儿童文学翻译应坚持“晓畅”的原则——以《勇敢的船长》三个译本为例

On the Principle of “Clarity and Smoothness” in the Translation of Children's Literature——A Case Study of Three Translated Versions of Captains Courageous

儿童翻译文学作为少年儿童汲取文学知识、拓展视野的重要读物,直接参与儿童语言的形成过程。蹩脚拗口的表达会污染儿童的语言,而生动晓畅的表达则会让儿童读者受益匪浅。笔者认为,在儿童文学翻译中,"晓畅"二字,即通晓、流畅,不失为一条切实可行的原则。笔者以英国第一位诺贝尔文学奖获得者罗德亚德·吉卜林的儿童作品Captains Courageous(《勇敢的船长》)为例,以"晓畅"为标准,指出其现有几个中译本中存在的严重的"翻译腔"问题。

As important reading materials for children to absorb literary knowledge and to broaden their horizons, translated children＇s literature plays a vital role in the development of children＇s language. Awkward and strange expressions in translation will pollute their language, while vivid, clear and smooth language will greatly benefit them. It is held that the principle of ＂clarity and smoothness＂ in expression can be used as a feasible criterion for the translation of children＇s literature. With the example of Captains Courageous by Rudyad Kipling, the first English-language writer to win the Noble Prize in Literature, the author will use the above mentioned criterion to appraise some translated versions ofthe novel and point out the problem of ＂translationese＂ inthem.