典籍英译中的疑难考辨——以《楚辞》为例

Textual Research As a Sine Qua Non for Classics Translation

考辨是典籍英译中的首要环节。本文以《楚辞》英译为例,说明只有通过考辨,才能做到有所鉴别、有所发现, 为英译提供坚实可靠的基础,并总结了典籍英译中考辨的主要方法,如训话、考据、移情、文化历史观照、文本内证及外证、互文观照以及作者与文本的互证等。

Textual research is of vital importance to the translation of Chinese classics, for unless this is carried out first, there is no way for the translator to distinguish the right interpretation of the source text from the wrong ones and thus to obtain a solid footing for her work. Using the translation of The Verse of Chu as an exemplar, this article shows that in conducting textual research, the translator has at her disposal a whole range of methods, from etymological exegesis, textual criticism, empathetic reasoning, cultural and historical framing, inner- and outer- textual analysis, intertextuality, to author/text mutual verification.