背景信息与隐喻视译质量——基于英译汉视译结果的研究

Background Information and Interpreting Quality of Metaphorical Expressions:Looking into the Products of English-Chinese Sight Interpretation

本实证研究旨在考察背景信息对隐喻视译质量的影响。60名口译学员被交叉分为实验组和控制组,在规定时间内视译一篇含有10处语言隐喻的演说辞,其中实验组事先获得相关背景信息。研究收集并分析了视译原始录音、录音转写文本和受试反省报告三方面的数据,实验结果显示:与控制组相比,实验组隐喻处理时间短,各类停顿少;同时,实验组失败视译的数量较少,成功视译的数量却超出控制组一倍以上。研究表明:视译前背景信息的获取一方面能缩短隐喻处理时间,减少有声停顿和无声停顿,提高译语表达的"流利度";另一方面能有效降低隐喻理解与表达的难度,提高译文的"忠实度"和"准确度"。

This study aimed to explore the impact of background information（ BI） on the interpreting quality of metaphorical expressions（ MEs）. We designed a between-subjects experiment in which 60 learners of interpreting were crossgrouped into a control group（ CG） and an experiment group（ EG）. Both groups were asked to sight-interpreting a speech with ten MEs,but only EG members were given materials introducing relevant BI beforehand. The research triangulated data from the recordings of sight interpretation,the transcription of the recordings and the subjects＇ retrospective interviews. The results showed that the EG produced remarkably less processing time on MEs and produced less pauses than the CG; meanwhile,the average evaluations of the interpreting products of MEs revealed that EG produced much less failed interpretations and more successful ones. The paper concludes with two major findings： 1） the acquisition of BI markedly betters the＂fluency＂of the EG＇ delivery by shortening the processing time and reducing the silent and filled pauses; 2） the acquisition of BI discernibly reduces the difficulties of the comprehension and reformulation of MEs,and thus increases the＂faithfulness＂and ＂accuracy＂of the interpreted products.