Study on English Translation of Chinese Quantifiers from the Perspective of Cognitive Iconicity: A Pilot Study

Chinese quantifiers are heavily loaded with Chinese culture, making it challenging to translate them into idiomatic English. The majority of earlier studies only examined linguistically the English translations of Chinese quantifiers. The interpretation of linguistic information, however, is a developing and pivotal stage of cognition in the translation process. Under the umbrella of cognitive iconicity, the research of cognitive distance between linguistic forms is being conducted. Therefore, it makes sense to talk about cognitive iconicity while discussing the English translation of Chinese nominal quantifiers. Based on the definition as well as the function of Chinese quantifiers, this research summarized four translation methods from a viewpoint of individual nominal quantifiers, namely, the omission of iconicity, the retention of iconicity, the conversion of iconicity, and the addition of iconicity. And then it further discussed the selection process of English translation version of Chinese nominal quantifiers.