语言的拓扑变换性与翻译理论的本体建构

Topological Transformations in Language and the Ontological Construction of a Scientific Theory of Translation

翻译的本体界定和解释性转向是翻译研究成为真正科学理论的根本条件。长期以来,学界围绕翻译学科地位的争议大多源于这两个条件的缺失。雅克不逊在"差异中的等价"基础上提出的翻译本体说和斯坦纳的拓扑翻译论提供了重要启示。斯坦纳把翻译视为"变换中的不变性",无疑抓住了翻译本体的拓扑变换性实质。而从认知语言学和认知科学近期的研究看,语言的拓扑变换性不是拓扑数学观念的简单移植,而是语言的本质特征。在认知识解意义上来认识和界定语言的拓扑性是通向翻译本体理论的根本选择。

The ontological demarcation of translation （ translation proper ） and the explanatory turn are essential to the formation of a truly scientific theory of translation. The on-going controversies over the scientific status of translation studies are shown to have arisen largely from a more or less methodological by-passing of the translation proper in Chinese and western traditions of translation studies. Jakobson＇s definition of translation proper in terms of ＂equivalence in difference＂ and Steiner＇s further attempt to develop a topology-theoretic characterization of translation as ＂invariance in transformations＂ provide important inspirations for an ontological development of translation studies. Recent progress in cognitive linguistics and cognitive science, however, converge to the view that only by understanding topological transformations as a designed feature of language that is defined as cognitive construal can a truly scientific theory of translation be developed.