论“语音优化”在张培基《英译中国现代散文选》中的体现
2021-09-08杨露
【摘要】中国文学史上不乏优秀的散文作品,但是如何很好地将其传递出去则让很多学者望而却步。张培基,中国当代著名翻译家,他的译著在翻译界有着广泛的影响。其中,他广为传诵的《英译中国现代散文选》为中国学者进一步研究翻译理论与技巧提供了丰富的范例。“音美”和“优化”分别是许渊冲先生两大翻译新论的关键词。本文拟将二者结合,从节奏、押韵、头韵、头尾韵、拟声等方面赏析《英译中国现代散文选》中的“语音优势”。
【关键词】《英译中国现代散文选》;音美;优化
【Abstract】Chinese literature abounds in excellent prose writings. However, the translation and promotion of Chinese prose leaves much to be desired. Zhang Peiji, a renowned translator and translation theorist, has made great contribution to the development of prose translation in China. All the translated works of Prof. Zhang's are indeed the classic and well-received ones. Since the year 1999, they had been collected into Selected Modern Chinese Prose Writings, which are now serving as great samples for some further theoretical research and practical work for Chinese translators. “Sound beauty” and “optimization” are the two key words of Xu Yuanchong's translation theories. The following research endeavors to appreciate the“phonetic advantages” in rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, consonance, onomatopoeia and other aspects through the vivid examples of Mr. Zhang Peiji's two volumes of Selected Modern Chinese Prose Writings.
【Key words】Selected Modern Chinese Prose Writings; sound beauty; optimization
一、文学翻译的性质及基本理论
张培基在《英汉翻译教程》中稱:“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表达出来的语言活动。”然而,“准确而完整”这一标准在文学作品的翻译中大多难以实现。于是,文学作品的翻译只能是在“异中求同”,实属不易。由此可见,文学翻译算不上是一门精密科学,只能算得上是一种“艺术”。
古今中外,文学翻译的理论很多。其中,许渊沖教授提出:“翻译时找不到对等词,译文不是优于原文,就是劣于原文,劣不如优,所以应该发挥译语的优势,也就是用最好的译语表达方式,这可以简称作‘优化法。” 优化论即为发挥译语优势论。这一理论最早由许渊冲在《翻译的标准》一文中提出。他认为,文学翻译的标准有三:忠实于原文的内容,通顺的译文形式,发挥译语的优势。其中,忠实通顺是必需条件,发挥译语优势是充分条件,换言之,在忠实通顺的基础上,“译者越能发挥译文的语言优势,越能优化译语的表达方式,译作就越好”。……
