用乔姆斯基的理论分析翻译中的某些问题

Some Problems of Translation in the Light of Chomskian Theory

死译是翻译中的一种通病。初学翻译的人常犯这个毛病。即使是有经验的译者,由于种种原因,也很难避免。 所谓死译就是硬译,逐词对译。死译的表现形式很多。但归纳起来不外乎有两大类:第一类,拘泥于原文词汇的表层意思;第二类,拘泥于原文语法的表层结构。按这种办法进行翻译,译文或者是艰涩生硬,不中不洋,或者是牵强附会,与原文风马牛不相及。英译汉是如此,汉译英也是如此。

In this paper, the author proposes to discuss problems relating to grammatical structures by analysing some typical errors found in translation from English into Chinese. It is demonstrated that traditionalgrammar as well as traditional translation techniques, significant as they are, are far from adequatefor a satisfactory solution to these problems. The author goes on to show that TG grammar asexpounded by Noam Chomsky, especially the distinction between deep and surface structures, promisesto be applicable to the field of translation as well. An understanding of this theory would give thetranslator a better sense of judgment in his or her efforts to render English into appropriate Chinese. It isno coincidence that an eminent linguist-translator has likened part of the process of translation to theprocess of back-transformation.