地方志书英文目录常用术语翻译述评——以上海二轮市级专志为例

Review on the Common Terms Used in English Translation of the Contents of Local Chronicles-Taking the case of the special chronicles in the second round com pilation of Shanghai chronicles

地方志作为我国特有的文化展示载体,是对外传递中华传统优秀文化的重要渠道之一,在跨文化交流过程中起着不可替代的重要作用。由于翻译整本志书的情况并不多见,英文目录就显得尤为重要,体现了志书的水平,更关系到对外交流的效果。本文调查、分析了近两年出版的上海二轮市级专志,发现其英文目录不同程度存在翻译不统一、“百花齐放”甚至失准的情况。究其原因,主要在于翻译与编纂脱节、与评审脱节、与学术脱节。志书承编单位应重视英文目录翻译,地方志主管部门也应当加强对英文目录的评审把关,积极营造目录翻译研究的学术氛围,尝试建立统一且具有可操作性的翻译标准,提高译校质量。

As a unique cultural display carrier in China,local chronicles are one of the important channels to spread excellent traditional Chinese culture to the outside world,and play an irreplaceable role in cross-cultural communication.The English translation of the contents is particularly important in view of the fact that a local chronicle is seldom translated from beginning to end. It not only reflects the level of chronicles,but also has a direct bearing on the effect of international exchange. This paper reviews and analyses the special chronicles at the municipal level of the second round compilation of Shanghai chronicles published in the past two years,and finds that inconsistency,non-uniformity and even inaccuracy is a common phenomenon in the English translation of all the contents. The main reasons lie in the disconnection between translation and compilation,that between translation and appraisal,and that between translation and academics. The chronicles compilation units should attach great importance to the English translation of contents. The competent departments of local chronicles should also put more efforts in the review and appraisal of English contents,actively create an academic atmosphere where research on content translation is valued,and try to establish a unified and operable translation standard to improve the quality of translation and proofreading.