古汉语辞书的英译三合:“义、体、气”——谈《尔雅》英译的多元标准

The Tri-matching Theory of “Meaning, Genre and Literary Strength” for the English Translation of Ancient Chinese Dictionaries: A Study on the Multi-Criteria for the English Translation of Erh-ya

《尔雅》作为古汉语辞书的代表性典籍,有其独特的复合型文本特征。要在英译时充分呈现其复合型文本特点,需要构建符合其自身特点的翻译标准。以文章翻译学“义体气”三合理论为指导,根据《尔雅》多功能文本的特点,可以从七个层面构建该汉语辞书的英译标准,即基于“义合”的汉英义素相合、注疏理据相合、术语涵义相合,基于“体合”的释义结构相合、汉字要素相合,基于“气合”的典籍文脉相合、训诂诗韵相合。《尔雅》英译的多元标准,可为其他汉语辞书典籍英译提供借鉴。

Erh-ya, a representative classic of ancient Chinese dictionary, is characterized by its complex text style.To fully conveys its complex text style, when translated into English, it is necessary to construct the translation criteria corresponding to the complexity.Guided by the tri-matching theory in “meaning, genre and literary strength” of written translation, and based on the multi-functional features of Erh-ya, the English translation criteria of this Chinese dictionary can be constructed from seven aspects:(1) three criteria derived from “meaning matching” i.e.the matching of Chinese and English sememes, the matching of annotation-commentary motivations and the matching of terminological connotations;(2) two criteria derived from “genre matching” i.e.the matching of exegetic sentence structures and the matching of essential elements of sinograms, and(3) two criteria derived from “literary strength matching” i.e.the matching of veins and nadis from ancient Chinese canons and the matching of exegetically poetic rhymes.The multi-criteria for the English translation of Erh-ya are also be applicable to the translation of other ancient Chinese dictionaries.