基于语料库的“武术”概念词英译研究

A Corpus-based Study on the English Translation of the Term"Wu Shu"

基于COCA、COHA、TIME Magazine Corpus和The TV Corpus四个大型语料库,考察“武术”的7种常见英译在英语语境的实际应用,窥探中华武术文化的对外传播现状,分析“武术”概念词英译难以统一的原因。研究发现,四大语料库中,martial arts和kung fu的使用频率均远远高于其他译法,但二者却并非中华武术的等义词,可见英语世界对武术概念的理解具有片面性,武术文化的对外传播并不理想。“武术”概念词英译无法统一主要有语言层面、文化层面和国家语言政策层面的原因。为解决“武术”一词的英译乱象,促进中华武术文化的对外传播,一是国家在语言政策上需要规约“武术”的英译;二是推动优秀武术主题文化产业的发展与对外传播,实现“语言+文化”的强势输出;三是国内学界仍需进一步研究讨论“武术”概念词的最佳英译。

Based on four large English corpora of COCA,COHA,Time Magazine Corpus and The TV Corpus,this paper investigates the actual use and acceptance of 7 translation versions of"Wu Shu"in the English context,so as to explore the situation of international communication of Chinese Wu Shu culture and to analyze the reason why it is difficult to standardize the translation of"Wu Shu".The results indicate that in the four corpora,martial arts and kung fu are used much more frequently than other translation versions.However,they are not the equivalent words of"Wu Shu"in meaning,which shows that the understanding of Chinese Wu Shu culture in the English-speaking world is single-faceted,and the international communication of Wu Shu culture has not reached an ideal state.The fact that the translation of"Wu Shu"hasn′t been standardized can be caused by linguistic,cultural and national language policy factors.In order to solve this translation confusion and propel the further spread of Chinese Wu Shu culture,the national language policy should standardize the English translation of"Wu Shu";the cultural industry with the theme of Wu Shu,together with its international communication should be developed and encouraged so as to fulfill the goal of"language plus culture"communication mode;in the meanwhile,the best English translation version of"Wu Shu"still needs to be discussed.