斯蒂芬·米切尔《道德经》英译通俗性研究

A Study of Popularization in Stephen Mitchell's Translation of Tao Te Ching

作为衡量译作好坏的传统标准,"忠实"是众多译者和翻译研究者的追求。而斯蒂芬·米切尔的《道德经》英译本中,却存在大量"不忠实"的翻译,虽然如此,它却受到美国众多读者的喜爱,十分流行。从翻译角度来看,这主要可归因于斯蒂芬·米切尔的语言素养,以及他所采用的使译文通俗化的翻译手段,诸如:禅化、简洁化、现代化、西方化等。对此流行译本在跨文化交际中的价值和意义的探讨,也为认识和评价此类"不忠实"译本提供了一个的新视角。

＂ Faithfulness＂, as a traditional criterion for translation, is an ideal for most translators and researchers. Surprisingly, unfaithfulness can be easily found in Stephen Mitchellg translation of Tao Te Ching. In spite of this,it is popular with many common readers in America. From the perspective of translation, this can be attributed to the translator＇s capability of language -using and his strategies of popularizing his translation by making it concise, mod- ernized, and westernized and full of zen. Therefore, the study of its popularization brings its value in cross - cultural communication to the public,offering a new perspective for evaluating such ＂unfaithful＂ translation.