关于翻译理论现状与发展的思考

Reflections on the Status Quo and Development of Translation Studies

在过去三十多年,理论工作者将语言学、语用学、认知语言学、对比文学、文化学等领域的研究成果运用于翻译研究,取得了令人瞩目的成就,拓展了我们的视野。但我们也应清醒地认识到各种新译论所起的作用仍十分有限,目前的宏观译论主要存在以下一些问题:(1)各种不同译论可用于解释同一现象,难以体现独特性;(2)在理论的应用与解释上经常存在很大争议;(3)尚无译论能够解释绝大多数翻译现象;重复研究过多。为了促进翻译理论的发展有必要澄清宏观译论、微观技巧、语言实践能力这三者的关系。在此基础上可将西方译论与中国微观技巧有机地结合在一起,以便细化翻译理论。此外还有必要采用科学的研究方法,将研究成果量化。

For more than thirty years findings in linguistics, pragmatics, cognitive linguistics, comparative literature, cultural studies, etc. have been applied to the study of translation, and striking results have been reported. It should be admitted, however, that the role of the emerging Translation Studies is limited as a consequence of these problems: (1)Various theories can be used to explain the same translation fact, thus indicating a deplorable lack of uniqueness or idiosyncrasy; (2)Great controversy exists over the interpretation and application of the theories; (3)No single theory is capable of interpreting the greater part of the translation phenomena; and repetitive researches abound. To promote further development of translation studies, it is necessary to clarify the three-tier relationship among macro-theory, micro-techniques and language capabilities. Then the possibility of integrating Western theories with Chinese translation techniques will increase, and a multi-level theoretical framework is likely to emerge.