语言的维度与翻译的限度及标准

Linguistic Dimension as a Determinant of the Limits and the Standards of Translation

语言研究始终都应该是翻译的核心和出发点。新的语言观认为语言至少具有工具性、思想本体性和文学性三个维度;可分别描述为:所指偏向型、能(指)所(指)同一型和能指偏向型语言。"翻译"则可重新定义为:是一种在目标语中再现源语的能指所指关系的活动。所指偏向型语言可译度高,能所同一型可译,但难度高,文学性语言可译性低,甚至不可译;对"信"、"达"、"雅"进行了正本清源的考证,不再针对抽象文类,而是取决于具体语言,能所统一型语言的翻译标准是"信",在译文中再造所指,通过对话、阐释使所指在目标语中明晰起来;所指偏向型语言的翻译标准是"达",以信息、意义的传递为先,译语地道,不能构成阅读障碍;能指偏向型语言的翻译标准是"雅",能指变形是手段,达到以诗译诗的目的。

Language is generally understood as possessing three dimensions—the instrumental, the ideational, as well as the poetic dimension. This trio of aspects are marked respectively with an orientation toward the signified, a balanced concern with both the signified and the signifier, and an orientation toward the signifier. Seen from this perspective, translation may also be defined as an activity that reproduces in the TT the signifier/signified relation dominant in the ST. The signifiedoriented ST has a higher degree of translatability. Since conveying information and meaning is the primary function of this type, intelligibility(da 达) ought to be adopted as the standard. A ST whose use of language is concerned equally with the signifier and the signified, however, is translatable but demands greater efforts for its rendition. The primary standard in this case must be faithfulness(xin 信), the attainment of which often requires the invention of new signifiers to carry over the meaning. The signifier-oriented ST is all but untranslatable. Embellishment(ya 雅) should therefore predominate as the standard for evaluating its rendition.