Article Translation Theories and Skills http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2025.08.015
Beyond Syntactic Transformation: A Comparative Analysis and Paradigm Innovation of Translation Exercises in Chinese and European EFL Textbooks
Yanan Wu
Xi'an mingde institute of technology, Xi'an 710124, Shaanxi, China.
*Corresponding author: Yanan Wu
Published: September 26,2025
Abstract
This study conducts a comparative analysis of translation exercise tasks in mainstream Chinese and European English as a Foreign Language (EFL) text-books, aiming to reveal their underlying pedagogical philosophies and competency development orientations. The research employs qualitative content analysis, systematically analyzing translation exercises in New Concept English and English File from four dimensions: “linguistic form,” “communicative function,” “cultural dimension,” and “pragmatic awareness.” The findings reveal that the exercise design in New Concept English emphasizes the accuracy control of syntactic structures and mechanical matching of vocabulary, reflecting a “form-centered” paradigm. In contrast, English File integrates translation into simulated real-life communicative scenarios, emphasizing the comprehensive aspects of meaning transmission, cultural adaptation, and pragmatic choices, thereby embodying a “sociocultural-task-based” paradigm. Based on this, this paper innovatively constructs an “ecological translation task” design framework, advocating the reformation of translation into a comprehensive linguistic practice activity that cultivates metalinguistic awareness, cross-cultural sensitivity, and pragmatic competence, providing theoretical insights and practical pathways for future textbook development and teaching reforms.
Keywords
Textbook comparison; Cross-cultural communication skills; Pragmatic competence; EFL teaching
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How to cite this paper
Beyond Syntactic Transformation: A Comparative Analysis and Paradigm Innovation of Translation Exercises in Chinese and European EFL Textbooks
How to cite this paper: Yanan Wu. (2025). Beyond Syntactic Transformation: A Comparative Analysis and Paradigm Innovation of Translation Exercises in Chinese and European EFL Textbooks. Translation and Foreign Language Learning, 1(1), 88-93.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2025.08.015