翻译和语言世界图景

Translation and linguistic worldview

翻译是不同语言集团交流信息的基本手段。可译和不可译,译文是否准确、优美地传递了源语语篇的信息,一直是困扰翻译工作者的问题,也是翻译研究的课题。从语言相对论假说的角度,可以对可译/不可译作出另外一种解释。语言中很多并未被翻译理论和翻译技巧视为不可译的现象,其实是真正的不可译。这是每种语言中那些不得不说,却又不会被母语者意识到的语言单位。这些语言单位是语言构建的世界图景中必不可少的成分。它们基本上不可能从一种语言译成另一种语言,甚至不会被译者意识到。一种语言的母语者,不可能通过翻译作品,接触到另一种语言构建的世界图景。越是成功、优美的译文,越是阻隔了不同语言母语者由语言塑造的世界观。

Translation is an essential means of information exchange between different language groups.Translatability and untranslatability,as well as whether a translator is able to accurately and successfully convey the information of the source text,has always been an important topic of concern for both translators and researchers.However,from the perspective of the hypothesis of linguistic relativity,we can offer another explanation of translatability/untranslatability.Many linguistic units that are not regarded as untranslatable regarding translation theories or translation techniques are indeed untranslatable.These linguistic units are indispensable in each language yet are not noticed by native speakers or even translators.They are essential components of the worldview constructed by languages,and cannot be translated from one language to another.No translation is able to provide native speakers of one language with the worldview constructed by another language,and the more successful and beautiful a translation is,the further it pushes native speakers of one language away from the worldview constructed by another language.