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典籍英译中的增补规律 ——以Watson英译汉文典籍为例

The Law of Supplements in the English Translation of Classics —A Study of Watson’s Translation of Chinese Classics

Linguistics / 2021,3(4): 524-534 / 2021-11-30 look3508 look918
  • Authors: 薛嘉琪
  • Information:
    苏州大学
  • Keywords:
    Translation supplement; Translation of classics; Watson
    翻译增补; 典籍英译; Watson
  • Abstract: Translation supplement is one of the important methods of translation. This article takes Watson’s English translation of Shiji and Mozi as an example, comparing them with Yang’s version of Shiji and Mei’s version of Mozi and finding that the law of supplement in English translation of classics namely includes cohesion supplement, explanation supplementation and clause supplementation. Moreover, it is found that the supplemented translation is often more readable and easier for foreign readers to understand Chinese culture. On this account, this article explores the application this law to English translation of classics, and tries to combine it with the teaching of English translation of classics in colleges and universities in order to promote the development of English translation of Chinese classics. 翻译增补策略是翻译的重要方法之一。本文以Watson 英译《史记》与《墨子》为例,通过与杨宪益版本《史记》与梅贻宝版本《墨子》的对比分析,得出典籍英译的增补规律,即衔接增补、解释增补、小句增补。通过比读发现,增补后的译文往往具有更好的可读性,更易于外国读者理解中国文化。在此基础上,本文就典籍英译增补规律的应用性展开讨论,尝试将增补规律与高校典籍英译教学相结合,以期促进我国典籍英译的发展。
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/lin.0304032
  • Cite: 薛嘉琪.典籍英译中的增补规律——以Watson 英译汉文典籍为例[J].语言学,2021,3(4):524-534.


1 引言

翻译增补法是英汉互译时译者经常采用的重要方法。具体而言,在汉译英时,译者需要适当增补一些起到“润滑剂”作用的虚词和连接词,使译语更加流畅;而英译汉时也要适当加上连接词和表示逻辑关系的词语,从而将断开的句子成分粘合在一起(仲伟合、詹成,2009:207)。有关翻译中的增补策略,大都采用了Barik对翻译增补所作的定义及分类。Barik(1971)把增补策略分为四大类:

第一类:限定词增补(qualifier addition),增补原文中没有的限定词和限定短语;

第二类:解释性增补(elaboration addition),以解释的形式增补原文中没有的信息;

第三类:逻辑关系增补(relationship addition),增补连接词或其他内容,使得译文呈现出原文元素或句子间并不存在的逻辑关系;

第四类:结尾式增补(closure addition),是译者为了结束当前句子单位而增补的内容,不会显著改变原文的意思。(Barik,1971:202-203)

Barik的翻译增补策略是基于英法同传而展开的。沿着Barik的思路,国内有关增补策略的研究都集中在口译领域,如邓燕玲(2006)、陈可(2008)。不过,无论在国内还是国外,有关翻译增补理论的研究较少,并且大都集中在口译这一单一领域。然而,Barik的增补策略是否可以扩展到其他翻译领域,在典籍翻译中,翻译增补是否有规律可循便是一个值得思考的问题。有鉴于此,本文打算以Watson英译《史记》与《墨子》为研究对象,采用双重译文对比的方式得出典籍翻译中的增补规律,以期扩大Barik理论的适用性并对汉文典籍英译有所借鉴。

2 Watson与汉文典籍英译

Burton Watson是久负盛名的汉学家与中国典籍翻译家。西方任何一位对中国文学感兴趣的学者或门外汉都不会对Watson的名字感到陌生。当今活着的人当中没有一个能像他这样用典雅的英文将中国文学、史学和哲学的经典介绍给英语世界的广大读者(Franke,1986:288)。与其他的翻译家不同,Watson将目的读者定位为普通大众,其译文注重可读性。在翻译《史记》时他就已意识到,普通读者需要的是通俗性文学译本。英语世界早已存在适合普通读者阅读的古希腊、古罗马历史学家著作的普及读本,司马迁的《史记》也应该以同样的方式向西方的普通读者呈现,他希望自己的翻译为读者带来的是一连串好故事(Watson,1981)。

Watson专攻古典时期作品,时间跨度从先秦至唐宋,涉及诗、史、哲、佛四大领域,其代表作包括,《哥伦比亚大学中国诗选:从早期到 13 世纪》(The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry:From Early Times to the Thirteenth Century,1984)、《司马迁史记选篇》(Records of the Historian:Chapters from the Shih Chi of Ssu-ma Ch’ien,1969)、《庄子全集》(The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu,1964)、《莲华经》(The Lotus Sutra,1993)等等。

一部典籍常常有多个英译版本问世,在多个译本中,Watson的译文篇幅往往要比其他译者更长。例如,Burton Watson所译《墨子》十四章字数为
34,824,梅先生所译的相同篇章字数为 35,747。两者看似在字数上差别不大。但华译无注释,梅译有注释。如去掉注释,梅译正文的字数则只有30,009,比华译整整少了近 5,000 字(王宏,2013:57)。由此可知,在翻译策略的选择上,Watson倾向于采用较长的篇幅,对译文进行一定的增补,以满足其目标读者的阅读需求。尽管不同的译者对于译什么和怎么译会有不同见解和处理方式,译者的翻译策略也因此是个性化的,并非放之四海而皆准。但从汉学家译入成功案例中总结得出的翻译策略必有可取之处,可资学习和借鉴。Watson为中国典籍英译事业奉献了五十余载春秋,探索和实践典籍英译之道长达半个世纪,所奉行的翻译策略必然具一定合理性和有效性(吴涛,2018)。

3 典籍英译增补规律

本研究基于Barik的口译增补策略,将Watson英译《墨子》与梅贻宝(Mei Y P)英译《墨子》,Watson英译《史记》与杨宪益英译《史记》进行对比,归纳典籍英译中的主要三个增补方式:衔接增补、解释增补、小句增补。典籍英译的增补规律与Barik的口译增补策略有一定的相似之处,但是增加了小句增补这一独特的方式。本节打算从这三个角度入手,对双重文本展开分析。

3.1 衔接增补

汉语与英语分属不同语系,汉语属“意合”,英语属“形合”,在语篇中,前者以意义衔接语句与段落,后者则以明显的标记完成衔接。典籍英译中,衔接增补的运用能厘清语句间的逻辑关系,使得译文流畅易读。此外,衔接增补并不局限在前后句子与段落之间,有时还会出现跨语篇、跨章节的使用。

(1)后汉以马邑城诱单于,使大军伏马邑旁谷,而广为骁骑将军,领属军将军。是时,单于觉之,去,汉军皆无功。 ——《史记·李将军列传》

杨宪益译:Some time later an attempt was made to entice the Huns into the town of Mayi, and a large Han force was concealed in a neighboring valley. Li Guang was appointed as General of the Valiant Cavalry under the command of Hun Anguo, General of the Protecting Army. But the Hunnish Khan discovered the trap and withdrew so that the Han troops had no chance to distinguish themselves.

Watson译:Sometime later, the Han leaders attempted to entice the Shan-yü into entering the city of Ma-i, concealing a large force of men in the valley around the city to ambush the Hsiung-nu. At this time Li Kuang was appointed as cavalry general under the command of Han An-kuo, the leader of the supporting army. As it happened, however, the Shan-yü discovered the plot and escaped in time, so that neither Li Kuang nor any of the other generals connected with the plot achieved any merit.

译例(1)中,两个版本的译文都以直译为主,忠实于原文,可读性较高。不过,翻译相同的汉语原文,杨宪益使用了68个英文单词,而Watson使用的单词数到达了85。仔细比读之后,不难发现,较杨宪益的译文,Watson在两个地方进行衔接增补,分别为“At this time”和“As it happened”。前者清晰地反映了李广担任“骁骑将军”的时间,后者说明了“伏马邑旁谷”的结果。尽管没有这两处增补对读者阅读不会构成太大的障碍,但是,增补之后译文前后更加连贯,读者的阅读会变得更加轻松。此外,增补的内容有利于突显译文的逻辑关系,也更加符合英语“形合”的特点。

(2)譬之富者,有高墙深宫,墙立既,谨上为凿一门。有盗人入,阖其自入而求之,盗其无自出。是其故何也? 则上得要也。 ——《墨子·尚贤(上)》

梅贻宝译:Take, for example, the rich man who built his walls high and left only one gate. When the burglar had entered, the man closed the gate and searched for him, and the burglar had no more exit. Why? Because the man had the vantage-point.

Watson译:Let us suppose there is a rich man who has built a high wall all around his house. When the wall is finished and plastered with mud, he pierces it with only one gate. Then if a thief steals in, he may shut the gate by which the thief entered and set about searching for him, confident that the thief has no means of escape. Why? Because the rich man, like the ruler, has control of the vital point.

在译例(2),翻译相同的内容,Watson译文的篇幅要比梅贻宝长的多。梅贻宝仅用44个单词便完成了翻译,而Watson则使用了81个单词,增加近1倍。在Watson的译文中,除了增加译例(1)中所提及的表达逻辑关系的衔接增补之外,如“When the wall is finished and plastered with mud”;“Then if a thief steals in”,还增加了“like the ruler”这样的有益于文本内容前后连贯的成分。译例(2)选自《墨子·尚贤(上)》,主要讨论“尚贤”和“为政”的关系,为为政者提供有效的参考。Watson的译文中添加了“like the ruler”这一插入语,便很好地传达了原作者的意图,将“富者”与“为政者”衔接起来,告诫“为政者”为政要抓住要害。这一增补成分有效地实现了原文前后内容的衔接,明确了原作者的写作目的,更有利于读者理解原文意图。

3.2 解释增补

和Barik所提出的第二类解释性增补一样,典籍英译中的解释增补同样以解释的形式增补原文中没有的信息,将原文笼统的信息具体化,增强译文的可读性。

(3)其后四岁,广以卫尉为将军,出雁门击匈奴。匈奴兵多,破败广军,生得广。单于素闻广贤,令曰:“得李广必生致之。”——《史记·李将军列传》

杨宪益译:Four years later Li Guang, then still a captain of the palace guard, was made a general and sent to attack the Huns beyond Yanmen. His army was out-numbered and routed but he was captured, for the Khan, who had heard of his ability, had given orders that he must be taken alive.

Watson译:Four years later(129 B.C.)Li Kuang, because of his services as colonel of the guard, was made a general and sent north from Yen-men to attack the Hsiung-nu. But the Hsiung-nu force he was pitted against turned out to be too numerous and succeeded in defeating Li Kuang’s army and capturing him alive. The Shan-yü had for a long time heard of Li Kuang’s excellence as a fighter and had given orders, “If you get hold of Li Kuang, take him alive and bring him to me!”

译例(3)中,Watson译文在篇幅上明显长于杨宪益译文。两个版本的译文都做到了忠实与通顺,而杨译追求简洁,Watson译文中增补了许多解释内容,包括“129 B.C.”;“north”;“succeeded in”;“as a fighter”。这四处解释性增补交代了事件发生的具体时间;李广行军方向;战斗的结果和李广的身份标签。通过这些解释性增补,原文的时间背景更加清晰,细节更加丰富,人物的性格更加鲜明。对于了解中国古代历史不多的外国读者而言,这些解释性增补有助于提升对中国史籍的认识。

(4)子墨子言曰:“今王公大人之君人民、主社稷、治国家,欲修保而勿失,故不察尚贤为政之本也。” ——《墨子·尚贤(上)》

梅贻宝译:Mozi said: Now, in caring for the people, ruling the state, and governing the country, the rulers desire permanency and stability. But why do they not learn that exaltation of the virtuous is the foundation of government?

Watson译:Mo Tzu said: In caring for the people, presiding over the altars of the soil and grain, and ordering the state, the rulers and high officials these days strive for stability and seek to avoid any error. But why do they fail to perceive that honoring the worthy is the foundation of government?

译例(4)中,两个版本的译文都通顺流畅,很好地传达了原文的意义。梅译以意译为主,以简洁为原则,仅用37个单词便翻译完成了36字的原文,英语单词与汉语字数的比例几乎达到一比一。反观Watson译文,他使用了53个单词,对译文进行了一定的解释性增补。Watson将“主社稷”译为“presiding over the altars of the soil and grain”,相较于梅译的“ruling the state”,Watson增补了解释性内容,将“主社稷”这一富含中国特色词汇的内涵更直接地呈现给读者。此外,Watson的译文中还增补了“high officials”这一信息,为外国读者明确了“王公大人”的身份。

3.3 小句增补

与Barik的口语增补策略不同,小句增补是典籍英译中所特有的增补形式。这一增补方式的核心是将单一的词汇增补为小句。在翻译中,相较于词汇,小句所包含的信息更多,能更有效地传达原文信息。

(5)于是至汉,汉下广吏。吏当广所失亡多,为虏所生得,当斩,赎为庶人。 ——《史记·李将军列传》

杨宪益译:Upon his return to the capital, he was tried. As he had lost many men and let himself be captured alive by the Huns, he was sentenced to death;but he was permitted to ransom himself and become a commoner.

Watson译:When he got back to the capital, he was turned over to the law officials, who recommended that he be executed for losing so many of his men and being captured alive. He was allowed to ransom his life and was reduced to the status of commoner.

在译例(5)中,杨译采用直译的方法,在句式及句序上都忠实于原文,译文简洁通顺。与杨译相比,Watson的译文在其基础上进行了两次增补。首先,Watson采用解释性增补的方法,在译文中增加“law officials”。这一增补明确了原文“汉下广吏”中的“吏”,即审判李广的官员,使得原文中的人物关系更加明确。其次,Watson在译文中增补了“who recommended that”这一限定小句。限定小句能够对先行词起到修饰与解释的作用,对先行词作进一步的说明。Watson译文中,增补的小句说明审判李广的官吏因为李广“所失亡多,为虏所生得”而获罪。该限定小句的增补进一步明确了原文所隐含的逻辑关系,一定程度上有助于提升译文的可读性。

(6)则夫好攻伐之君又饰其说,曰:“我非以金玉、子女、壤地为不足也,我欲以义名立于天下,以德求诸侯也。” ——《墨子·非攻(下)》

梅贻宝译:The warring lords would again gloss over (their conduct) with arguments, saying: “ (I wage war) not because I am still discontented with my gold and jade, my children and my land. I want to have my name as a righteous ruler established in the world and draw the other feudal lords to me with my virtue.”

Watson译:Yet these rulers who delight in offensive warfare attempt once more to put a pleasing facade upon their doctrines, saying, “It is not that we have any lack of gold and jewels, courtiers and waiting women, or land. It is only that we wish to establish a reputation for righteousness in the world and attract the other rulers to our virtue!”

译例(6)中,梅译和Watson译文都做到了忠实通顺,具有较强的可读性。与梅译相比,Watson译文存在两处明显的小句增补。首先,Watson在“rulers”之后增补限定小句“who delight in offensive warfare”,这和梅译单一的词汇“warring”大相径庭。对外国读者而言,梅译的“warring”简洁有力,而Watson译文中的限定小句“who delight in offensive warfare”更易理解原文“好攻伐”的意义,再某种程度上更忠实于原文对统治者的描述。原文强调统治者的喜好,译文将其清晰地再现出来。其次,Watson在译文中增补强调小句“It is only that”。这一增补反映了原文突出“名”和“德”的意图,原作者的感情色彩更加鲜明。黄国文(2015)曾指出翻译不仅要译“意”,还要译“味”。而所谓的译“味”则是要将原作者的感情、态度、思想准确地再现出来。Watson的这两处小句增补很好地实现了译“味”。

综上所述,和Barik的口语增补策略一样、典籍英译同样有增补规律可循。以Watson的典籍英译为例,翻译增补策略主要包括三种形式:衔接增补、解释增补、小句增补。灵活运用这三种增补策略能够增强译文的逻辑性、连贯性与可读性。不可否认,杨宪益版《史记》与梅贻宝版《墨子》都是不可多得的佳译本。他们的译文不仅忠实,而且流畅简洁。然而Watson的中国典籍英译本在西方读者群中口碑极佳,感召力巨大,具有其独特的特点,值得研究与借鉴。

4 讨论:典籍英译增补规律的应用

某种翻译理论的完备性在于对翻译实践的预测、启发和指导,而翻译理论对翻译实践的指导是最为重要的环节。通过Watson与其他译者的翻译比读分析,可以发现典籍英译有一定的增补规律可循,而增补规律直接指导的便是高校典籍英译的教学。

为促进典籍英译的发展,王宏(2012)指出需要进一步加强典籍英译的学科建设,逐步建立起一支中英文造诣深湛、中西学识功底深厚的专业翻译队伍和研究人员,有计划、有系统地将中华五千年文化的精华向世界传播。典籍英译队伍的发展直接与典籍英译教学相关,在高校中,典籍英译教学如何开展是一个重要的研究课题。

目前,国内文言英译教学主要采取典籍英译赏析和典籍英译实践两种方式。前者有助于学生吸收名作的精华,为翻译实践提供借鉴。陈旸(2011)指出高校开设汉语典籍英译赏析课程能够在大学英语教学中有效地扭转中国文化缺失的现状,提升学生素质素养和跨文化交际能力。典籍英译实践是另一种文言英译教学形式。以苏州大学外国语学院为例,选修翻译课程的研究生积极参与相关的翻译实践,甚至部分博士生以此为论文选题。汉英对照的《吴歌精华》《评弹精华》《昆曲精华》等译作已经先后出版。此类具有浓厚的江南文化底蕴的代表译作具有特殊的社会文化价值,深受读者的好评(黄中习,2007:58)。

然而,对于翻译理论相对缺乏、翻译标准理解不够深入的高校学生译者而言,英译赏析与翻译实践两种形式并不一定能促进其翻译水平的提高。我们认为,利用典籍英译的增补策略,以名家译作为参照展开的典籍英译实践有助于学生提升其翻译能力。例如,我们可以要求学生在其翻译初稿上分别利用衔接增补、解释增补和小句增补,从而提升译文的可读性。

典籍翻译增补规律在典籍英译教学具有较好的可行性与可操作性,具体研究成果还需后期撰文讨论。

5 结语

如今,我们正大力提倡中国文化“走出去”战略,而中国文化“走出去”有效的途径之一就是中国典籍的外译工作。本文以西方世界著名的翻译家与汉学家Watson的英译汉文典籍为例,归纳总结了典籍英译中译文增补规律:衔接增补、解释增补、小句增补。通过双重译文对比分析发现,增补后的译文具有更好的可读性与接受性,更易于西方读者理解中国文化。我们希望典籍英译中的增补规律能够有所运用,从而促进典籍外译的发展。

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