“约定”与“再约定”——对“rhythmic gymnastics”汉译的再思考

“Establishment by Convention” and “Reestablishment by Convention”: Reflections on the Different Chinese Versions of “Rhythmic Gymnastics”

中国媒体通常将体育赛事项目中的“体操”与“artistic gymnastics”等同起来,而将“艺术体操”与“rhythmic gymnastics”等同起来。然而,从语言逻辑上来说,这种翻译存在问题。为了避免引起误会,无论从语言自身逻辑自洽角度而言,还是为了实现同国际接轨,都应当将“rhythmic gymnastics”“再约定”译作“韵律体操”,而将“artistic gymnastics”“再约定”译作“艺术体操”,实现语言回归。翻译语言的“约定俗成”不是一劳永逸的。为了实现语言逻辑自洽,翻译语言“约定”之后局部需要“再约定”。翻译核心概念时,应重视语言逻辑问题,既要重视语内连贯,也要重视语际连贯。

The official media in our country usually equate“体操”(ticao)with“artistic gymnastics”in sports events,and“艺术体操”(yishuticao)with“rhythmic gymnastics”.From the point of view of language logic,this translation in itself is problematic.The present study demonstrates that to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings,“rhythmic gymnastics”and“artistic gymnastics”had better be rendered into“韵律体操”(yunlvticao)and“艺术体操”(yishuticao)respectively,whether from the perspective of language consistency or from translation practice in the world.The establishment of translated terms by convention is a more of a process than an outcome.To achieve real equivalence of some terms between two languages,the necessity of reestablishment of certain translated terms by convention arises from time to time.When translating core concepts,we must lay emphasis on the logic of language.Both intra-coherence and inter-coherence are to be taken into account.