从文化观看文学翻译的指导原则——“扬长避短论”评析

The Guiding Principles for Literary Translation from the Perspective of Culture——Our Viewpoint on the Theory of Giving Play to One's Strong Points and Avoiding One's Shortcomings

文化交流是两种文化之间的双向活动。每一单向活动都包含着“给”与“取”或“出”与“入”两个环节。文学翻译活动属于“取”或“入”的环节 ,因而应以“取长补短”为其指导原则。以“扬长避短”为其指导原则 ,既容易造成原作文学色彩和文化色彩的更大的“失真”,也容易造成原作文学味和文化味的更多的“串味”;不仅会削弱文学翻译的生命力 ,常常也达不到文化交流的目的。

Cultural exchange involves two-way activities between two cultures. Any one-way activity of this kind consists of two sides: 'giving' and 'taking' or 'out' and 'in'. Literary translation falls into 'taking' or 'in', and therefore should follow the principle of 'drawing on others' strong points and making up one's own shortcomings'. On the other hand , the principle of 'giving play to one's strong points and avoiding one's shortcomings' will lead to unnecessary modification of the original works and certainly spoil the literary and cultural brilliance of the original works. This principle will not only weaken the vitality of literary translation, but also impede the effective cultural exchange that translation is expected to facilitate.