文化語境與語言翻譯

1、 Cultural Context and Translation1Definition of Context andCulture1.1 Context refers to the conditions in which something exists or occurs. Linguistically, this is the part of a discourse surrounding a word or passage that helps make its meaning clear.220世紀90年代，對于翻譯語境context in translation / transla

2、tion context的討論日漸盛行，并且在英美兩國呈現(xiàn)初兩種不同的理論取向。翻譯語境論內(nèi)涵：譯者、原作語境、譯語語境、互動翻譯語境論本質(zhì)屬性：主觀性（指受制于譯者，受譯者自身興趣、需要、知識、經(jīng)驗、文藝修養(yǎng)、欣賞習慣、個人信仰的影響）動態(tài)性（翻譯語境隨時空的變化而變化）對話性（由于翻譯語境的主觀性和動態(tài)性，翻譯語境的構建不是一次就能完成的，是永無休止的對話過程）3e.g.:“小康社會”:十四大譯為： a well-off society,十七大改為: a moderately prosperous society “反腐倡廉”:十四大譯為： fight corruption and bui

3、ld a clean government十七大改為: fight corruption and uphold integrity4 英國翻譯理論家受功能主義語境觀影響B(tài). Malinowski: context of situation & context of culture （提出情景語境和文化語境的概念 ）Halliday: 情景語境三大要素：Field(語場): Refers to what is happening, to the nature of the social action that is taking place. (語場指在交際過程中實際發(fā)生的社會活動)Tenor(

4、語旨): Refers to who is taking part, to the nature of the participants, their statuses and roles. (語旨指參與者之間的社會關系)Mode(語式)：Refers to what part the language is playing, what is that the participants are expecting the language to do for them in that situation.(語式指交際的渠道和媒介)他們主要討論語境和翻譯的關系問題，對文化語境關注不夠5美國的翻譯

5、理論家對翻譯語境的討論有明顯的文化人類學特征，主要從文化語境的角度討論問題，因而跨文化意識較強。 Daniel Shaw: “翻譯語境是翻譯過程中聚合起來的文化互動的總和?！卑选癈ontext of Culture”圖示為SourceTranslatorReceptorEugene Nida: Contexts in Translating他們的翻譯語境觀側重于文化語境，缺乏對情景語境及語言等語境層面的關注。61.2 Definition of Culture The Origin: Latin word “cultura”, which means “plant/cultivate” . 7

6、Edward Burnett Tylor “Cultureis that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as member of a society.” Primitive Culture (1871)8E. A. Nida “Culture could be the totality of the beliefs and practices of a society.”

7、 Language and Culture (2001)Peter Newmark “I define culture as the way of life and its manifestations that are peculiar to a community that uses a particular language as a means of expression.” A Textbook of Translation (1988) 9文化語境就是在某一特定的具體的文化中，人們的認知環(huán)境，該認知環(huán)境同樣包括語言環(huán)境、具體語境和認知語境。這每一環(huán)都與語言密切相關。具體包括：thi

8、nking modes, proper noun, address, color, idiom, euphemism, number, name of animal or plant, allusion, etc.10 2. Different Thinking Modes in China and Western CountriesTranslating Steps:comprehensionexpression revision (理解表達校核 )2.1 Abstract v.s. Visual e.g.: Science is a method that ignores religion

9、, race, nationality, economics, morality, and ethics.畫餅充饑，指鹿為馬，指桑罵槐112.2 Linear v.s. Circular/Spiral e.g.: 例如，“樓臺會”中梁祝之間互相表白愛情的一段對話：梁：賢妹妹我想你，神思昏昏寢食廢。祝：梁哥哥我想你，三餐茶飯無滋味。梁：賢妹妹我想你，衣冠不整無心理。祝：梁哥哥我想你，懶對菱化不梳理。梁：賢妹妹我想你，提起筆來字忘記。祝：梁哥哥我想你，東邊插針尋往西。梁：賢妹妹我想你，那日不想到夜里。祝：梁哥哥我想你，那夜不想到雞啼。12羅密歐和朱莉葉在Romeo and Juliet（Act I

10、I, sc. I）中的愛情對話共有200 多行。歸納起來，對話的核心就是Romeo:Juliet is the sun！- O！It is my love. Juliet: My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I giveto thee, the more I have, for both are infinite. 其他話語都是圍繞主題“I love you very much”展開的。Romeo和Juliet 對話中共用了27 個“l(fā)ove”。132.3 Complex or Compound v.

11、s. Simple e.g.:Translation is first a science, which entails the knowledge and verification of the facts and the language that describes themhere, what is wrong, mistakes of truth, can be identified.首先，翻譯是一門科學，它需要知識，需要核對事實的能力，需要懂得描述這些事實的語言。翻譯中，錯誤的內(nèi)容，錯誤的事實，應該加以鑒別。14 2.4 Hypotaxis (形合) & Parataxis （意合

12、）e.g.:He, amply provided with liberal accomplishments, and bound, if he kept the straight road, to attain all distinctions, was goaded by a spirit of haste, which impelled him to outpace first his equals, then his superiors, and finally his own ambitions: an infirmity fatal to many, even of the good

13、, who, disdaining the sure and slow, force a premature success, though destruction may accompany the prize.他是個有才華的人，如果走正道的話，一定能夠獲得成功。但是他心浮氣躁，急于從同層次的人中脫穎而出，繼而超過比他地位高的人，結果野心迅速膨脹。這是包括一切優(yōu)秀人士在內(nèi)的很多人身上都有的致命弱點，這些人不屑于穩(wěn)步升遷，一味追求早日成就功名，哪怕身敗名裂也在所不惜。152.5 Static v.s. Dynamic e.g.:The whole armada, equipped at onc

14、e for sailing or propulsion by the oars, was a striking and formidable spectacle.整個艦隊裝備齊全，既可揚帆航行，也可劃槳前進，其規(guī)模蔚為壯觀，令人生畏。16 3. Cultural Convergence and Translation 英國譯學理論家Susan Bassnett ： “如同在做心臟手術時人們不能忽略心臟以外的身體其他部分一樣，我們在做翻譯時也不能冒險將翻譯的言語內(nèi)容和文化分開來處理?！盇 Popular Trend:Cultural Convergence （文化趨同） 173.1 The Pr

15、ocess of Cultural Convergence in China:From Qing Dynasty to 1978From the Foreign Literature：鱷魚的眼淚, 橄欖枝Reflecting the Western Science ：德先生 民主 ，賽先生 科學, 社會主義, 資本主義, 哲學, 邏輯 Reflecting the Western Technology: 電話, 電燈，電影，雷達， 收音機， 照相機， 維他命18鱷魚的眼淚 crocodile tears ， 橄欖枝 olive branch德先生 民主 democracy，賽先生 科學 sci

16、ence, 社會主義 socialism, 資本主義 capitalism, 哲學 philosophy, 邏輯 logic 電話 phone, 電燈 electric lamp，電影film ，雷達 radar ，收音機 radio ，照相機 camera ，維他命 vitamin19After 1978 supermarket, white pollution, green food, on-line shopping, fast food, McDonald, computer, internet, net site, e-mail, e-commerce, P.K “粉絲” “加入WT

17、O” “今年的GNP/ GDP增長有望高于7.1%”.203.2 Cultural Convergence in Western World Confucius 孔子Confucianism 儒教Taoism 道教 lose face 丟臉yin 陰 yang 陽kungfu功夫21 4. Cultural Divergence（文化差異性） and TranslationEugene Nida：“對于真正成功的翻譯而言，熟悉兩種文化甚至比掌握兩種語言更為重要，因為詞語只有在其作用的文化背景中才有意義?！?2Five Cultural Aspects Causing Translating D

18、ifficulties:4.1 Zero of Equivalent Word （詞匯空缺） 這里的空缺指原語詞匯所載的文化信息在譯語中沒有其“對等語”和“對應語”e.g.: 我屬雞。我從來不吃雞。雞年是我的本命年。I was born in the Year of the Rooster. I never eat chicken. The Year of the Rooster will bring me good luck or bad luck.23 4.2 Conflict of Word Meaning （詞義沖突） e.g.：bourgeois liberalization在我國的

19、政治生活中，“資產(chǎn)階級自由化”是指一種背離四項基本原則，違背憲法的思想或者行為，帶有貶義；然而在西方的歷史文化中，它是在反封建斗爭中起過積極作用的一種政治主張，明顯帶有褒義，因此在對外宣傳中翻譯這一短語，宜將其譯為：bourgeois liberalization aiming at capitalist restoration244.3 Semantic Association （語義聯(lián)想）由于不同民族文化氛圍和自然生態(tài)環(huán)境的影響，對于風霜雨雪等同一種景象，紅藍黑白等同一種顏色，不同民族的人都可能產(chǎn)生不同的情感反應或不同的語義聯(lián)想。e.g.: 1. (趙辛楣) 一肚皮的酒，幾乎全化成酸醋 (

20、錢鐘書圍城)譯為：The wine in Hsin-meis stomach turned to sour vinegar in his jealousy.在漢文化中，醋喻指一種不健康的嫉妒心理，西方人只認為醋是一種酸味調(diào)味品，很難把它與嫉妒聯(lián)系起來，故在譯文中添加了 “in his jealousy”.252. In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them.譯為：在美國政治競選中獲勝的候選人通常都是些有財團支持的人物。

21、Green refers to rich（有經(jīng)濟實力的/ 錢財）, 因為美國的美元紙幣的顏色是綠色。264.4 Pragmatic Implication (語用涵義)在特定的語境中，詞語表層的指稱意義與深層的言內(nèi)意義不一樣，或同一事物在不同文化背景中所引起的語義聯(lián)想不一樣。這些詞語的翻譯實際上都涉及到溝通和移植異族文化，以達到語用意義的等值轉換。27e.g.: John can be relied on. He eats no fish and plays the game.有人譯為：約翰為人可靠。他不吃魚，還玩游戲。在英國歷史上新教和舊教派別之間的斗爭十分激烈，舊教規(guī)定在齋日只許吃魚，新教推翻了舊教之后，新教徒拒絕在齋日吃魚，以表示皈依新教，終于新政。所以“to eat no fish”表示“忠誠”；“to play the game”原是游戲、比賽術語，表示“按規(guī)則進行比賽”，轉義為“光明正大”、“為人正直”。應譯為：“約翰為人可靠。他既忠誠又正直?！?84.5 Difference of National Psychology (民族心理差異)不同的民族文化導致形成不同的