汉诗英译中的数字处理——以《责子》英译为例

Numerals in English Translation of Chinese Poems——Taking Zezi for Example

汉诗英译中的数字处理不同于自然科学、社会科学中数字的翻译,需要译者具有更深厚的语言文化功底,更广阔的理论视域。在翻译过程中,译者需要根据不同诗歌涉及数字应用的具体情况,辨识出其中包含的玄机,作出通观性的考察,从而提供合理、合度、合法(语法)的译文。文章以陶渊明《责子》诗的几种英译版本为例,从数字的功能维度、数字的修辞维度、数字的文化维度、数字的语篇维度、数字的创造维度等五个方面,对汉诗英译中数字该如何处理的问题进行了分析和考察,以期引起诗译者的加倍注意和促进诗评者的深入研究。

Numerals in English translation of Chinese poems differ from those in natural science and social science sectors, the translation of which calls for translators＇ more linguistic and cultural qualifications, as well as broader theoretical horizon. In the process of numeral translation, translators are required decide on the potential keys, make comprehensive investigation and hand out reasonable, justifiable, and grammatical versions according to the specific use of numerals in different context. Taking Tao Yuanming＇ s Zezi for example, this article provides a detailed analysis of how to deal with numerals in English translation of Chinese pomes from five dimensions functional, rhetorical, cultural, textual and creational, in the hope that the concerned aspects of numeral translation will arouse the attention of both translation theorists and practitioners as well.