佛典汉译的文质之争与西方意译、直译之争的对比研究

Contrast Studies between the Controversy of Wen and Zhi and the Controversy of Word for Word Translation and Sense for Sense Translation

佛典汉译的文质之争是我国翻译思想的第一次争论,历时长久,影响深远。由于年代久远,文质之争常被一些学者比附为西方的意译、直译之争。事实果真如此吗?对比研究显示:佛典汉译的文质之争与西方意译、直译之争的出处不同,内涵不同,争论过程也不同,佛典汉译的文质之争渊源于我国传统文化,内涵是译文语言的文丽或质朴,需要解决译文是否需要文饰的问题,属于语言风格的争论;而意译、直译之争渊源于西方传统文化,内涵是按意翻译还是按词翻译的问题,讨论如何传达原文的问题,属于翻译方法的争论。这些不同说明文质问题不等于意译、直译问题,二者虽有关联,但侧重点截然不同,我们不能简单地把佛典汉译的文质之争比附于西方的意译和直译之争。

The controversy of Buddhist Scriptures translation's Wen and Zhi is the first dispute of Chinese translation thought,with a long history and far-reaching effects.As far from us,it is constantly regarded by some scholars as the controversy of sense for sense translation and word for word translation of the West.Is it the fact? Contrast studies show their source,connotation and dispute process are different.The controversy of Buddhist Scriptures translation's Wen and Zhi originates from Chinese traditional culture,its connotation is the style of target text is elegant or simple and solving the problem whether the target text is modified or not,which belongs to the dispute of language style.But the controversy of sense for sense translation and word for word translation originates from western traditional culture.Its connotation is the translation should be according to the sense or the word,discussing how to convey original text,which belongs to the dispute of translation method.These differences enunciate the problem of Wen and Zhi isn't equal to sense for sense translation and word for word translation.Although they are related,their emphases are different.Therefore we can't simply regard the controversy of sense for sense translation and word for word translation as the controversy of Wen and Zhi.