翻译理论与实践.doc

Chapter Two: Translation: Theory and PracticePart 1Understanding of Translation1. Definition of translation:Definitions of proper translating are almost numerous and varied as the persons who have undertaken to discuss the subject. This diversity is in a sense quite understandable; for there are vast differences in the materials translated, in the purposes of the publication, and in the needs of the prospective audience. Moreover, live languages are constantly changing and stylistic preferences undergo continual modification. Thus a translation acceptable in one period is often quite unacceptable at a latter time. (Eugene Nida)v Translation is the expression in one language (or target language) of what have been expressed in another, source language, preserving semantic and stylistic equivalence. (Dubois. J.et al)v Translation is craft consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement in one language by the same message and/or statement in another language. (Peter Newmark)v 翻译是运用一种语言把另一种语言所表达的思维内容准确而完整地重新表达出来的语言活动。（张培基） v 把已说出或写出的话的意思用另一种语言表达出来的活动。（季羡林、许国璋） v 翻译是将一种语言文字所蕴含的意思用另外一种语言文字表达出来的文化活动。（王克非）2. Translation principles:A. F. Tytlers three laws of translation:1) The translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work.2) The style and manner of writing should be of the same character with that of the original.3) The translation should have all the ease (流畅自然) of the original.严复：信达雅 Faithfulness/expressiveness/elegance. The “three character guide” is regarded as a plumb-line to measure the professional level of translating.傅雷：神似Spiritual conformity. Emphasizing the reproduction of the spirit or the flavor of the original. 钱钟书：化境 Sublimed adaptation. Focus on the translators smooth and idiomatic Chinese version for the sake of the Chinese reader.刘重德：信、达、切Faithfulness / expressiveness / closeness. Part 2: Accomplishments of Translators1. Role of translator:A. Communicator （沟通者）The translator, as the expert communicator, is at the crucial center of a long chain of communication from original initiator to ultimate receiver of a message: a human link across a cultural frontier. （Schaffner) 译者作为沟通专家，处于信息始发者与信息接受者这个长长交际链的关键中心位置，是穿越文化疆界的人性连接纽带。B. Negotiator （谈判者）The translator is engaged in negotiating with the source text in order to determine its meaning, most of which is overt, although much is always covert. A translator must also negotiate with the language of the target audience in order to arrive at the closest natural equivalent. 译者是在与原文谈判与协商，以便确定其意义(意义虽大体上显而易见，但也有相当部分并非一眼就能看出）。译者还得与目标语谈判与协商，以便取得最自然的对等。C. Mediator （斡旋者）Most obviously, the translator has not only a bilingual ability but also a bi-cultural vision. Translators mediate between cultures (including ideologies, moral systems and socio-political structures), seeking to overcome those incompatibilities which stand in the way of transfer of meaning. 显而易见，译者不仅具备双语能力，而且具有跨文化视角。译者在不同文化（包括意识形态、道德体系和社会政治结构）之间进行斡旋，努力克服那些妨碍意义转移的诸多不相容的因素。2. Basic requirements for translator:1). The first and most obvious requirement of any translator is that he has a satisfactory knowledge of the source language. Rather, he must understand not only the obvious content of the message, but the subtleties of meaning, the significant values of words, and the stylistic features which determine the “flavor and feel” of the message. 2). Even more important is a complete control of the receptor language. Certainly the most numerous and serious errors made by translators arise primarily from their lack of thorough knowledge of the receptor language. 3). It is one thing to know a language in general and another to have a special knowledge of a particular subject. The translator must have a thorough acquaintance with the subject matter concerned. 4). Even if the translator possessed all the necessary technical knowledge, he is not really competent unless he has also a truly empathetic spirit (同感). The translator must have the gift of mimicry (模仿), the capacity to act the authors part, impersonating his demeanor, speech, and ways, with the utmost verisimilitude(逼真). Part 3: Linguistic Difference between English and Chinese1. 英语重结构，汉语重语义:v Children will play with dolls equipped with personality chips, computers with inbuilt personalities will be regarded as workmates rather than tools, relaxation will be in front of smell television, and digital age will have arrived.v 译文：孩子们可以和装有性格芯片的娃娃一起玩耍；内嵌性格装置的电脑将被视作人们工作上的伙伴而不仅仅是工具；休闲时，电视机还能满足人们嗅觉感官的需求那时，数码时代就已经到来了。2. 英语多长句，汉语多短句：v Interest in historical methods had arisen less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.v 译文：人们对历史研究方法产生了兴趣，这与其说是因为外部对历史作为一门知识学科的有效性提出了挑战，还不如说是因为历史学家内部发生了争吵。3. 英语多从句，汉语多分句v On the whole such a conclusion can be drawn with a certain degree of confidence but only if the child can be assumed to have had the same attitude towards the test as the other with whom he is compared, and only if he was not punished by lack of relevant information which they possessed.v 译文：总的来说，得出这样一个结论是有一定程度把握的，但是必须具备两个条件：能够假定这个孩子对测试的态度和与他相比的另一个孩子的态度相同；他也没有因缺乏别的孩子已掌握的有关知识而被扣分。4. 英语多代词，汉语多名词v There will be television chat shows hosted by robots, and cars with pollution monitors that will disable them when they offend.v 译文：届时，将出现由机器人主持的电视访谈节目及装有污染监测器的汽车。一旦这些汽车污染超标（或违规），监测器就会使其停驶。5. 英语多被动，汉语多主动v And it is imagined by many that the operations of the common mind can by no means be compared with these processes, and that they have to be required by a sort of special training.v 译文：许多人认为，普通人的思维活动根本无法与科学家的思维活动相比，认为这些思维活动必须经过某种专门训练才能掌握。6. 英语多变化，汉语多重复v The monkeys most extraordinary accomplishment was learning to operate a tractor. By the age of nine, the monkey had learned to solo on the vehicle.v 译文：这只猴子最了不起的成就是学会驾驶拖拉机。到九岁的时候，这只猴子已经学会了单独表演驾驶拖拉机了。7. 英语多抽象，汉语多具体v Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its population to the points whereas the planet can provide a comfortable support for all, people will have to accept more unnatural food.”v 译文：除非人类终于意识到要把人口减少到这样的程度：使地球能为所有人提供足够的饮食，否则人们将不得不接受更多的“人造食品”。8. 英语多引申，汉语多推理v While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.v 译文：尽管关于历史的定义几乎和历史学家一样多，现代实践最符合这样一种定义，即把历史看作是对过去重大历史事件的再现和解释。Part 4: Three Highlights in Translation 1. On Rigorous Translation 1.1 Essentials of rigorous translation No.1: Translators accurate and thorough understanding of the spiritual essence in source texts;No.2: Translators self-disciplined style, conscientious work and scientific attitude1.2 Common practices against rigorous translation A. Incorrect wordingIn a small town like Groton, nobody knows about this disappearing act. 在格罗顿这个小城市，没有人了解这种日益消逝的做法（遁身术）。B. Omission I have remained so inactive and reclusive and depressive over the past five years; I have managed to remove myself from the real world. 过去五年中，我一直是那样消极、怕见人（抑郁消沉），我实际上已与现实世界脱节了。C. Inconsistency I believe that basically we are engaged in shaping a genuine framework for the cooperation among different countries. Therefore, we have a considerable stake in the shaping of this new pattern of cooperation. 上段中“framework”指“格局”是显而易见的。第二句话所说的“利害相关的事”实际上还是指“格局”，但却换成了 “pattern”一词，让人容易误解为“型式”或“模式”这样的意思。D. Loose translation I reminded the Operator who I was, that I was calling my number, that I imagined the telephone was out of order and maybe I had been given a wrong number. “What was that?” she asked. I told her I couldnt remember.我提醒接线生我是谁， 说我在叫电话，说我怀疑电话出了毛病，也许人家告诉我的号码不对。接线生问我：“你的电话是多少号？”（“你上次叫的是什么号码？”）我告诉她，我记不得了。2. On Rhetoric Translation 2.1 Careful consideration of words 2.1.1 Improper wording One can imagine the battles the president will have with Congress when his cuts are considered piece-meat by different committees. 原译文：人们不难想象，国会各委员会认为总统的预算削减过于零敲碎打时，他与国会之间将会出现什么样的厮杀。2.1.2 Improper collocation There are some tips for motorists who want to improve air conditioning and their gasoline mileage without buying gas-saving gadgets. 原译文：有些开汽车的人想要改进车内的空调状况和(降低)每英里平均耗油量而又不必购置省油的装置，这里有些建议可供他们参考。2.1.3 Improper use of unfamiliar wordsLanguage does not exist in isolation - it is the preservation of our past and the record of our present civilization. 原译文：语言不存在于孤立的态度中它是我们往古文明的保藏和当今文明的记录。2.2 Propose use of idioms 在英译汉中恰当地使用成语时，应力求坚持下列原则：(1)力求照顾原文的文采修辞立意，做到“成语对应”;例如：sing the old song (老调重弹）; like father, like son (有其父，必有其子） to go through fire and water （赴汤蹈火）(2) 重神似，不重形似：a) The night gains on the day in winter. 入冬以来，昼短夜长。b) With you, there is a galaxy of talents; with us colorless mediocrities. 你们那里是人才济济；我们这儿呢草包一堆！(3) 注意成语的色彩（褒义、贬义和中性）：(a) In scientific research, especially in the social sciences, it is not uncommon for a phenomenon to change as a result of study and observation. 原译文：在科学研究中，特别是就社会科学而言，由于人们研究和观察的结果，一个现象发生变化是司空见惯的。(b) The republic is a dream. Nothing happens unless first a dream. 原译文：共和国只是黄粱一梦。然而，如果没有这一梦，也就没有共和国。3. On Style of Translation 3.1 Match the style of original text (a) Formal English:Although learning is judged to require from teachers, the real instructors may be found not so much in school or in great laboratories as in the students own powers of insight. 译文: 学识得之于导师是人所共见的。但是，真正的“导师”大都不出自学校或实验室，而是学者本人的洞察力。(b) Informal English: We think we learn from teachers. But the teachers are not always to be found in school or in great laboratories. Sometimes what we learn depends upon our own powers of insight. 译文: 大家都说我们是向老师求教。但是，老师也并不只是在学校里或大实 验室里才能找到。有时候，我们学到了东西，靠的是自己的心明眼亮。(c) Oral English: You know, people are always saying they learn from teachers! But what I want to get across is this: you dont always find your teachers in schools or in labs. Sometimes, you find the teacher right in your own eyes and ears and brains. Thats where its at! 译文: 大伙总爱说，教学教学，教师教，学生学。但是，我觉得，老师也不只是在学校里或者实验室里才能找到。有时，“老师”就在你自己脑袋里，在你耳朵里、眼睛里，就是这么回事！3.2 Match the writing style of writerUlysses(1922), a landmark novel which perfected hisstream of consciousnesstechnique.Ulyssesstream-of-consciousnesstechnique, careful structuring, and experimental prosefull ofpuns,parodies, andallusions, as well as its richcharacterizationsand broad humor, made the book a highly regarded novel in theModernistschool. 原文： She kissed me. My youth. Never again. Only once it comes. Or hers. Take the train there tomorrow. No. Returning not the same The new I want. Nothing new under the sun Think you are escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home All changed. Forgotten. The young are old 译文: 她吻了我。我的青春一去不复返了。它只来了一次。她的青春也一样。明天乘火车到那儿去吧。不，回去就全不一样了。 我要的是新的。太阳底下一件新事都没有。以为可以逃脱，结果自己还是撞上了。以为绕了最远的路，原来是回自己家最近的路。开始都变了，被遗忘了。原来的年轻人变老了 （金堤译） 注：译文同样运用句子间连接词的空缺、大量的省略等技巧，再现了主人公支离破碎、逻辑含混、连绵不断的思绪。Part 5: Translation Strategies and Skills1. Translation Strategies“Domesticating translation” and “foreignizing translation” are two terms coined by L. Venuti based on his investigation of western translation history and theories. Domestication:“A term used by Venuti(1995) to describe the translation strategy in which a transparent, fluent style is adopted in order to minimize the strangeness of the foreign text for target language reader.”Foreignization:A term used by Venuti(1995) to designate the t