翻译策略:近义词辨析与研究路径

Strategies of Translation:Synonyms and Research Paths

广义上的翻译策略是翻译研究中的核心论题,与主流翻译理论有着千丝万缕的联系。然而由于"翻译策略"近义词众多,同时在不同的研究领域有着不同的含义与用法,该词概念界定不清,用法混乱。本文将"翻译策略"的近义词分为内圈、中圈和外圈,对其用法与联系进行了描述和解析,同时依据研究现状,识别出翻译策略研究的三条路径:即翻译过程、翻译教学、译文分析。在这三条路径中,翻译策略的含义及其近义词的使用各不相同。本文认为,"翻译策略""翻译方法""翻译技巧"三个概念的区分可基于翻译单位:翻译策略对应着文化(传播)层面,针对不同的翻译目的;翻译方法对应着语篇层面,针对一个翻译目的;翻译技巧对应着语段及语段以下层面,针对不同的翻译问题。

Translation strategies in the general sense have been a core topic in translation studies and have direct connections with mainstream translation theories.Yet,the term“translation strategy”suffers from conceptual confusion due to the abundance of synonyms in common use and of meanings in different research areas.This study organizes“translation strategy”and its synonyms into three concentric circles based on the strength of their relationship and frequency of use,and describes their similarities and differences.It identifies three major research paths for translation strategies,i.e.,translation process research,translation pedagogy,and textual analysis of translation;in these three paths,the meanings of translation strategy and the uses of its synonyms are different.This study suggests that the distinction of translation strategy,method and technique can be based on the concept of translation unit;translation strategies work on the cultural level and are for different purposes;translation methods work on the textual level and are for a determined purpose;translation techniques work on paragraphs or smaller units and are for different translation problems.