Register Analysis and the Study on the Translation of The Analects

Register is the functional variety of language.The register analysis is a significant part of SFL.The paper makes a detailed study of the Hallidayan approach to register, making clear the bi-directional relationships between the context of situation, register and text, distinguishing the main functions of register with a statement that register is both predictive and cohesive.Finally, from the aspects of register equivalence and cohesion, with two special chapters as analytical examples, a comparative analysis is carried out between five well-known English versions of The Analects of Confucius by five distinguished translators in different times and from different areas.The study clearly specifies the significance of the register analysis in both the study of translation of The Analects and the translating of The Analects itself, thereby uncovers a new idea and a new method for both the study of translation of The Analects and its translation.