“蒲柏”变成“教皇”的背后

How is "Pope" Transformed into "the Pope

由于英语词汇的多义性,《英国文学通史》的一个编著者把英国诗人“蒲柏”当成了罗马“教皇”,结果铸成大错。究其原因,在于编著者对词汇的多义性、符号的多指性认识不足。因此,充分了解词汇的多义性,充分利用词汇、语法等多方面的知识是避免误译的有效途径。

Due to the polysemy of English words, one of the compilers of A Comprehensive History of English Literature mistakes Alexander Pope, the famous English poet, for the Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church, the cause of which lies in the fact that the compiler does not attach enough importance to the polysemy of English words and the multi-reference of linguistic sign. Therefore, a full understanding of lexical polysemy and good utilization of knowledge in vocabulary, grammar, etc. , is a useful and helpful way of avoidance of mistranslation.