英语翻译理论与实践

xx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：xx，《实用翻译教程》

授课教师：xx

A Brief Introduction to Translation

◇Teaching Contents:

I. Discussion:

 What is translation? 英语翻译理论与实践

 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)

xx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，而是寻找表英语翻译理论与实践

达事物的适当方式。翻译始终立足于语义，也就是说，是语义xx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xx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 英语翻译理论与实践

d. Domestication (naturalization) / foreignization

(estrangement, alienation)

e. Literal translation / free translation

B. What is a successful translation?

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

2. xx：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. xx：诱、讹、化

4. Eugene A. Nida: natural / close; dynamic/functional

equivalence

C. What difficulties might occur in translating process?

Language / Cultural Barriers

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 英语翻译理论与实践

i. Word meaning

Example analysis

Millet made a portrait of Lady Chesterfield,

which flattered her.

米勒为了逢迎xx斯特菲尔德夫人而替她画了一幅像。

（xx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. 英语翻译理论与实践

【原译】传统主义型作曲家始于某种格调而非某种主题。xx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。xx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 , where he found his Rosetta

Stone of investing. (Roger Lowenstein: An

Unassuming Billionaire )

Rosetta Stone 是xx石，意为 “ 提供线索 ” ，这儿xx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 英语翻译理论与实践

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 asinking ship.

ii. Free translation

Example analysis 英语翻译理论与实践

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xx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xx一样起伏不定：一时间奔腾高涨，汹涌xx，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。