雅俗共赏,贯通中西——西蒙·利斯《论语》英译本特色评鉴

A Detailed Textual Analysis of The Analects of Confucius Translated by Simon Leys

汉学家西蒙·利斯的《论语》英译本深受英语读者的喜爱。它兼顾了学术性和通俗化,用词地道,译文简洁优美、通顺流畅,在注释中旁征博引,贯通中西,从现代视角表达他对自己参悟的儒家思想本质的诠释。本文从选词、构句、逻辑、文化专有项的归化简化处理、考证溯源求创新等五个方面,详细论述利斯译本的特色,同时也指出了其译本中存在的一些问题,为现代《论语》英译提供参考和借鉴。

The English version of The Analects of Confucius,translated by Simon Leys,is quite popular among the readers in English-speaking countries.The version reads smoothly and fluently in a concise and graceful style by idiomatic expressions and rich annotations in which the translator explains his modern unique interpretation of the nature of Confucian thought by referring to many western celebrities.This paper expounds the characteristics of the translation in detail from five aspects,such as selecting appropriate words,restructuring sentences,reconstructing logical connections,domesticating and simplifying culturally-loaded expressions,and interpreting innovatively by researching its textual origins.It also points out some problems in the translation.Hopefully it will provide some references and suggestions for the translation of The Analects of Confucius in modern times.