中国传统文论文本英译的问题与对策研究——以《大中华文库》四部译本为例

On Problems and Countermeasures Concerning English Translation of Classical Chinese Literary Theory Texts: With Reference to Four Translations in Library of Chinese Classics

中国传统文论英译批评居文学和非文学翻译批评的中间地带。其关注要点,一是文化思想传译,二是文学艺术表现,以前者为主。本文运用理论研究和例证分析的方法,以《大中华文库》四部文论英译本为例,对文论英译进行了批评研究。研究表明,四部译本在术语和理论概念传译、文学艺术特征再现等方面不同程度地存在一些问题,其中两部译本不宜作为《大中华文库》译本。对于在译文方面存在的问题,可通过加强原文理论研究;慎重选择译者、译本;鼓励翻译批评等措施解决。当代中国传统文论英译应主要由本土学者和译者承担,向西方知识界全面准确地译介,以减少误读和误解。

Criticism of English translations of classical Chinese literary theory text lies between literary and non-literary translation criticism, with major focuses on cultural thoughts and literary art, the former as the primary. By theoretical analysis and case study, 4 English translations in Library of Chinese Classics are criticized, demonstrating some problems with them in different degrees in rendering terms and literary statements, and the literary features, and two of them are found unfit to serve as translations in the Library. Those problems will probably be solved by making more efforts to study theoretically the Chinese original texts, selecting more competent translators and better translations, and encouraging relevant translation criticism. It is proposed that contemporary translation of the Library be done mainly by competent Chinese scholars and translators to minimize misreading and misunderstanding on the part of the target readers.