中国科技典籍文本特点及外国译者的翻译策略研究——以《景德镇陶录》及其英译本为例

The Textual Features of Chinese Science and Technology Classics and Foreigners' Translating Techniques:With Special Reference to Jingdezhen Tao Lu and Its Translation

向外国译者学习、研究他们的译本是中国译者提高翻译水平、更好地完成中国文化走出去历史使命的有效途径之一。中国科技典籍外译需要跨越文化和时间的双重障碍,这双重障碍在很大程度上集中体现在中国科技典籍的文本特点与译语读者的阅读期待这一矛盾上,而译语读者的阅读期待与译者的翻译动机密切相关。《景德镇陶录》作为中国古代科技典籍的代表之作,具有版本不一且编辑欠规范、术语众多且同义现象严重、喜用简称等文本特点,其英译者佘义在洞悉译语读者阅读期待的基础上,选择了异化策略及直译和副文本阐释相结合的翻译方法,较好地解决了中国科技典籍外译的上述矛盾。佘义的英译本受到西方读者的持续青睐,这表明"直译和副文本阐释"是中国科技典籍外译可资借鉴的路径之一。

To learn from the foreign translators and study their translations is one of the efficient ways by which Chinese translators improve the quality of their translations and fulfill the historical task of disseminating Chinese culture globally. The translators of Chinese science and technology classics need to overcome the barriers of culture and time which are typically embodied by the gap between the textual features of Chinese science and technology classics and the expectations of target readers. Jingdezhen Tao Lu, as a typical example of Chinese science and technology classics, has the following textual features: co-existence of various versions which were edited irregularly in terms of modern academic norms, overflowing with a large number of terminologies resulting from synonymy, and preference for shortened forms. To cater to the needs of target readers, its translator Sayer adopted the strategy of foreignization which was realized by means of literal translation compensated by paratext annotations. Sayer's English translation of Jingdezhen Tao Lu has been popular among western readers since its publication and is currently still influential in the western academic world. This shows that the combination of literal translation and paratext annotations employed by Sayer successfully bridges the gap between the textual features of Chinese science and technology classics and the expectations of target readers, and, therefore, is one of effective approaches which can be practiced in the translation of Chinese science and technology classics and the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture as well.