探究影响中国特色词英译的主要因素

A Study of Major Factors in Translating Words with Chinese Characteristics

中国特色词在对外宣传中占据了重要的地位,其英译质量的高低直接决定了能否达到对外宣传的目的。影响特色词英译的主要因素包括文化因素、语境因素、政治因素和受众与译者因素。文化因素由思维方式、传统文化和地域文化构成,完美跨越文化个性的鸿沟才能使特色词英译成为可能;语境因素决定特色词的涵义、感情色彩、语体特征和词义的广狭;政治因素在外宣中高度敏感,应慎之又慎;受众与译者因素取决于翻译活动中两大主要参与者——受众和译者的主观因素,包括受众期待和译者能力。只有克服翻译中的影响因素,才能达到良好的翻译效果,实现有效展现国家形象的目的。

Words with Chinese characteristics play a vital role in the outward publicizing and promotion, and the quality of English translation is a direct determiner to the effect of outward promotion. Cultural factors, contextual factors, political factors, and factors of the audience and the translator, al these are to be taken into consideration in translating words with Chinese characteristics into English. Cultural factor refers to the one comprising way of thinking, established culture and regional cultures. It is, therefore,a must to bridge the gap between different cultures as much as possible. Contextual factor plays its role in determining some words with Chinese characteristics connotatively,emotionaly and stylisticaly, as wel as in its broad or narrow sense. Special treatment should be given to the role the political factors play in outward publicity. Factors from the audience and the translator are decided by the two primary subjective elements in translating, namely, the audience＇ s expectation of the translation and the translator＇s ability. An effective display of national image wil not be achieved unless a favorable translating effect is reached by taking these factors into account.