analysis-13

4.1 translation strategies used in Chinese company name translation-13

4.2 translation techniques in the foreign company name translation-14

4.3 Construal in company name translation-15

4.3.1 Specificity-16

4.3.2 Perspective-17

4.3.3 Selection-17

4.3.4 Salience-17

Chapter 5  Conclusion-18

Bibliography-19

Acknowledgments-20