后设表述在菜单英译中的应用——基于跨文化背景下文化专有项的翻译研究

Culture-Specific Items in Translation Under the Cross-Cultural Background——Application of Annotation in Menu Translation

文化专有项富含源语的文化因子,翻译过程中容易造成不同程度的文化亏损。后设表述作为一种文化补偿策略,能汲取归化与异化两种翻译倾向的优点,在澄清西方读者的诠释盲点、促进中华饮食文化国际传播方面具有独特的效果。文章在跨文化背景指导下,以中式菜肴的菜单名翻译为例,从译者的立场、内容侧重、注意事项、运用要求等方面例示后设表述的运用细则,阐释如何将菜单翻译中的文化亏损减少到最小,最大限度地保留中华饮食文化的精髓。

Culture-specific items are full of cultural features, which lead to cultural loss at different levels during the translation process. As a compensatory strategy, annotation can make the best of both domestication and foreignization and has special advantages of clearing Westerners＇ misunderstanding and promoting the international spread of Chinese food culture. This paper, analyzes, under the cross- cultural background, its application details through its usage in Chinese menu translation from such as- pects as the translator＇s standpoint, content, points for attention and requirements so that cultural loss is minimized and the retaining of the essence of Chinese culture maximized.