英文论文翻译范文

时间:2023-04-06 09:14:46

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英文论文翻译

篇1

随着全球一体化进程的加快,世界各国间的经济交流日益加强,商务活动越来越频繁。在日新月异、错综复杂的商务环境中,一些商务期刊论文中的经济观点、商务投资方法能够帮助商务人士看清大局,从而更好地从事商务活动。商业期刊论文是调查、分析和解释社会商业、经济和金融活动及变化问题的论文,其语言特点与日常交际英语不同,具有自身的特点和风格。

纽马克在所著的《翻译问题探讨》一书中提出了交际翻译理论观(纽马克,2001)。交际翻译理论认为翻译的主要目的是信息传达的准确性,因此在翻译过程中要以译文的整体效果为主,与此同时也要尽量做到简洁明了和提高译文的可理解性,不必太过拘泥原文的结构和形式而使译文模糊而晦涩难懂(康健,2006)。该理论为商务期刊论文摘要的英译提供了新的翻译思路与方法。

2.研究理论基础

英国翻译理论家纽马克在著作《翻译教程》中根据其语言功能将文本分为表达型文本、信息型文本和呼唤型文本这三大类,他还提出语言的主要功能表现为表达型、描述或信息型呼唤指示型侧重于表达功能的文本,主要是表达情感,不考虑读者的反应(纽马克,1988)。在翻译时应该结合语境,注意作者的语气及语言风格。侧重于信息表达类的文本,主要强调其“真实性”,它基本上涉及全部知识领域,其模式十分标准化。主要的翻译策略是语义翻译和交际翻译。

商务文本的本质是由语言和非语言手段的共同组成的商务交际行为,是在商务交际活动中为达到特定的商务目的而构建的一系列相互关联的商务交际功能。商务期刊论文文本内容广泛,涉及各行业各业,不同领域。其语言跨度较大,包含多种文体、多种行业知识。英文论文摘要是一种独特的文本。其具有自明性、独立性和完整性,能够吸引读者,概括原论文的重要内容。商务期刊论文摘要具有“信息”和“呼唤”功能。翻译文本决定了翻译方法。

3.商务期刊论文摘要中译英实例分析

3.1交际翻译策略

交际翻译策略的重点是根据目的语的语言、文化和语用方式传递信息,而不是尽量忠实地复制原文的文字。通常采用交际翻译的文体类型包括新闻报导、教科书、公共告示和其他很多非文学作品。

例1,营销战略是企业全部营销工作的基石。市场营销要制定企业的市场定位战略,发掘市场潜在需求,确立消费者品牌归属感,明确市场细分目标。(米歇尔,2001)。

译文:The marketing strategy is the cornerstone of the enterprise whole marketing work. The marketing needs to formulate the strategy for marketing position, explore the potential need, and establish the consumers brand sense of belonging, and make sure the marketing subdivision(米歇尔,2001).

交际翻译策略建议在不影响原文意义准确性的基础上进行增减。这篇商务期刊论文摘要旨在突出市场营销战略的重要性及怎样做好市场营销,所以侧重这一中心进行翻译及适当地增减词。例如,第一句“营销战略是企业全部营销工作的基石”可直接翻译为“The marketing strategy is the cornerstone of the marketing work”,没有翻译“企业”读者同样可以体会到营销策略的重要性。“The marketing strategy is the cornerstone of the enterprise whole marketing work.”是很明顯的中式英语,enterprise出现在中间有语法错误。第二句是强调我们应该怎样进行市场营销,关键是翻译后面几个要点,所以前面两句建议译为:“The marketing strategy is the cornerstone of the marketing work. It is necessary to identify market position, explore potential market demand, establish a sense of brand ownership for the customers and specify the market target.”

3.2语义翻译策略

语义翻译重视的是原文的形式和原作者的原意,商务期刊论文摘要设计到许多经济、贸易等方面的专有名词,所以在语义翻译的指导下可以让其英文翻译更加忠实原文。

中文摘要:从本质上讲,构建和谐社会的核心是调整两大基本关系,即人与人的关系及人与自然的关系。基于林业的生态建设不仅可以协调人与自然的关系,而且有助于协调人与人之间的关系。林业在和谐社会的构建中居于重要地位,发挥主要作用。为实现经济效益、社会效益的和谐,应从发展目标、战略定位、范畴、经营方式、林权制度、生态价值实现方式等六个方面论述和谐社会构建过程中的林业发展模式(王奇,2008:12)。

译文:A harmonious society should coordinate the two relationships: the one between man and man, and the other between man and nature, but the present mode of forestry development only focuses on the latter. This article indicated that the mode must be adjusted under the background of constructing harmonious society in china. The former part of this paper analyzes the role of forestry development in a harmonious society, and the latter part shows how the forestry mode should be developed in six different aspects such as the goal, strategy, role extension, management model, forest tenure reform, ecological value, ect.(王奇,2008:12).

该英文摘要总体上不错,能够较为全面地展现中文摘要的意思。但是根据纽马克的语义翻译原则,此英文摘要翻译还可以完善。例如,英文摘要中“but the present mode of forestry development only focuses on the latter”在中文摘要中没有出现这方面的意思。第二句中“This article indicated that the mode must be adjusted...”在中文中也没有出现相应的文本。此处就违反语义翻译“忠实原文”的规则。根据语义翻译的原则,我们可以对于某些词语添加注释,充分理解中文摘要想要表达的意思。该英文论文摘要建议译为:“A harmonious society lies in the coordination of the relationship between man and man, and between man and nature. Ecology-based forestry development facilitates the coordination of them, therefore, playing a vital important role in the constructing a harmonious society in China. Achieving the harmonious economic and social effects entails the construction of forestry model from six aspects such as development goal, strategic orientation, extent operation model, forest tenure reform, and ecological value, ect. ”

3.3交際翻译与语义翻译相结合

在很多情况下,对商务期刊论文摘要进行翻译时,既要将其内涵和基本含义表达出来,又要达到与读者产生共鸣的效果。因此,交际翻译和语义翻译相结合就能达到这两个目的,只采用语义翻译原则会忽略到读者的感受。只是单方面利用交际翻译,又会将原文的含义损失掉。例如某一商务期刊在谈论商务广告时,有一则酒店广告“夜晚时分,这里的世界依然五彩缤纷”,这里不仅需要表达语义还需要表达出其美感,将交际翻译与语义翻译相结合则可以翻译为“The colorful world doesn’t stop when it’s nightmare”,如果只是单纯地考虑语义译为“When it's night, the world is beautiful”,就难以达到前者所表达的效果。

篇2

关键词: 英文影视作品 翻译实例 翻译方法

英文影视名称的翻译与文本翻译既有相同点,又有不同点。相同的是:都要遵循翻译的“信,达,雅”,“既要忠实原文,表达主旨,又要注重翻译的艺术和美学效果”。不同的是:片名的翻译有时还要考虑一定的商业目的。事实证明,那些曲解、误解甚至完全主观臆造的翻译则不仅成为影视作品(特别是优秀作品)发行推广的绊脚石,更成为误人子弟的文化垃圾。相反,那些精准而又雅俗共赏的翻译作品就犹如一件件艺术精品,耐人寻味。2010年美国热映的大片“Twilight”其中文名字叫做《暮光之城》,此名称很好地展现了影片的艺术魅力和主旨,在暮色时分,这段跌宕起伏的冒险故事才缓缓地拉开了帷幕。

因此,在英语影视作品名称翻译中,通常也可以遵循以下三种常用的翻译处理方法:直译法、意译法、偏商业化的译法。一方面,可以达到向观众准确地宣传和介绍优秀的英语影视作品的目的;另一方面,也能让英语爱好者体会到英文原名与中文译名之间的转化的美感,从中欣赏中西方语言和文化的魅力。

一、直译法

一部好的影视作品片名翻译,首先要求翻译工作者在看懂影视作品内容的基础上,忠实准确地将原片标题翻译出来。这样的翻译常常能让观众一目了然,欣然接受。如Robinhood(《罗宾汉》),King Arthur(《亚瑟王》),The Kiss of the Dragon(《龙之吻》),English Patient(《英国病人》),First Blood(《第一滴血》),Cold Mountain(《冷山》),True Lies(《真实的谎言》),Dances with Wolves(《与狼共舞》),Perfect Storm(《完美风暴》),Sahara(《撒哈拉》),Up in the Air(《在云端》)等这些翻译都是比较直接地将原片名翻译出来,使我们很容易想到影片的内容,也保持了影片的格调。

但是,如果有些影视作品名的翻译与原文相差甚远,不仅给人以错误的提示,甚至完全混淆或扭曲原影视作品的意思。比如说由苏珊・萨兰登主演的影片White Palace描写不同阶层之间的男女恋爱故事,剧情非常朴实,演员的表演也很自然到位。本片导演路易斯・曼杜奇在影片的前半部还是拍出了很不错的情调,对两人对立鲜明的个性:温文优雅和美艳热情也做了很好的戏剧性发挥。可是这部电影的名称翻译却让喜爱电影的朋友们大失所望。《情挑六月花》这个译名不仅降低了电影的水准,而且使观众误以为是一部粗制滥造的言情片。后来,又译者将之改为《人间有情》,虽然又一定的局限性,但毕竟将电影的主旨健康地表现了出来。所以说,在很多时候,电影翻译工作者要本着对观众高度的责任态度来完成翻译任务。

二、意译法

同直译法相比,意译法在影视作品的翻译中所占的比重比较大。对影视作品的翻译,可以通过合理归化的手法,将外来文化与本土文化的最佳结合点翻译出来。既尽量按照中国的文化特点进行调整,又将片名翻译得尽可能符合中国观众的文化口味和审美标准,从而最大限度地吸引观众。例如大嘴美女朱莉亚・罗伯茨主演的Pretty Woman(《风月俏佳人》),有些地方将它直译为《漂亮女郎》,尚可接受;但有些地方却翻译成《乌鸦变凤凰》,未免有些差强人意,毕竟太缺乏书面语言的美感,只让人感到口语的粗俗。而且“乌鸦”这种动物在中国人的眼里是不吉祥的象征,所以如果以这个名字出现,估计会吓退很多品味高级的观众。还有不少根据剧情意思来翻译的比较优秀的作品,如:Ladykiller(《奶师杀手》),17 Again(《重回17岁》),Speed(《生死时速》),The Terminal(《幸福终点》),Born on the Fourth of July(《生逢七月四》),Vanilla Sky(《芳草天空》),Flawless(《完美无瑕》)等。

在翻译影视作品片名时,除了要尊重原片名所指的意思以外,还可以作适当的处理,表现出一定的美感。比如美国影片Blood and Sand传到中国以后,用了《碧血黄沙》这个非常具有情景味道的译名,是观众很快地联想到了西部、大漠、荒凉等与影片相关的字眼。没有只是简单地、直截了当地翻译成《血和沙》,相信前者比后者吸引到了更多的观众,从而保证了影片一定的票房率。深受中国小朋友们喜爱的动画片“Bugs Bunny”是华纳公司的力作,片中的主人公是全球孩子们都熟悉的人物,这部动画电影有两个译名,分别是《兔宝宝》和《兔八哥》。相比之下,后者更能体现出兔八哥妙语连珠、俏皮逗人的个性。

三、偏商业化的译法

影视作品也是具备相当可观商业价值的商品。在今天电影行业竞争异常激烈的情况下,作品名称是否能够吸引观众眼球成了影响票房率的重要因素之一。因此在片名翻译时,译者要考虑到一定的商业价值。特别是美国好莱坞大片,动辄斥资上亿美元的巨资拍摄而成,但是如果译者因为译名失败,很有可能会导致影片票房的惨淡和制片方严重的经济损失,都是非常令人惋惜的事情。因此,作为一名优秀的、负责任的翻译工作者,在片名的翻译时,既要考虑忠实于原片内容,又要考虑到译名是否会激发观众观看的欲望,从而保证高额的票房回报,这是非常具有挑战性的研究课题。

在2008年,有一部由导演伊桑・科恩执导的奥斯卡获奖影片No Country for Old Man(《老无所依》),就是凭借这个精心翻译的片名,挑起了观众强烈的观看欲望,最后在中国市场掀起了争相观看的热潮。片中警长埃德・贝尔代表片名中的“Old Men”,他在对一连串的杀人事件进行调查,并努力保护Moss的安全。但是,让Bell感到无力绝望的是,本来是维护社会制安的执法者,现在却变得束手无策,完全失去了作用,他使出浑身解数也无法追踪到冷血杀手,Moss的生命安全也受到严重的威胁。老Bell一面惊异于社会的变化、人性和法制观念的没落,一面感叹世界已超出他们的控制之外,怀念那曾有的公正和人性的温暖。所以,这部片名的翻译很有深意,它并非向观众想象的那样俗套,而是真正体现了在这个社会上,我们所珍惜的道德标准和是非尺度已经渐渐远离了我们,当困难发生时,我们无所依靠,取而代之的是茫然和绝望,只有少数的人还在维护着最后的荣耀和正义,所以说,这个作品的翻译是非常成功的。

更多的例子还有,比如:Face Off(《夺面双雄》),The Scent(《闻香识女人》),Shakespeare in Love(《莎翁情史》),Captain Corelli’s Mandolin(《战地情人》),Wild at Heart(《我心狂野》)以上的翻译充分考虑到汉语语言的特点及一定的商业目的,以吸引不观众的眼光,达到良好的票房效果。

四、结语

综上所述,我们可以看出,那些优秀的英语影视片名的翻译,大多是在遵循基本的翻译原则基础上,巧妙灵活通过直译、意译或商业化等译法等来处理的。当然,片名的翻译首先要能反映原片名的意思,也就是说要首先忠于原意,然后恰当地通过文化的对等转化意译,或偏商业化等处理法进行巧妙的加工和润色,这样的片名翻译才能赢得观众的认可和喜爱。

翻译工作者在进行影视作品名称翻译的过程中,如果能本着为观众负责的态度,在影视名称的翻译上下功夫,那么就能为广大的电影爱好者和英语学习者翻译出贴切传神的影视名称。这样,就不仅能够向观众准确地介绍影视作品,还能让英语爱好者体会到英文原名与中文译名之间的转化的美感,从中欣赏到中西方语言和文化的魅力,从而为中西方文化的交流作出应有的贡献。同时,也希望广大的英语爱好者能够积极投身到这项有趣的工作中来,集思广益,为我们的翻译事业贡献自己的一份力量。

参考文献:

[1]金.等效翻译探索(增订版)[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,1997.

篇3

准确性高商务英语信函通常情况下会涉及经济活动,因此,用语上必须准确无误,不能模棱两可,杜绝不明朗的修饰语以及词意不清的词汇出现。商务信函的准确性不仅体现在准确用词和保证语法正确上,在数字和日期上展现的尤为显著,在表达过程中,任何误差都可能导致贸易交易失败。语句严谨我国各企业在贸易活动交流时也应有所要求,商务英语信函在用词和语法上有要求,不仅要求语法严谨,还要求用词精练。根据企业自身实际贸易需求,对交易中的各项要求需要逐一翻译,务必保证语句严谨,不出现低级错误。商务英语信函语句严谨主要体现在以下几个方面:一是使用短语代替时间介词或连词,降低语意不清的发生率;二是尽量回避日常用语,避免给人不严谨的感觉;三是针对信函中的复合词,在翻译时应注意用词规范和严谨,避免企业遭受不必要的经济损失。

二、商务信函翻译标准

1.灵活而准确商务信函记录中需要实事求是地记录,不需要华丽的语言,但在细节方面需要进行修饰。信函的翻译内容需要简单明了、一丝不苟,在细节方面需要表达仔细,避免不必要的疏忽造成交易失败,从而造成企业的经济损失,因此,翻译中注意专业术语表达准确、贸易中的具体细节清晰明了、翻译内容叙述连贯无误(我们在中国已有10多年经营衬衫的经验,公司产品在当地市场畅销。)这样的翻译充分体现了商务信函的严谨和专业性。有礼有节商务英语是公函语体中的一种表现形式,在进行翻译工作时,不仅要措辞准确,还要讲究礼貌,采用礼貌用词婉转地表达贸易中的各项要求,给对方企业留下好印象。例如,(望您查看附件我司的公司介绍,我们有合作的机会。)语句中强调了“望”“您”,注意了礼貌用语又将企业诉求婉转地转达给对方,体现了信函中的有礼有节。

2.符合公函问题标准和特征目前,商务英语翻译翻译的标准以及原则都与企业的实际需求有关,既要重在纪实,又要遵循原文的内容与公函的格式。例如在使用婉转语气时,可以在词语上进行斟酌,前提是符合公函标准和特征,对商务英语翻译中的礼貌用语进行修饰,从而促进翻译水平的提高。

三、结语

篇4

忠实性是所有英语翻译中最基本的指导原则,特别是对于商务英语来说。准确地理解和翻译具有一定文化内涵的商务英语词句的语用意义,对不同文化的商务活动具有重要的意义。在解决商务英语翻译中的一些障碍,特别是文化方面的障碍时,必须考虑语用因素,用适当的语用原则服务于商务英语翻译。

二、商务英语翻译与文化和语用的相互关系

语用学研究的是语言的运用。关于语用学的定义有多种,索振羽编著的《语用学教程》中指出的定义表达得较为明确。“语用学研究在不同语境中话语意义的恰当的表达和准确的理解,寻找并确定使话语意义得以恰当地表达和准确的理解的基本原则和准则。”简言之,语用指的是超越于语言本身的语言运用能力。商务英语翻译是一种语际转换。它不仅包括语言符号的转换,更涉及不同商业文化之间的沟通。著名语用学家Sperber&Wilson(1995:2)认为“交际方式甚至比交际内容更重要”,为了不同文化的商业交际的成功,译者务必首先做到让译文读者能够与原文读者一样在推理原作者的信息意图时具有同等的推理距离,而后考虑“再现原作者对其意向读者所做出的假设集”。其中可能要涉及到每个具体假设的可及度的调整。这条原则被称之为翻译的语用推理距离等距原则之补充原则。在识别作者信息意图时的推理线索可分为句法线索、语义线索、字形线索和语音线索,它们之间具有不可分割性。整个翻译过程始于原语交际,原语交际又始于交际者角度上的明示过程而后是听话人角度上的推理过程,因而为了保证译文读者能正确识别说话人的信息意图,译者有义务根据双方的认知环境再现必要的推理线索,提供这些线索也是译文再现原文连贯的必要保证。商务英语翻译本身就是一种文化的交流,因此,在从事商务英语翻译工作时,不仅应精通语言本身,更应熟知原语和译语的文化。在跨文化商务交流过程中会不可避免地出现各种文化冲突,而恰当地运用语言,化解文化矛盾,正是语用学的任务之一。语用准则在很大程度上受文化准则的制约,具有鲜明的文化特点。要想成功地运用语言必须通晓其背景文化。跨文化的语用实际上就是在不同文化之间掌握灵活变通的手段,完成语意的恰当表达。商务英语翻译是一门综合的学问。译者在通晓语言、了解相关文化背景的同时,也应掌握一些语用知识。从事商务英语翻译的工作者都知道,语言中有许多词汇和表达蕴含语用涵义,这其中就包括不同民族的文化涵义。文化的渊源不同使词语所承载的文化也必然有很大差异。当词语的指称意义与深层的言内意义表达不一致时,译者就应善于进行文化的移植和融合,以达到语用意义的等值转换。由此可见,语用、商务英语翻译与文化之间关系紧密,文化是基石,商务英语翻译是转换生成器,而语用是商务英语翻译这部机器的一个必备的应用程序。三、商务英语翻译中的语言文化语用与社交语用因素的相互关系

语用学是研究语言的使用和理解的一门语言学科,它研究说话人如何利用语言和外部语境表达意义,同时也研究听话人对说话人说出的话语的解码和推理。人们的日常交际中,语言作为文化的载体,折射出其特有的文化内涵。翻译作为一种跨文化交际活动,是一种三元关系,即原文作者、译者和译文读者三者之间进行的思想、文化的传递活动。译者在其中起着关键的连接作用:他首先是听话人,他需要利用自己的原语语言知识、文化背景,并在翻译过程中揣摩原语作者的翻译意图,通过自己的智力参与,运用语用学原则进行推理,对原语文本进行解码;继而,译者又转换其角色,变成说话人,他通过自己的目的语语言知识,结合目的语的文化背景,把握目的语读者的理解程度,按照原作者的意图、风格,将对原文解码的结果呈现给目的语读者,让他们达到与原文读者大致相同的感受。在跨文化翻译过程中,由于不同的译者所处的文化背景不同,他们各自对原作的理解把握也不尽相同。这其中涉及到理解问题、重构问题,语用和文化因素在译文中的处理方法,以及原作的语用用意的传达等问题。在翻译过程中,译者应充分理解语用学内涵,立足于原文语境,充分挖掘原作作者的语用用意,利用文章中的各种语意关联,深刻理解文中蕴涵的文化内涵,同时还要结合读者的理解程度,呈现给读者通顺流畅、接受程度高的译文。这样同时也就达到了文化翻译的标准与意义。例如不同的语言有自己的表达习惯和各自的词汇体系,相互之间并非一一对应关系。如汉语中的“三角债”,若商务英语翻译成“Triangledebt”,外方会不知所云,因为英语中经常用“chaindebt”来表达此意。再如商务英语翻译“文物保护单位”这个词组,如把它译成“aculturalunit”,英语国家的人会把其理解成“一个文化单位”,这就是由于把汉、英词语一一对应造成的语用失误,正确译法应当是“ahistoricrelic”。再如,“宣传”一词,如果不看语言环境直接把它译为“propaganda”往往会造成语用失误。因为汉语中,“宣传”并无贬义,而英语中的“propaganda”却带有“欺骗性”的含义。这种把汉、英一一对应的语用失误还有:当你帮某人做了一件事情,对方向你表示了谢意,你用汉语的回答自然就是“没关系”、“不用谢”之类,而用英语却不能说“Nevermind”、“Don’tthankme”之类,因为英语中Nevermind常用来表示道歉,而Don’tthankme根本不符合英语的社交场景与表达习惯。另外一种在商务英语翻译中发生的语言使用方面的失误是由于套用母语的表达结构或误用英语的其他表达结构,结果表意不清,令人不知所云。如下面这句话“世纪之交,中国外交空前活跃。”试看译文“Attheturnofthecentury,China’sdiplomacyismostactive”本句在汉语中很常见,但如把它照译成英文,则显得有些Chinglish的味道,因为英语中active的主语应是有生命的,把diplomacy和active搭配在一起并不恰当,如果译为“TheturnofthecenturyfindsChinamostactiveonthediplomaticarena”则既传达了原意,又符合语用规则。

篇5

关键词:商务英语语言特点翻译策略

商务英语是为国际商务活动这一特定的专业学科服务的专门用途英语,所涉及的专业范围很广,并具有独特的语言现象和表现内容。同时商务英语语言严谨,语法结杂,在翻译过程中需要运用一定的翻译策略,以提高翻译质量。

一、商务英语语言特点

商务英语语言词汇方面的特点。商务英语词汇具有术语性、普通词的专业性、简约性和繁复性等特点。(1)多用专业词汇,商务英语拥有数量可观的专业词汇,带有很强的专业性,并且词义专一。如:stock(n.)存货repeatorder重复订购confirmedL/C(n.)保兑信用证;(2)用语简洁,在口语和书面语中,尽量避免拖沓、繁琐的语言。句式上的特点,多用长句:商务英语在句式上具有长句多,有时整个一大段就是一个长句和多用被动语态。

二、商务英语的翻译策略

1.一词多译及专业术语商务英语中词汇的翻译要根据前后搭配、上下文的联系准确选择。如Premium这个词有如下的汉译:a.保险费;b.额外费用,附加费c.超出平常价,溢价。同一个词,由于语境不同,其词义可千差万别。试看下面例子:

Theycannotobtaincreditatallinthetrade.他们生意信誉已荡然无存。

TheyhaveopenedthecoveringcreditwiththeBankofChina,London.他们已从伦敦中国银行开立了有关信用证。

以上两个句子credit词义都有所区别。商务英语翻译中包含大量的词汇,因此对于常见词汇的精确运用在翻译中很重要。作为商务英语翻译工作者就要大量的掌握这些具有商务含义的普通词和复合词和缩略词语。如价格常用术语FOB,CIF有其特定的专业内容,又如C.W.O定货付款;B/L提货单;L/C信用证;C.O.D货到付现;W.P.A水渍险;bluechip蓝筹股、绩优股;baddebt呆账,等等。商务英语翻译要遵循商务专业用语。所以要求商务英语翻译工作者要掌握大量的专业词汇及翻译技巧。

2.长句的处理商务英语中长句的构成成分主要是定语从句和状语从句。要翻译好这些长句,不能受原文长句结构的影响,应该将译文的结构作相应的调整。如:Afterall,onlyafewyearsearlierthecompanyhadsuccessfullyopenedaDisneythemeparkinJapan,bridgingtheenormousdifferencesbetweenJapaneseandAmericancultures.EuroDisney,atleastinitially,provedtobeanotherstoryentirely.几年前,公司弥合了日美文化的巨大差异,在日本成功建立了一家迪斯尼主题乐园。但在欧洲建立迪斯尼乐园却完全是另一番情景,至少先期阶段并不成功。原文的bridgingtheenormousdifferencesbetweenJapaneseandAmericancultures根据逻辑关系放在了主句谓语动词之前才符合事物发展的逻辑顺序。atleastinitially放在句末起补充说明的作用。3.词类转译

词类转译是国际商务翻译中常见的译词技巧。常见的有名词与动词、介词与动词的互相转译。

名词与动词的互相转译,如:Beforethepaymentofthesetariffs,theimportedgoodswillbeinthecustodyofthecustoms.交关税前,进口货物由海关保管。在商务英语翻译中,有时会遇到某些词在词典上难以找到贴切具体上下文词义,如生搬硬套,译文往往语意不清,甚至导致误解。显然不能正确表达原文的意义,所以需要进一步的引申。领会词类转换,把握句子、段落的联系就句子内部而言,英语重形合,句子各成分联系紧密,汉语重意合,结构松散,更多依赖句内各成分的关系。汉语重视句子间的联系,而英语不太重视句子间的联系。Theeconomicgrowthratehasbeennoticeeablyaffectedbythechaoticstateofthemarket译文:经济增长的速度受到市场混乱的影响,这是显而易见的。(英语中noticeably是副词,修饰谓语动词affected,翻译时将其当作一个句子来处理反而符合汉语习惯。)Duringthehalf-hourtalk,thetwosidesexchangedviewsonthechoiceoftermsofpayment.buttheymadenomentionofthemethodoftransportation.译文:在半小时的商谈中,双方就付款方式交换了意见,但没有提到运输方式。(mention是名词,译成汉语时要变为动词。)

4.词量增减

在商务英语翻译实践中,词量增减也是很重要的一个翻译技巧。翻译过程中要根据原文上下文意思、逻辑关系以及译文语言句法特点和表达习惯,在翻译时有时增加原文字面没有出现但实际内容已包含词,或者减去原文虽有但译文语言表达用不着词。适当增词、减词,平衡断句与并句的关系英汉语句子结构、表达方式、修辞手段不尽,所以为使译文更加精练,更符合汉语表达,有时需要省略部分词语;而有时为了使译清楚,可按意义、修辞和句法的需要在译文入原文无其词而有其意的词,使译文更加。同时也可将原文的一句话分成几句,或具体情况把两句话合成一句,及将原文的作适当的调整,这样做的目的是使译文的完整准确。WearepleasedtohavereceivedyourinvitationtothesymposiumonInternet.非常高兴收到了参加因特网会议的邀请。(省去代词“我们”)。PerhapsyouhaveoverlookedthefactthatyouraccountforJulypurchaseshasnotyetbesettle.译文:也许您忘了七月份购货帐还没有结。(名词fact不译出)。

5.利用语境的作用有的时候,我们需要借助于语境的因素对文章进行翻译,换句话说,在经贸英语的翻译中,有时候需要用直译,有时候则需要用意译,不管是直译还是意译都需要根据翻译的客观实际来决定,需要根据上下文、语境等因素决定。直译难以措辞,或译出后效果欠佳,即原文不能充分表达原意或译文不通顺生动时就需要考虑上下文的语境因素从而进行意译,且一定要保证使疑问能正确表达原文内容,准确再现原文的语气精神,达到通顺流畅。如:Pleaselosenotimeindispatchingourgoods.如果我们直译这句话:请不要损失一点时间为我们的发货。这样的翻译很拗口,不符合特定的经贸英语的语境和习惯,如果我们换种翻译方法:请立即为我们发货。这种译文就比较地道。

总之,翻译不但是一种语言转换,也是一种文化交流。不仅要求译者了解英语语言的特点和基本的翻译技巧,也要熟悉两种文化。因此,需要翻译者在实践中不断的学习和磨练。

参考文献:

[1]马.翻译批评散论.中国对外翻译出版公司,2000.

篇6

Pun is one of the ancient trope, which is now widely used as a rhetorical means in advertisements, literature and drama. It is defined as "the humorous use of a word or words that are formed or sounded alike but have different meanings in such a way as to play on two or more of the possible applications"[1]. Since pun contains comic and rakish language style which put the advertisement into the most suitable language environment, many advertisers would like to choose the pun as the most important way of expression in advertisements so that they can be more persuasive and touching. However, some discrepancy between different culture and languages sometimes makes pun untranslatable. For all these reasons, pun becomes the most charming but hard nut to crack.

1.1 The definition and features of pun

  

 Pun is defined in Longman Dictionary of the English Language as "a witticism, involving the use of a word with more than one meaning, or of words having the same, or nearly the same sound but different meaning". A hinge is the pun itself, and a trigger refers to the intention and background that lies behind the puns.

1.2Classification of pun

   

As Xu Zhongbing(China) states in The Varieties and Translation of English Puns: "pun can be roughly divided into two parts. They are named paronomasia and antalaclasis[5]". Paronomasia always involves two words, which are similar in pronunciation but different in meaning. As for antalaclasis, it refers to the same word which is used twice or more, but each time it contains different meaning, according to English Writing and Rhetoric written by Prof. Wen Jun, a more specific approach of classification is concluded.. It classifies four categories of pun, that is, homophonic pun, paronomasia, antalaclasis and sylleptic pun.

  Homophonic pun is the use of words, which are identical in pronunciation but different in spellings and meanings. For example, (1)"Make your every hello a real good-buy"(telephone advertisement). Here "buy" reminds people the image of "buy" and "good-bye". The advertiser tries to catch the customers eyes and assure that the purchase of their telephone is sensible..

   Paronomasia involves two words which have similar pronunciation but different meanings. As the beneficial advertisement says that (2)"Drunk drivers often put the quart before the hearse". Here "quart" has similar pronunciation as "cart", while "hearse" has similar pronunciation as "horse". "quart" is a vessel for alcohol and "hearse" is a carriage specially used for conveying the dead to the grave. This pun is used to warn the drivers that drunk driving is dangerous and to remind them of the importance of safe driving.

  Antalaclasis refers to a word used twice or more, but each time with a different meaning. For example, (3)"You need the strongest line of defense against gum disease"(advertisement of JNJ dental floss). It's a common sense that dental floss can keep teeth clean and healthy by defending against gum disease. Here "line" refers to both the material of dental floss and the defensive line against gum disease.

  Sylleptic pun is similar to antalaclasis, but the word is used as a pun only once with two or more different meanings. With sylleptic puns, the advertisement can convey the information in fewer words. For example, (4)"money can not be grown on trees but it blossoms at our branches". This is the advertisement for Lloyd Bank in Britain. "Branch" is a pun and has two meanings: one is in agreement with "trees" in the first sentence, meaning "the arm of a tree"; the other meaning is "division and subsidiary bank". The bank smartly warns consumers that money can not be gained from trees but can be increased continuously once they save money in Lloyd Bank.

2. Function of puns in English advertisement

 While the qualities of advertisements are evaluated, the following values are usually taken into consideration: information value, attention value, aesthetic value and memory value[6]. Information value is the most important of the four. Only when an advertisement i nforms readers of the details of products, such as quality, package and use can make consumers remember the products or be willing to buy them. Otherwise, the potential consumers are easy to be attracted by other products with similar topics and contents. Aesthetic value can create the sense of beauty, which can sometime determine whether the advertisement will succeed. The above three values turn the memory value into reality: to attract the consumers' eyes, to fulfill the purpose of the advertisement, and above all to persuade consumers to buy the products. Advertisers put pun in English advertisement because pun plays an important role in rhetoric and pragmatic areas.

2.1 Rhetoric function

From the rhetoric point of view, a pun is "a figure of speech which consists of similar words or phrases for rhetorical effect, whether humorous or serious"[7]. The pun is basically one of the rhetoric devices that can fulfill this purpose of attracting the attention of readers. A pun is so implicative that it leaves readers so much space for thought and association. The connection between the two respective words or the several relevant meaning conveyed by the same word is able to enrich both the content and the influence of the advertisements. Once the content of advertisement is distinctive with his own brand, it will be easy for the consumer to accept and trust the products the advertisement promotes. As for an advertisement, once attention has been drawn on it, it will merely be a matter of time for consumers to fall in love with it. As the proverb says: “A bit in the morning is better than nothing all day”. Pun is irreplaceable to catch the first eye in advertisements. For example: (5)"Cock refreshes you like no other can". The word "can" may be comprehended literally as "aluminum tin used to contain liquid" while it can also be considered as a modal verb. Therefore, the advertisement can be interpreted in two ways: "Cock refreshes you so greatly that no other drinks can refresh you" or "Cock is able to provide you the number one refreshment than doing other things can achieve. Above all, this advertisement aims to state the function of cock—to bring people the feeling of delight and refreshment.

2.2 Pragmatic function

From the pragmatic point of view, the advertisement with pun can provide information so that the audience can come to know the details of products. Because the use of puns can strength the attention value and direct function of the advertising language, the advertisement with puns inspires the audiences' interest in reading. According to Tanaka, the reason why a pun can cause the interest is that it can create ambiguity, which stimulates the audiences  high on processing and discover the connotation. In this way, reader can remember the advertisement deeply, which the purpose of the advertisement is fulfiled . For example,

(6) Mind your own business? Move it to Milton Hotel.

(7) Milton Hotel is a good location for business.

By the contrast of the above two advertisements, it is easy to discover that the first advertisement, which uses pun, is almost certainly more successful in attracting attention than the second one, which does not contain puns. To some degree, the advertising pun has the great capability of evoking the audiences' attention than other advertisements. In short, the use of the pun ensures that the message is communicated with more "strength".

3. Translation of puns in English advertisement

3.1The importance of pun translation in English advertisement

It is not easy for an advertisement to attract the public's eyes and impress them deeply. While pun can make use of its concise language style, combine the respective meaning of words into a harmonious image, enrich the image that provides the information of advertisement, and ensure the advertisement unique and profound. However, the translation of puns is considered to be extremely difficult. Many people consider puns as "untranslatable". And we have to admit the difficulty in the translation of puns. On the one hand, we must try our best to eliminate the barriers of different culture and language so that we can convey information precisely. On the other hand, we have to make adjustment and break through the limitation of culture and language so as to keep balance of source language and target language. To some degree, it is very crucial to apply dexterous techniques to translate puns in English advertisement. 

3.2Delabastita's theory for translating puns

3.2.1The comment on Delabastita's method for translating puns

 

 According to Chang Namfung,a Chinese scholar, Delabastita’s theory of translating puns is detailed and reasonable. And Delabastita’s ten translation methods can be classified into two categories.[8] The first category aims to emphasize the importance of explaining translated text sufficiently, including translating a pun with a non-pun word, copying the pun word and translating the pun wit h editorial techniques; while the second category aims to emphasize the importance of accepting the essential meaing of translated text, including translating a pun with a pun of different type, omitting the original pun word, translating a non-pun word with a pun word, adding a pun in the translated text. The method of translating a pun with a pun of the same type owns the characteristics of both categories.

  Chang Namfung holds that Delabastita’s translation-method classifications of puns do not own much specificity of language, which means that the classifications are be applicable in some situations, including the translation of puns between European languages as well as the translation between English and Chinese in the rough. He also says that the method for translating puns by copying is an exception, for it is much more used in the translations between Latin languages but less used in the translation between English and Chinese. Therefore, it is reasonable to make use of the advantage of this method and abandon its disadvantage, making the translation of pun easier.

3.2.2 Translation methods of puns on basis of Delabastita's theory

  

Delabastita’s translation-method classification is detailed, but it is thought to be over-elaborated. Besides, from what has been discussed above, it is known that not all the translation methods for puns listed by Delabastita suit the translation of puns from English into Chinese. Therefore, the methods of translating the puns from English into Chinese should be further categorized. On the basis of Delabastita’s theory and some practical examples of translations of puns from English into Chinese, this paper holds that when translators try to translate an English pun into Chinese, the following methods can be adopted: translating a pun with a pun,  and translating a pun with a non-pun word or phrase.

A. Translating a Pun with a Pun

This category of methods for translating puns includes Delabastita’s first three methods, that is, translation of a pun with a pun of the same type, translation of a pun with a pun of different type and translation of a pun with a different pun.

B. Translation of a Pun with a Non-pun Word or Phrase.

This category of methods exist because of the limitations in translation of languages, cultures, customs and the like, especially when two referential meanings of a pun in English can not always be translated into Chinese at the same time. When a formal translation, rather confusing, causes some troubles for target readers, and fails to convey every connotation of the original pun, it would be better for the translator to find and focus on the most important meaning. That is to say, the translated text may have to sacrifice the comparatively minor significant meaning in the original pun.

3.3 Translating techniques of puns in English advertisement

 

Generally speaking, faithfulness and expressiveness are the two common criteria in translation.. "Faithfulness" refers to be faithful in conveying the content and style of original text. The translators should express the original meaning comprehensively and accurately without any important loss. "Expressiveness" means that the version must be clear, distinct and fluent, easy to be understood. Sometimes the expressiveness can only be achieved by sacrificing faithfulness. In fact, the translation of puns is somewhat a contradictory combination. It is a torturing task to decide when to comply with "faithfulness", when to choose "expressiveness" and when to integrate both. Therefore, pun’s untranslatable essence determines what techniques should be adopted in translating puns..    

3.3.1 Fit translation(契合译法)

  Translating puns is considered as a daunting task because the same type of pun or different pun have to express the double meaning, while the pronunciation, word form and the various meanings of puns have constructed the barriers of translatability of double meaning. But "some puns is not definitely untranslatable, it is possible to combine the source language and the target language"[9]. As we know, no translation is completely equivalent, so it is best to speak of “functional equivalence” in terms of a range of adequacy. Functional equivalence is first called “dynamic equivalence”. In Eugene Nida’s book Toward a Science of Translating, he defines dynamic translation as “the closest natural equivalent to the source-language message”. (Nida 2001b, 166) On the basis of integrating the two languages, the association-combined translating skill gives attention to both the form and the content of the advertisement. That means to translate the language under the direction of the Functional Equivalence theory. It is the highest criterion of translating pun in English advertisement.

eg: (8)Every kid should have an apple after school.(advertisement of computer)

译文:每个孩子都应有台苹果牌电脑。

 Here "apple" is a pun, which re fers to one kind of fruit and a brand of computer. Therefore, this advertisement covers two meaning: One implies that children should eat an apple for extra-nutrition after class. The other means that it is more essential to own an apple computer for the children’s pabulum.

 

3.3.2 Semantic difference(分别表义法)

  

Translatability has always been the controversial issue in translation study for a long time. Obviously, some translators take puns as the preferred instance to validate the untranslatability. However, each kind of language has its own specific national history, culture and psychological background; different language system varies in language structure, thought and presentation. By this token, absolute translation equivalence doesn't exist. When translators can not find the corresponding words to express the source language, they are in need of blazing a trail to interpret the puns appropriately.   The method of semantic difference means adopting the flexible way of decomposing the meaning of pun into two levels: surface meaning and underlying meaning. For example:

(9)Try our sweet corn, you'll smile from ear to ear.

译文:尝尝我们的甜玉米,包你乐的合不拢嘴。

 It is a very successful advertisement of corn. Here the word "ear" has double meanings, "the organ of hearing" and "tassel of corn". Therefore, "from ear to ear" has two contexts: successive corns, and continuous laugh, which can be associated by the products the advertisement promotes and describe people's affection for corn.

   It is reasonable to comprehend the ads like that: tasting the corn makes you good appetite, degusting the corn forces you sweet smile. By composing the one sentence into two levels of meanings and analyzing the two image of "corn", the influence of advertisement is achieved successfully.

Another example:

(10) The unique spirit of Canada.

译文:别具风味的加拿大酒,独特的加拿大精神。

Here the word “spirit” makes the advertisement of alcohol lifelike. It can be comprehended in two meanings: firewater and pneuma. Therefore, the double semantic meanings of “spirit” are translated into two parts “酒” and “精神” respectively.

It is worth mentioning that although this method retains the double meanings of pun, it fails to keep the charm of humor and concision of the original pun.

3.3.3 Sets translation(套译法)

Brown (1994:47) describes the relationship between culture and language as follows: “A language is a part of a culture and a culture is a part of a language; the two are intricately interwoven so that one cannot separate the two without losing the significance of either language or culture”[10]. Some pun of English advertisement occurs on the basis of certain cultural background. As the development of language, its writing styles and characters are influenced by the culture and it forms the phrases(成语), common sayings(俗语), proverbs(谚语), a two-part allegorical saying(歇后语) and so on. Therefore, the pun can be translated by taking natural mode into consideration. By taking advantage of the natural mode, the translation of pun can play a role of transporting the content of original culture and keeping the concise language character.

For example,

(11)"We take no pride in prejudice".

译文:对于您的偏见,我们没有傲慢。

 This is an excellent sentence used in TIMES, which originated from Jane Austen's word-famous masterpiece named "Pride and Prejudice". By using it for reference, the producer aims to claim that he is unbiased toward anything and determines to be righteous and trustful. According to what people have known in the daily life, they would find the meaning of advertisement familiar and understandable. The advantage of this technique is to transfer the essence of culture and maintain the concise language style of source language while the essence of pun is unable to be expressed completely. Therefore, the target language will lose some humor and tact.

3.3.4 Priority translation(侧重译法)

  

The unique presentation of pun is not about the combination of the source language and target language, not about the decomposition of the meaning, but about the way of attaching importance to certain part of the version. That means emphasizing the underlying meaning instead of literal meaning. In Eugene Nida’s book Toward a Science of Translating, he defines dynamic translation as “the closest natural equivalent to the source-language message”[11]. (Nida 2001b, 166) When some advertisements contain several puns, the translator chooses to adopt this means to retain the meaning of source text. In another word, pun turns to be pun-unlike.

For example:

(12) The driver is safer when the road is dry;

The road is safer when the driver is dry.

译文:路面干燥,司机安全;司机清醒,道路安全。

Here "dry" consists of double meaning: 1.without moisture or water  2. not drunk. When translating the advertisement, "dry" applies the surface meaning to the first sentence, the underlying meaning to the second sentence. Therefore, it can be translated like that: the dry road keep the driver safe; the level-headed driver keep the road safe. With such contrast, it is easy to alert the people the importance of safe driving.

The method of priority translation is adopted by translators in most cases when the pun of source language is unable to be explained completely. Although the information of the source language can be transferred in priority, its language is presented in a mild and plain way instead of the humor and wit.

3.3.5 Compensation translation(补偿译法)

  

To some degree, translation means comparing cultures. Translators interpret source-culture phenomena in the light of their own culture-specific knowledge of that culture. A foreign culture can only be perceived by means of comparison with our own culture, the culture of our primary enculturation.

Besides, when the translator interprets one level of meaning but contain uncompleted presentation and content, the compensation is appropriate to overcome the problems by making use of sound or vision. In order to provide the whole content of the advertisements precisely, the assistant of media, such as the picture of television, the voice of radio or other things is necessary. With the help of these, the lost information and content, which is impossible to be conveyed through the language, can now be supplemented and the advertisements are also able to catch audiences' eyes and give them a deep impression.

For example:

(13) OIC

译文:哦,我看到了。

   This is an advertisement of one well-known brand of glasses. This three letters are the abbreviation of the sentence of “oh, I see”. Besides, the pronunciation of these letters is identical to that of the sentence. The advertiser smartly makes use of visual language as well as auditory language to attract consumers and bring comfort to them. If it is printed in paper media, consumers can easily comprehend it when they notice the shape of these letters, which looks like the shape of the glass. However, the translation of “OIC” can hardly match the English version with the loss of visual function and the pun in pronunciation.

The advantage of the method is that it can make use of auditory language and visual language to make up for the lost information of the advertisements that can not be conveyed by words only. Besides, the form of advertisements can give people deep impression. However, without the help of these compensation means, the advertisements can not play the vested role and can’t make people comprehend precisely.

4.Conclusion

Through the general study of pun and the discussion on its translatability, this thesis holds that to some extent, most of the puns can be translated. However, only some puns can be translated without any loss in the target language. With careless translation, some translated texts of puns even confuse the target readers. Therefore, it is very crucial to have a good acquisition of flexible translating techniques of puns and apply them successfully to English advertisement translation.

Through the analysis of various examples of pun translations, the thesis comes to conclude that the choice of certain translation techniques is greatly determined by the context. When there is an unbalance between source language and target language in their connotation or usages, translators should choose the method of semantic translation, priority translation or compensation translation. When the equivalent dictions can be found in target language and the connotation of the original pun can be reproduced, it is better to adopt the remaining means: fit translation and sets translation.

Acknowledgements

I would like to extend my thanks from the deepest bottom of my heart to those who have provided me useful suggestions to complete this thesis well. I am especially grateful to Miss Fang, my supervisor, who has offered me so much worthy direction and considerate help. Without her close guidance, this thesis would not be what it is now. 

I also would like to express my gratitude to so many classmates who have given me so precise information from library and website. What they have taught me greatly help me learn a lot in my study.

References

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[2] Longman Dictionary of the English Language[Z]  New York Publishing Press. 1995: 1143.

[3] 李鑫华, 英语修辞格详论[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,2000.

[4] 冯庆华.实用翻译教程[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,2002.

[5] Xu Zhong Bing, The Varieties and Translation of English Puns[J]. Foreign Language (1996.06)

[6] Eugene A Nida, On Translation[M]. Bejing: China Translation Publishing House, 1984.

[7] Wikipedia, 2007. Answers.com 17 May 2007.

[8]张南峰,Delabastita 的双关语翻译理论在英汉翻译中的应用[J]. 中国翻译,2003

[9] Delabastita, Dirk. (ed.). Traductio: Essays on Punning and Translation[M]. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing, 1997. 

[10] Brown, H. D. (1994). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (3rd ed). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Regents, 47.

. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2001.

篇7

奈达认为,翻译不仅仅是语言的转换,更应注重这一过程与文化间的直接或间接的关联;而德国功能学派在翻译时也重视研究文本的类型、翻译的目的和读者。在中国,严复最先提出在翻译时,应该考虑读者、文本的目的和中国的社会状况等。但是直到近几年,伴随着刘宓庆《文化翻译论纲》的诞生,我国才形成了初步的文化翻译理论框架。谈及旅游翻译,其关键在于如何最大限度实现译语文化和原语文化在功能上等值以及译语读者与原语读者在接受性上和谐统一。当然,这其中还有不少策略值得研究,下面将具体介绍。

2、翻译策略

2.1直译,完全保留汉语的指称意义和句子言内意义,求得内容与形式相符的方法。如:芦笛岩是桂林最精彩的岩洞。Reed Flute Cave is the most magnificent of all in Guilin.

2.2音译+释义:结合这两种方法,既弥补了单纯音译法表意能力差的缺点,又在某种程度上避免了一些难译词在意译时可能出现的语意误解、表达累赘等弊病。如:天涯海角和鹿回头风景点 Tianya-Haijiao (the end of earth and the edge of the sea) And Luhuitou (turn-round Deer)scenic spots.

2.3增译:它是指增添适当的理解原文所必需的背景知识,如历史事件发生年代,名人身份及其在历史上的贡献名胜古迹所蕴含的建筑文化、历史典故等。中国五千多年的悠久历史赋予了旅游文化丰富的内容,古老神秘的东方文化是吸引许多国外游客来华旅游的重要原因。但是,英文读者因文化差异,对富含文化背景的译文往往难以理解。因此,在进行旅游文本英译时,译者应该增加相应的文化背景解释,努力将原文中的特色文化传达到译文中,以满足国外游客对中国文化的好奇心理,从而吸引更多的游客。如:“杨贵妃”可译为Yang Guifei, favorite concubine of a Tang emperor;“黄帝陵”可译为the Tomb of Huangdi (Yellow Emperor), the first Chinese emperor;“诸葛亮”可译为:Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of the Shu Kingdom. 这样一来,没有中国历史文化底蕴的外国游客也可以清楚地了解旅游资料中所传达的信息。

2.4减译:汉语常用修辞来润色从而显得同义重复,这与英语的简练形成鲜明对比。在翻译旅游资料时,没有必要将描写性词语一一译出,可以适当删减,保持内容和意思完整准确即可。如:奇特秀丽的海景、山景和石景,海山相连,相得益彰,蔚为奇观Wonders of nature---hills, the sea and rocks present a splendid sight. 原文用用了3个四字成语来描绘这儿的美景,如“海山相连”、“相得益彰”、“蔚为奇观。但在西方人眼里,这些四字格缺乏实际内容,夸张有余而真实感不足。因此,译者将这些虚化朦胧的四字结构省略,只译出原文主要内容,使译文景物描写真实客观,符合英语读者的审美习惯。

2.5类比:对于外国游客不了解的相关知识,采用英语文化中相似的内容来译。

纽马克在A Textbook of Translation一书中提到了文化负载词的翻译方法,即用译入语中的文化负载词翻译原语中的文化负载词。由于文化背景不同,互相替换的两种文化负载词很难说完全对应,但它们之间确实存在某种程度的对应。所以在旅游文本中用类比法能使译入语读者更容易接受,文本的呼唤功能也更容易实现。如:济公劫富济穷,深受穷人喜欢。Jigong, Robin Hood in China, robbed the rich and helped the poor, he was loved deeply by the poor.

类比其实是一种变通手法,可以更便利地向外国游客介绍旅游文本中中国文化所特有的年代、地名、人名或事件,可以使游客将陌生事物与自己文化中对应的事物联系起来,便于理解和交流。这一方法对于译本的可接受性很有帮助,但是如果从文化传播的角度考虑,类比淡化了中国文化特色,应该是在增译法行不通的情况下才采取的一种方法。

篇8

关键词:电影翻译;文化意象;寓意;重构;修润;转换

中国的电影翻译事业已走过了五十多年辉煌的历程。在这半个世纪中,电影翻译工作者给广大观众奉献出了许多优秀的译制片,观众从这些优秀的译制片中不仅领略、了解到了异国的风土人情,同时也感受到了语言给人带来的无穷魅力。许多优秀译制片中的精彩对白已成为中国观众争相传诵的佳句。如“面包会有的,一切都会有的”。(前苏联影片《列宁在一九一八》)曾鼓舞了几代身处逆境中的中国观众。由此可见,电影作为大众传媒,其社会效应是无可估量的。然而,在学术领域内,由于受世俗偏见的影响,电影翻译研究却颇受冷落,翻译研究人员似乎“完全把这一领域给忽略了。”[1](P99)为此,我国著名影视翻译界学者钱绍昌教授撰文指出:“翻译界对影视翻译的重视远不如文学翻译。”而这“与影视翻译的社会作用不相称。这一现象亟应引起翻译界的注意。”[2](P61)鉴于此,本文拟从语言的角度来探讨电影翻译中文化意象的重构、修润与转换。

一、语言与文化意象

语言(Language)不仅是人类思想感情表达与交流的工具,而且是文化的组成部分,是文化的载体。语言能真切地反映一个国家、一个民族的生态地域、政治经济、物质文化、、风俗习惯等。不同的语言决定了不同民族的不同思维方式,行为方式以及语言表达方式。语言在有声电影中是必不可少的组成部分,因为声画同步的视听艺术手段能最大程度地模拟现实,创造出酷似“真实”的艺术时空。如中国观众非常熟悉的《简爱》、《王子复仇记》、《叶塞尼亚》等优秀译制片中那玲珑别致、清晰明亮、颇具异国风情的语言,逼真、自然、随意,充满了生活气息。因而这些精彩的对白、片段令人百听不厌,久久不能忘怀,它们留给观众余韵不尽的美的享受。文化意象(Cultureimage)是“一种文化符号,它具有了相对固定的独特的文化含义,有的还带有丰富的意义,深远的联想,人们只要一提到它们,彼此间立刻心领神会,很容易达到思想沟通。”[3](P184)物象(Physicalimage)与寓意(Connotation)是意象(Image)的两个重要的组成部分。物象是信息意义的载体,是形成意象的客观事实;寓意是物象在一定语言文化环境中的引伸意义。意象的功能即能在不同的语境中,“以具体来表现抽象,以已知或易知来启迪未知或难知。”[4](P137)如宋代大诗人苏轼在其著名的“前赤壁赋”中用蜉蝣这种朝生暮死的小昆虫来比喻人生的短暂,人很渺小:“寄蜉蝣于天地,渺沧海之一粟。”[5](P509)英语谚语Itisthelaststrawthatbreaksthecamel’sback.[6](P1578)意为“骆驼负载过重时,再加上一根稻草也会把它压死。”谚语中意象词语thelaststraw“最后一根稻草”,生动形象地寓意为“某事或某物使人到了忍无可忍的极点。”

二、重构文化意象

译制片又称翻译片,顾名思义,一些国外优秀的影片必须通过翻译方能为中国观众所接受。电影翻译与其它文学作品翻译具有共同性,即用形象化的语言来表达形象思维中高超的艺术意境。但电影翻译又有区别于其它翻译的特殊性,即其译文要做到能见之于文,形之于声,达之于观众。著名翻译家Nida指出:“语言是文化的一部分,任何文本的意义都直接或是间接地反映一个相应的文化,词语意义最终也只能在其相应的文化中找到。”“文化的不同几乎很自然地体现在语言上的不相同。”[7](P28)

汉语、英语分属两大不同的语系。汉语是象形文字而英语是一种字母文字。要在这两种截然不同的语际间进行成功切换,这对电影翻译工作者来说不是件易事。但研究表明老一代电影翻译工作者不仅给观众留下了许多耐人寻味的优秀译制片,同时也给电影翻译研究留下了不少值得研究的课题。笔者80年代初第一次在电视上看到英国电影RedShoes播放时被译成“红舞鞋”,觉得也无可厚非。此片主要讲述了英国一名芭蕾演员面对爱情与事业而不能作出正确抉择,最终走向断崖的凄惋的故事。尽管“红舞鞋”正确无误地译出了英文的原意,也紧扣剧情,但直译的平铺直叙,没有更深的寓意。观众如果光看片名,确实难以激起任何联想的波澜。80年代后期,在一次外国优秀影片巡回展的大幅广告上RedShoes这部英国影片片名被译成了“红菱艳”,细细品味“红菱艳”这一译文,译者把那双纤巧的红舞鞋比作了中国观众妇孺皆知的红菱。它寓意红菱虽生长于浊水污泥,却娇艳迷人,特别是那两只弯弯的红菱角,犹如中国古代女子的三寸金莲,三寸金莲虽然小巧,但凝聚了多少女子的血泪,有的甚至为之付出了生命的代价。因此“红菱艳”这一片名隐含穿着如红菱般舞鞋的艳丽却薄命。

译者把这一极具中国文化特色的文化意象“红菱”注入其翻译中,从而成功地重构了一幅为广大中国观众所熟悉、能会意、肯接受的崭新的文化意象。文化意象重构(ReconstructionofCultureImage)这一巧夺天工的翻译手法在电影翻译中随处可见。如美国电影WaterlooBridge这一片名原意为“滑铁卢桥”。众所周知,1817年英国在泰晤士河上出资建造了滑铁卢桥,以此来纪念威灵顿公爵指挥英国军队打败拿破仑而取得的滑铁卢战役的胜利。如果依据英文直译成“滑铁卢桥”,乍一看,观众定会认为这是部与拿破仑打仗有关的战争片或介绍与该桥建筑有关的纪录片。但看过此片的观众都知道这是一部感人至深的爱情片。

影片描绘了第一次世界大战期间,年轻漂亮的女演员玛拉在滑铁卢桥上结识了青年军官罗依,并成了恋人。而后,玛拉获悉罗依战死疆场,痛不欲生,为了生存沦落为妓。当罗依奇迹般地出现时,她无法面对现实,为了爱情和名誉,她再次来到与罗依初恋的地方,丧生在车轮滚滚的滑铁卢大桥上。

在中国几千年的文化史中,有着许多与之相仿的神话传说。如牛郎织女的“鹊桥相会”,陕西省蓝田县一年一度的“蓝桥相会”等。而“蓝桥相会”的传说与WaterlooBridge故事情节有着许多异曲同工之处。所以译者把原名“滑铁卢桥”译成了“魂断蓝桥”,这样做不仅避开了中国观众由于地城文化差异、历史背景知识缺乏而引起的迷域;而且“蓝桥”这一隐含中国文化的意象能使观众一看到片名即刻领悟到这是部关于爱情的电影。电影翻译中文化意象重构的意义在于它能及时有效地达到使译文与观众勾通,使观众心领神会的效果,由此来吸引广大的影迷,创造译制片票房纪录的新高。仔细认真研究电影翻译中文化意象重构这样的翻译手法会不时令人拍案称奇。

三、文化意象的修润

由于中外观众知识面及文化背景等方面存在着巨大的差异,电影翻译工作者应尽可能地帮助观众去理解那些与一个民族的历史、地域文化、宗教习俗等有着密切相关的语言现象。电影翻译中如果对某些特定文化意象不作任何修润(ModificationofCulturalImage)处理,就事论事直译,会造成这一文化意象的缺损,文化涵义支离破碎。英国电影《魂断蓝桥》[8]一开始,有这样一段画外音:Announceer’sVoice:At11:15thismorning,thePrimeMinisteer,speakingtothenationfromNumbeerTenDowningStreet,announcedthatGreatBritainisatwarwithGermany.

广播员的声音:今天上午11点15分,首相在唐宁街10号向全国发表了讲话,宣布英国与德国处于交战状态。应该指出此例忠实地译出了原文的字面层意义。但对“唐宁街10号”这一隐含文化意象地名不作些补充说明的话,相信绝大多数中国普通观众会茫然不知其所云。其一、观众不知道这个“唐宁街10号”在什么地方?其二、他们更不知道广播员在这里特地提及这个地名有何特别的寓意?为了使电影译文能在有限的时间内达之于广大观众。译者宜对上述译文作恰如其分的增补修润,如:

今天上午11点15分,首相在唐宁街10号———英国首相府邸向全国发表了讲话,宣布英国与德国处于交战状态。

通过增补“英国首相府邸”,观众这才真正认识到了“唐宁街10号”的“庐山真面目”。至此,“唐宁街10号”所隐含的意象立体地展现在观众的面前,观众才真正懂得具有典型地起域文化地名“唐宁街10号”的全部文化内涵。又如:

Peter:Oh,this?Well,IlikeprivacywhenIretire.Yes,I’mverydelicateinthatrespect.Pryingeyeeeesannoyme.BeholdthewallsofJerichho!Err,maybenotaaasthickaastheonesthatJoshuablewdownwithhistrumpet.Ijustshowyoumyheart’sintherightplace,I’llgiveyoumybestpairofpajamas.DoyoumindjoiningtheIsraelites?

彼得:这个吗?我休息的时候不想被别人干扰,在那方面我很敏感,不想被别人偷看。你看这耶利哥城墙,比不上约书亚用号角吹倒的墙厚,却比它安全多了。你看,我没有号角,为了表示我的公正无私,我把我那套最好的睡衣交给你用吧。你不想做以色列人吗?

此例选自英国电影《一夜风流》[9]。这段对白译文非常具有代表性,因为在这段译文中出现了“耶利哥城墙,约书亚,以色列人”这三个与《圣经》历史故事有关的词语。众所周知,东方盛行佛教,尤其是在中国,中国观众对佛教还可略知一二,而对西方文化,特别是西方宗教历史文化就知之甚少了。因而在影片切换的瞬间让中国观众把上述三者的关系联系起来是件难事,他们会搞不懂这“耶利哥城墙”、“约书亚”、“以色列人”之间究竟是什么关系。直译用于上述译文中不仅令中国观众丈二和尚摸不着头脑,同时也失去了电影翻译的真正意义。

为使中国观众明白这三个词语间的关系,使原文中所涉及的那些特殊文化意象丰满起来,译者应在电影翻译过程中对这段文字作如下润色:

彼得:这个吗?我休息的时候不想被别人干扰,在那方面我很敏感,不想被别人偷看。你看这像《圣经》中的耶利哥城墙,虽比不上《圣经》里以色列人的军长约书亚用号角吹倒的墙厚,却比它安全多了。你看,我没有号角,为了表示我的公正无私,我把我那套最好的睡衣交给你用吧。你不想做以色列人吗?

由于对“耶利哥城墙”、“约书亚”、“以色列人”这些出自《圣经》故事的词语增补了必要的文化涵义修润词后,观众不仅了解了这些“典故”的出处,同时在上下语境中也弄明白了最后一个词语“以色列人”的特定意指。修润增强了语言文字在语境中的透明度;增强了文化意象在观众认识理解中的清晰度。

四、文化意象的转换

语言学家认为世界上各族人看到的同一客观现象,不同的民族语言会给它“刷上不同的颜色”。缘于此,文化意象的错位(NonequivalenceofCultureImage)会具体表现为作为喻体的文化意象上的差异。换言之,在一种文化传统中一个具有正面寓意的美好文化意象在另一种文化里却成了反面寓意的丑陋文化意象。如英国电影《呼啸山庄》[10]中有这样一个片断:

Isabella:It’sabrother’sduty,dearEdgaar,tointroducehissisteertosomeothertypethanfopsandpaleyoungpoets.

Edgar:Oh,youwantadragon?

Isabella:Yes,Ido.Withafierymustache.

依莎贝拉:这是一个哥哥的义务,亲爱的埃得加,你总不能把自己的妹妹介绍给那些花花公子或弱不禁风的年轻诗人吧。埃得加:哦,你该不是想嫁一个龙骑兵吧?

篇9

失地农民的出现是社会发展注重效率的必然结果,其再就业安置则体现了社会公平的程度。随着人类对于自然界的认识及改造能力的增强,追求效率的结果是以群居为特征的城市的出现及社会城市化进程的加快。这是以占有原农村土地为代价的,因此就产生了大量的失地农民。所以说失地农民的出现是社会追求效率的必然结果。另一方面农民失去了土地,也就失去了原来赖以生存的手段;而且其整体文化素质不高,参政能力有待提高,这就决定了失地农民在社会上处于弱势群体的地位。社会公平就是要解决社会上弱势群体的平等地位。从反方面来看,如果没有很好的解决失地农民再就业安置问题,失地农民很容易成为社会发展的消极因素,进而影响社会效率的提高。

政府作为执行公共权力的主体,在维护公平方面,起主导作用。其主要通过建立和实施相关制度,用它来规范社会中行为主体人的行为,维护社会秩序。

政府在促进就业中应承担的职责包括以下几个方面:提供就业政策,建立健全就业相关法规制度;为就业者提供公平的就业环境,完善就业服务体系;充分发挥比较优势,搞好产业结构调整,多渠道、多层次、多形式开发就岗位;为失业者提供社会保障,以保证失业者在就业前的基本生活。

研究发达国家在城市化进程中对失业农民的安置过程,我们发现,各国政府都积极的发挥作用:通过立法制定严格的法律、法规及相应政策,尽量保护农民利益;用工厂和农场来吸收剩余劳动力,加强就业培训、利用多种途径促使剩余劳动力的就业;设立失地农民社会保障,降低他们的风险。

通过对长春市净月潭旅游经济开发区的失地农民再就业安置问题的实地研究,比较我国其它地区失地农民再就业安置情况,目前在无统一的政策规定的情况下,各级地方政府采取的就业安置模式主要有:浙江模式,以土地换保障为中心的以商业化运作为特点的多渠道多形式的就业安置模式;咸嘉的“留地集中安置,综合开发建设”模式;南海的集体土地股份制模式;以杭州和山东为代表的开发性安置模式。综合来看,各种安置模式都存在一些共性的问题:如目前各地几乎还没有真正建立失地农民的社会保障制度,保障方式单一,水平过低;政府没有履行其应尽的职责;制度方面不能有效的保证失地农民的权益;以土地换社保的模式强调、突出了保障,但对就业能力的提高,再就业的安置关注不够等等。

在失地农民再就业安置过程中农民自身存在的问题主要包括:文化素质和劳动技能偏低;自身的适应性较差,在思想、观念上没有做好充分的准备去适应这种非农转变;农民缺乏捍卫自身权益的思想意识,不知道如何利用法律武器保护自己;农民组织化程度空前弱化,农民基本上丧失自我保护能力;失地农民中的“弱势群体”的生活难问题尤为突出。

在失地农民再就业安置过程中政府存在的问题包括:1、政府责任错位:政府没有更好的为被征地者提供生活基础—补偿安置款;政府对提高失地农就业能力和再就业的安置关注不够;个别政府和商家勾结,牺牲农民利益以谋取私利。2、由政府失职导致的制度缺失表现在:制度有效供给不足一一失地农民再就业安置法律法规不完善,相关政策落实不到位;土地征用补偿制度不合理,监督机制不健全,补偿费用被基层政权截留;社会保障制度缺失。

为解决上述问题,政府在对失地农民再就业安置的过程中要做到:1,政府要保证有效制度供给:首先要制定符合失地农民特点的社会保障制度;其次要完善征地制度及相关法律法规,保护被征地农民利益;再次,政府要提高自身执法水平保证各项制度法规的有效落实。2、政府有责任指导失地农民的再就业。3、政府要从多方面帮助失地农民实现再就业:首先要完善失地农民就业培训机制和体系,帮助失地农民提高劳动技能;其次制定适合失地农民特点的就业促进政策,多创造岗位,扶持失地农民逐步致富;再次建立完善的劳动力市场体系,营造健康的就业环境。另外,为更好地解决失地农民再就业安置问题,还应充分发挥市场机制优势,并提高农民自我维权水平。

英文:

Atpresent,wehavetofacetheseriousproblemhowtofindjobsforthepeasantswholosttheirlandintheprocessofurbanizationinchina.Therefore,itisoftheoreticalvalueandrealisticmeaningcarryingonthetheoreticalanalysisandpracticalinvestigationtotheproblem.Thepaperanalysesobjectivelyandexpoundthedutyofthegovernmentandthemarketintheprocessofthereemploymentandsettlementaboutthepeasantswholosttheirland,andpointsoutreemploymentandsettlementofpeasantswhothegovernment''''sdutyduringlosttheirterritories,andbringsrelevantsuggestionswhich,Ihope,maybefavorabletoresolvetheproblemandconstructionofsocialistharmonioussocietyinChinathroughtheexperiencesbothathomeandabroadaboutthereemploymentandsettlementaboutthepeasantswholosttheirterritories.

Itisaninevitableoutcomeforustopayattentiontoefficiencyinsocialdevelopmentthatthepeasantslosttheirterritorytakesplace.Itreflectsthedegreeoffairnessinoursocietythattheyhasbeenreemployedandsettleddown.Withmankind''''sdevelopmentoftheabilitytounderstandandtransformnature,theresultofpursuingefficiencybringsaboutappearanceofthecitywiththecharacteristicoflivingingroupsandquickeningtheprocessofthesocialurbanization.Thisisatthecostofoccupyingtheoriginalruralland,whichmakesalargenumberofpeasantslosttheirterritories.

Therefore,itisaforegoneconclusionforthesocietytopursueefficiencythatthepeasantslosttheirland.Itsuggeststhatthepeasantslosttheirterritoriesmeanthattheylosttheoriginalwaytheydependonforexistence.Th

epooreducationofthewholepeasantsgetandtheabilitytoparticipateingovernmentandpoliticalaffairsneedsdeveloping,allofwhichdeterminethepositionofdisadvantagedgroupsinthesocietythatthepeasantslostterritorieshavetobe.Afairsocietyshouldjustsolvetheproblemoftheequalfooting,whichthedisadvantagedgroupsinthesocietyshouldget.

Otherwise,thepeasantsoflostterritoryareveryapttobecomethenegativefactorofsocialdevelopment,whichwillbeabadinfluenceontheimprovementofsocialefficiency,iftheproblemofreemployingandsettlingdownthepeasantsoflostterritoryissolvednotverywell.

Asthesubjectofcarryingoutpubicpower,thegovernmentplaysaleadingroleinkeepingfairness.Itstandardizesthebehavioralagents''''behaviorinsocietybythewaytosetupandadministerrelevantsystems,andkeepsthecivilorder.

dutythatthegovernmentshouldtakeinpromotingemploymentincludestherespectsasfollows:Firstly,offertheemploymentpolicies,setupandperfecttherelevantlawsandregulationsonemployment;Secondly,offerthefairemploymentenvironmenttoemployees,perfectservicesystemofemployment;Thirdly,givefullplaytocomparativeadvantage,dowellinindustrialrestructuring,tryhardtocreatetheopeningsbythemultifacetedways;Finally,offerthesocialsecuritytothejobless,soastoensuretheirbasiclifebeforetheyareemployed.

Studyingtheprocessoffindingplacesfortheunemployedpeasantsintheprocessofurbanizationinthedevelopedcountry,we''''vefoundthatthegovernmentsofvariouscountriesallshaveplayedtheroleofactivesupport.Throughlegislatingtomakethestrictlawsandregulationsandcorrespondingpolicies,whichtrytheirbesttoprotecttheinterestsofthepeasants;Absorbthesurpluslabor,strengthenemploymenttraining,impelthesurpluslaborerstobeemployedbyasmanywaysaspossible;Setupthesocialsecurityforthepeasantsoflostterritoryandreducetheirrisk.

Throughon-the-spotresearchesonthesettlementoftheproblemofpeasantswholosttheirterritoriesinChangchunJingyuetanTourist&EconomicDevelopmentZone,comparingthesituationsofreemploymentandsettlementofthepeasantswholosttheirterritoriesinotherareasofourcountry,underthesituationthatthereisnounifiedpoliciesandregulationsatpresent,themainreemploymentandsettlementmodesofthelocalgovernmentsareasfollows:ThemodeofZhejiang,themulti-channelandmultiformmodesofreemploymentandsettlement,takesexchanginglandforsocialsecurityaskeyandtakescommercializedoperationasitscharacteristics;themodeof"reservinglandforintegratesettlement,comprehensivedevelopmentandconstruction"hasbeenusedinXianjia;theshareholdingmodeofcollectivelandinNanhai;thetypicalcreativemodesinHangzhouCityandShandong.Ingeneral,therearesomeproblemsincommonamongthesesettlementmodes,suchasalmostnorealsocialsecuritysystemforthepeasantswholosttheirterritoriesatpresenthasbeenmadeandmeanwhile,thewaysofsocialsecurityistoosimpleandfarfromperfect;thegovernmentdoesn''''tdoitsdutywhichitoughttodo;itcan''''teffectivelysecuretherightsandinterestsofpeasantswholosttheirterritories.Themodeofexchanginglandforsocialsecurityemphasizesthesocialsecurity,butdoesn''''tpayenoughattentiontotheimprovementofemploymentabilityandthearrangementofreemploying,etc.

Duringthereemploymentandsettlementofthepeasantswholosttheirterritories,thepeasantshavetheirownproblemsandtheyaremainly:education,laborskillspoor;andtheirownadaptabilityarepoor;theymakenofullpreparationforfacingthechangefromagriculturaltonon-agriculturallaborerintheconceptorideas.Peasantshavenotheideologyofdefendingtheirownrightsandinterests,don''''tknowhowtousetheweaponsoflawtoprotectthemselves;thepeasant''''sorganizationisweakenedinunprecedentedway,peasantsloseself-protectionabilitybasically;theproblemsofhardtoliveforthe"disadvantagedgroups"amongthepeasantswholosttheirterritoriesareparticularlyserious.

Intheprocessofthereemploymentandsettlementofthepeasantswholosttheir

territoriesthegovernmenthastheproblemsasfollows:1.improperpositionofthegovernment''''sresponsibilities:thegovernmentdoesn''''tprovidethepeasantswhoselandisacquiredwithbetterlivingcondition-compensationforsettlement;thegovernmentdoesn''''tpayenoughattentiontoimprovingtheabilityofemploymentandreemploymentandsettlementofthepeasantswholosttheirland;somegovernmentsandbusinessmencollaboratewitheachotherandencroachupontheinterestsofthepeasantstoseekpersonalgain.2.thegovernmentneglectsitsdutytocausethelackofinstitutionasfollows:theinsufficientoftheinstitutionaleffectivesupply-theimperfectofthelawsandregulationsonthereemploymentandsettlementofpeasantswholosttheirterritoriesandrelevantpoliciesarenotfullyimplemented;theinstitutionoflandacquisitioncompensationisunreasonable,supervisionmechanismisnotperfect,compensationexpensesarekeptbythepoliticalauthorityatroot-level;thesocialsecuritysystemislacked.

篇10

关键词:翻译学;翻译理论;翻译实践;描写性研究

Abstract:Nida’sideasontranslationhavegreatinfluenceonChinesetranslationscholars.Hisrecentstatement-”Myideashavechangedsubstantially”-willsurelyhaveanegativeimpactonthedevelopmentoftranslationstudiesinChina.Thispaperaimsatanalyzing,fromthreeperspectives,thereasonsforNida’schangeofviewsontranslation.Itwillalsogiveare-evaluationofthepositionandroleoftranslationtheoriesintranslationstudies,aswellasexploretherelationoftheoryandpractice.

Keywords:translationstudies;translationtheories;translationpractice;descriptivestudy

一、奈达思想的转变及对我国译界的影响

奈达博士是西方语言学翻译理论学派的代表人物之一,经过五十多年的翻译实践与理论研究,取得了丰硕的成果。至今他已发表了40多部专著,250余篇论文。自八十年代初奈达的理论介绍入中国以来,到现在已经成为当代西方理论中被介绍的最早、最多、影响最大的理论。“他的功绩在于:1、把信息论与符号学引进了翻译理论,提出了‘动态对等’的翻译标准;2、把现代语言学的最新研究成果应用到翻译理论中来;3、在翻译史上第一个把社会效益(读者反应)原则纳入翻译标准之中。”(周仪、罗平,1999:32-33)尤其是他的动态对等理论,一举打破中国传统译论中静态分析翻译标准的局面,提出了开放式的翻译理论原则,为我们建立新的理论模式找到了正确的方向。国内无数翻译理论研究者与翻译教师对之趋之若鹜,中国翻译界形成了“言必称奈达的局面”。这些现象足以表明奈达在中国译界中的地位。

奈达本人对其理论进行了不断修改与发展,从描写语言学阶段到交际理论阶段,进而发展到社会符号学阶段。对理论进行不断的修改与深入,这是理论研究的一条必然的道路。然而仔细分析我们即可看出,奈达最根本的变化还是在对待翻译学的态度上。1964年奈达在其著作“TowardaScienceofTranslating”中旗帜鲜明地打出了翻译科学的旗号;在1974年,《翻译理论与实践》中认为“翻译远远不仅是一门科学,也是一门技术,而且真正理想的翻译说到底是一门艺术”;1991年“翻译的可能与不可能”一文中说道,“我们不应把翻译变成一门科学……大多数成就显著、富于创造精神的翻译家很少用得着、或者根本用不着翻译理论……”。在“与奈达的一次翻译笔谈”(见张经浩,《中国翻译》2000年第5期,以下简称《笔谈》中,奈达正式宣布“我的观点已发生根本变化”(“Myideashavechangedsubstantially”)。从最初首先提出翻译科学到完全放弃翻译科学,可谓是一个根本上的变化。鉴于奈达在中国译界乃至世界翻译界所拥有的巨大影响力,他的思想转变对译学理论者至少会在心理上造成一次巨大的震撼,同时给我们正在积极兴建的翻译学科构成一次不小的冲击。

在这种情况下,对奈达的思想转变作以详细的分析,找出造成奈达本人放弃理论及翻译科学的原因迫在眉睫,否则我们的翻译理论研究与学科建设工作就等于后院着火,自己乱了阵脚。本来这样一项工作应由译界德高望重的老前辈来做,不过笔者迫不及待要谈一下自己的看法,期望能澄清当前的一些模糊认识,还恳请译界各位前辈批评指正。

二、奈达思想转变的原因

1.对翻译理论作用的认识偏差

在《笔谈》中,奈达屡次提及翻译理论对翻译实践的指导作用,如,“各色各样的语际交流理论很少为大部分优秀的口、笔译专业工作者所使用”、“很难运用一般原理解决具体问题”等。似乎在他看来,翻译理论一提出就应马上可以用于指导实践(还有许多学者也持有类似的观点,认为翻译理论与实践之间有脱节现象,进而否定翻译理论的意义)。从一般哲学角度看,理论来源于实践,上述说法没有什么错误。但不要忘记翻译活动本身的特殊性质。我们目前所说的翻译理论(或是纯理论)是通过对翻译实践活动经验的总结而提炼出来的,主要用来检验翻译作品、检查翻译活动的效果,而并非像奈达认为的那样,直接用来指导翻译实践。

为进一步说明这一点,我们首先借助霍姆斯的译学理论来具体分析一下。在霍姆斯的译学构想中,翻译学被分为三大分支:描写翻译研究、翻译理论和应用翻译研究。他认为,“翻译理论研究分支主要是利用描写翻译研究的成果,加上相关学科的理论,建立用于解释和预测翻译过程和翻译产品的原则理论及模式”。(张美芳,2000)在他看来,理论是用来“解释和预测翻译过程和翻译产品的”。西文翻译理论家图瑞也持有类似的观点。他认为“翻译学术研究的目的是描述和解释现象,而不是改造世界”。(陈德鸿、张南峰,2000:126)这里所说的“改造世界”显然指的是指导翻译实践活动。

由此可以看出,奈达的“翻译理论无用论”关键在于他并未能真正把翻译理论与指导翻译实践的应用理论分离开来,把翻译理论的作用等同于应用理论的作用。说到这里,我们不禁要反问一句,难道所有的“一般原理”都要用来解决“具体问题”吗?众所周知,当今自然科学的基础是数学,但数学中也有理论数学和应用数学之分,其中理论数学是应用数学的基础,但对具体的实践活动就无直接的指导作用,不能用来解决“具体问题”,它却是数学科学的基础,不可或缺。自然科学尚且如此,作为一门“人文科学”(杨自俭,2000)的翻译学更是如此。

另外,“奈达在阐述自己提出的新观点时,较少涉及具体的翻译技巧问题,而较多的涉及翻译中的语言学、风格学和修辞学问题。他这样做的目的,在于从比较广泛的范围内对翻译的普遍原理作进一步的探索”。(谭载喜,1991:79)奈达的研究主要是从宏观角度进行的,探讨的是普遍原理,那么不可避免地会忽略在微观层面上对具体技巧的研究与探讨,得出的理论也就远离实践。因此他现在过多的强调理论对实践的直接指导作用

似乎是有悖于他的初衷的。

2.屡次强调单一的翻译准则

奈达最初的研究认为,翻译研究应“采用描写性而不是规范性方法”(谭载喜,1983:51)。通过描写得出的原则本身就应是开放性的。而非规范性。但在《笔谈中,奈达却一再认为别人所说的准则都是规范性的,如他说“……大多数专业译者屡屡违反理论家们定下的许多规矩……”、“……非严格遵守不可的规矩。”显然这与他最初设定的翻译准则在性质上发生了根本性的变化。同时翻译标准本身的描写性质也注定其自身具有一定的局限性。因为描写现象范围的限制,用描写方法总结出的理论或标准也会受到一定的限制。如奈达描写的现象主要集中于《圣经》翻译文本,而《圣经》是用来教育和感化人的,有其特定的目的。在这种情况下,翻译注重的是听众或读者的接受情况,追求交际的效果,所遵循的原则是“功能对等”或“交际理论”。为达到这一目的,适当调节或改变形式是符合其原则的。如在没有雪的语言里,人们可能不理解白如雪是什么意思,那么换成白如霜或白鹭毛等保持交际功能未尝不可。(谭载喜,1991:273)但若换成科技文章或医学文章,再去依照交际原则进行转换肯定是行不通的。这也就说明任何准则都有其特定的适用范围,寻求“放之四海皆准”的理论本身就是不现实的,是错误的。对这一目标所作的任何努力也都是徒劳的。

目前,越来越多的研究者开始认识到追求唯一的万能的标准是不现实的,因此提出了“翻译标准多元互补论”(辜正坤),“翻译不确定性理论”(奎因,参见郭建中,2000:90-98)。杨晓荣教授主张的“条件论”就是通过对翻译标准不定性研究而得出的结论。她认为在不同的条件下对文章翻译标准的要求也应有所不同,每一条标准都应有其适用和不适用的情况。目前还有一些人没有认识到这一点,因此各说各的理,互不相让。其实如果将各自所研究的范围明确限定,许多争论就会不攻自破。

3.过多强调和依赖语言学的作用

《笔谈》中他讲道,“要想翻译好就得多学语言学,其实不然。”首先笔者不清楚奈达先生说的“翻译好”指的是“翻译理论好”还是“翻译实践好”。不过不管是指哪一种,我们都要首先认识到现在已经有越来越多的人开始意识到单凭语言学知识去搞翻译研究是不行的。“我国一位有识之士明确指出,从语言学角度来研究翻译理论已经使翻译理论的研究走进了死胡同,因为翻译与语言除有密切关系的一方面,还有毫无关系的一面,翻译中的非语言因素是大量的、普遍的。翻译过程决不是单纯的语言活动,语言学理论难以驾驭翻译的全过程,因而不可能把翻译理论建立在纯语言学的基础之上。”(郭建中,2000:107)奈达从描写语言学研究转到交际理论,再到社会符号学研究这一过程充分表明他本人也是意识到了语言学角度研究翻译的局限性,所以变换了研究的角度。但在《笔谈》中他仍认为其他人从事翻译理论研究非常依赖于语言学知识。实际情况并非如此,当前提出的阐释学、目的论、结构主义及多元系统论等都从不同角度对翻译现象做出了较为科学、客观地分析。这足以证明人们研究翻译理论不仅仅是从语言学的角度出发的。