三十年诗词西译杂谈——兼评许渊冲教授的三美论

On Translation of Ancient Chinese Poetry——Comments on the Theory of ‘Three Beauties’ in Translation by Xu Yuanchong

从西语研究的角度,谈古诗词翻译。中国诗词中国人要译,不应完全靠外国人。许渊冲提出的三美,作为翻译标准,既做不到,也不应该。做不到,是由于诗在一定程度的不可译性。不应该,是因为三美不能概括所有诗词的特点。诗词翻译,最重要的是传达原著的思想感情,并在此基础上使译文有一定的音乐美。

This paper addresses the problem of ancient Chinese poetry translation. Chinese poems should be translated by Chinese, but not foreigners entirely. Being the translation criteria, the theory of ＇Three Beauties＇ in translation put forward by Xu Yuanchong cannot be reached and should not be reached. Due to the untranslatability of poems to some extent, the first aspect cannot be realized; due to the fact that the theory of ＇Three Beauties＇ cannot cover all the characteristics of all poems, the second aspect cannot be realized. What＇s important in poetry translation is to convey the thoughts and feelings of the original works, and make the translated works read more beautifully in sound.