英语翻译理论与实践

黄山学院 外语系

课程讲稿

专业名称： 英语专业 课程名称：《英汉翻译理论与实践1》 主导教材：冯庆华，《实用翻译教程》

授课教师： 程汕姗

《英汉翻译理论与实践1》课程讲稿

A Brief Introduction to Translation

◇Teaching Contents: I. Discussion:

? What is translation?

? What is a successful translation?

? What difficulties might occur in translating process? A. What is translation?

1. Key words:

source language(SL) / receptor language / target language(TL); reproduce; message / information; equivalence / correspondence 2. Nature of translation

Translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural

equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. (Eugene A. Nida)

德国译学教授Wolfram Wilss 在The Science of Translation：Problems & Methods一书中说：Translation is not simply a matter of seeking other words with similar meaning, but of finding appropriate ways of saying things in another language. Translating is always meaning-based, i.e. it is the transfer of meaning instead of form from the source language to the target language.（翻译不只是在另一种语言中寻找意义相似的其他词语，而是寻找表达事物的适当方式。翻译始终立足于语义，也就是说，是语义从源语到译语的转换，而不是形式。）

这说明了翻译是语义的翻译，不是语言形式的翻译，是运用另一种语言的适当方式来表达一种语言所表达的内容，而不是在另一种语言中寻找与一种语言中含义相似的某些词语或结构。翻译必须跳出原文语言层面的束缚，必须着眼于传达原文的内容和意义。换句话说，翻译的基本单位应该是语篇，而不是词语结构。根据系统功能语言学家的观点，语言的实际使用单位是语篇这样的言语单位，而不是词语结构这样的语法单位。实际使用的语篇有可能是一个句子、一个句段、一个句群，也有可能是一个词语。翻译作为语言交际的一种形式，其实质是用一种语言的语篇材料代替另一种语言与其意义对等的语篇材料。翻译是运用一种语言把另一种语言所表达的内容和意义准确而完整地重新表达出来的语言活动。

3. Classification of translation:

a. Oral interpretation / written translation b. Human translation / machine translation

c. Literary / scientific / political / commercial translation

d. Domestication (naturalization) / foreignization (estrangement, alienation) e. Literal translation / free translation

B. What is a successful translation?

1. 严复：信、达、雅 (faithfulness, expressiveness, elegance)

2. 傅雷：以效果而论，翻译应当象临画一样，所求的不在形似而在神似 3. 钱钟书：诱、讹、化

4. Eugene A. Nida: natural / close; dynamic/functional equivalence C. What difficulties might occur in translating process?

Language / Cultural Barriers

1

《英汉翻译理论与实践1》课程讲稿

Translatability is lower when (1) the work to be translated is quite distant both in time and space; (2) its form is very much unique; (3) the content is not shared in the two cultures.

→ Betrayal: Loss / Distortion

1. Understanding

i. Word meaning Example analysis

Millet made a portrait of Lady Chesterfield, which flattered her. 米勒为了逢迎柴斯特菲尔德夫人而替她画了一幅像。

（原文中的 flatter 意为 “ 超过 ”[to make better looking than the reality] ，将其译为 “ 逢迎 ” 是理解上的错误。）

米勒给柴斯特菲尔德夫人画了一幅像，该像之美简直超过了她本人。 ii. Sentence structure Example analysis

The traditionalist type of composer begins with a pattern rather than with a theme. The creative act with Palestrina is not the thematic conception so much as the personal treatment of a well-established pattern.

【原译】传统主义型作曲家始于某种格调而非某种主题。帕莱斯特里纳的创作行为不太像对固定格调进行个性化处理的主题概念。

【改译】传统型作曲家是从形式出发而不是从主题出发进行创作的。帕莱斯特里纳的创作不是主题的构思，而是对固定形式的个性化处理。 iii. Background knowledge Example analysis

Then he was off to Columbia Business School , where he found his Rosetta Stone of investing. (Roger Lowenstein: An Unassuming Billionaire )

Rosetta Stone 是古埃及石，意为 “ 提供线索 ” ，这儿喻指 “ 帮助了解难题的事物 ” 。

后来他进了哥伦比亚商学院，在那里找到了自己的投资指南。

2. Expressing

i. Literal translation Vs. liberal translation

Literal translation takes sentences as its basic units and the whole text into consideration at the same time in the course of translation. It strives to reproduce both the ideological content and the style of the entire literary work and retain as much as possible the figures of speech.

Liberal Translation mainly convey the meaning and spirit of the original without trying to reproduce its sentence pattern or figures of speech. Example analysis

To kill two birds with one stone. 直译：一石二鸟

意译：一箭双雕，一举两得 树倒猢狲散

直译：When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

意译：Members run away when the family falls. / Rats leave a sinking ship. ii. Free translation

2

《英汉翻译理论与实践1》课程讲稿

Example analysis

This was one of the secrets of his great popularity, but it was a popularity which was as unsettled as the waves. It swelled, and bubbled, and foamed for a while, only to recede, and be lost to its former possessor.

【原译】这是他名噪一时的一个秘密，但这种名声如同波涛一样起伏不定：在短暂的时间内如日中天，盛极一时，炙手可热，但转瞬间又烟消云散，终于在原来有些声望的人身上消失了。

【改译】这是他名噪一时的一个秘密，但这种名声如同波涛一样起伏不定：一时间奔腾高涨，汹涌澎拜，转瞬间又一落千丈，终于在原来享有这种声望的人身上荡然无存。 iii. Translationese Example analysis

The only concession he made to the climate was to wear a white dinner jacket. 【原译】他对气候的唯一让步就是穿了一件白色的短餐衣。

【改译】气候变化，他仅稍稍作了一点变通，赴宴时穿了件白色的短礼服。 iv. Cohesion and coherence Example analysis

There was a menu , but it didn’t make any difference , everything tasted the same. Monumental portion. You’d stand up at the end and want to die. (M. Lurie , A Beacon in the Night)

【原译】那儿有菜单，可没什么区别。所有东西味道都一样。份量惊人，你最后会站起来想死。

【改译】那儿是有菜单，可完全派不上用场，因为所有东西味道都一样。只是份量惊人，你吃完后一站起身来就会感觉胀得要死。

D. How can we improve our translation?

1. English reading 2. Chinese writing 3. Translation practice

II. The Role of Translator:

The craft of translator is … deeply ambivalent; it is exercised in a radical tension between impulses to facsimile and impulses to appropriate recreation.

— George Steiner

译者的技艺是一个深刻的矛盾体。这种技艺是在两种冲动的极度张力之间形成的：一方面是依样画葫芦的冲动，另一方面又有适当再创作的冲动。 A. Metaphors for translator:

1. A courier of the human spirits （普希金）

2. A sculptor who tries to recreate a work of painting 3. A straitjacketed dancer 4. A musician / an actor

5. Traduttori-traditori (Translators are traitors.) B. Responsibility of translator:

1. Competent linguistic ability & bicultural knowledge 2. Being as transparent as possible 3. Being a good negotiator

3