文学输出和意识形态输出——“文革”时期毛泽东诗词的对外翻译

On the English Translation of Mao Tse-tung's Poems During the "Cultural Revolution"

1976年出版的毛泽东诗词英译本代表着整个"文革"期间对外文学翻译的最高成就。毛泽东诗词的外译担负着文学输出和意识形态输出的双重使命。由于原作者的特殊地位和原作文本的特殊性质,这一时期毛泽东诗词的翻译方式和程式迥异于一般文学作品,而作为"官方定本"的1976译本也在各方面表现出与同时期其他英译本不同的特点。

The 1976 English edition of Poems by Mao Tse-tung is generally regarded as by far the most important work of literary translation turned out by Chinese translators during the ＂Cultural Revolution,＂ Charged with the dual mission of exporting both bells lettres and ideology, the translation of Mao＇ s poetic works was more a political activity than a literary one. Due to the paramount authority enjoyed by the poet in the source language society and the special socio-cultural conditions prevailing during that special period in contemporary Chinese history, this ＂authorized version＂ of Mao＇s poems differed greatly, in its mode of production, from English translations of not just other literary works but also the same set of poems worked out under other circumstances,