译者在翻译时应时刻保持语境意识。本文把Hatim和Mason提出语境三个层面理论作为理论基础,指导肢体语言的翻译。表面上非言语交际描述的翻译是文本间的翻译,而实质上是两个不同非言语系统之间的转换。本文全面阐述了非言语交际的定义,特征,研究状况并探究了肢体语言翻译中存在的问题：一是缺乏对非言语交际中文化信息的意识;二是忽视了上下文中非言语交际描述的功能。因此,如何提高译者翻译肢体语言时的语境意识是本文的核心。

translation.

1. Unawareness of cultural messages in body language contextually

The difficulties arising out of cultural differences constitute the most serious problems

for the translator and have produced the most far-reaching misunderstandings among readers (Zheng Shengtao, 1994). Hall (1995) states, most of our nonverbal behaviors, like culture, tend to be elusive, spontaneous, and frequently beyond our awareness. Nonverbal languages may be classified into two types: 1) non-cultural nonverbal languages and 2) culture-specific nonverbal languages. Culture-specific nonverbal languages pose a threat for successfully translating a text into another culture or even group of people of another sub-culture under the same cultural background. Translators are required to familiarize himself or herself with the cultural background of the original text and take into full consideration those elements decided by culture and environment (Wang Bingqin1995; Lu Jun, 1995). For example:

“You should not be discouraged. Mother said to us gently. ”

We all shook our heads.

Version 1:妈妈轻轻对我们说:“别泄气…”

我们都摇摇头。

Version 2:妈妈轻轻对我们说:“别泄气…”

我们都点点头。

In this passage, we come upon one body movement “shook our heads”. Due to

differences in logic thinking between English-speaking people and Chinese, this nonverbal behavior “shaking heads” performed by people in English culture is a positive response to mother s words, expressing our agreement with Mama not to be discouraged. While in Chinese culture, the same nonverbal behavior carries different meaning 一 “disapproval” in this case. The literal translation of “shook heads”，一 “摇摇头” (Version 1), in the Chinese nonverbal sign system, means, “我们不行，没有自信” whereas “shook our heads” in the original text actually means “No, we don t be discouraged.” Therefore, for the sake of logical consistency of the translation text, the translator discards the image of “shaking head”, and replaces it with the opposite image “点了点头” (Version 2) which is of logical sense in the translated text.

2. Neglect of functions of body language in the context