中国大学校训英译的文化适应策略——以广州大学校训为例

Acculturation Strategies for English Translation of University Motto in China: A Case Study of Guangzhou University

中外大学因为办学理念和教育制度的差异形成了迥然不同的大学校训文化。但中国大学校训的英译问题长期以来未受重视。随着中国大学办学国际化程度的提高,大学校训的英译问题日益凸显。本文从大学校训的内涵与外延出发,以广州大学校训作为案例,通过比较分析中外大学校训的主题内核与文化特质,重点研究中国大学校训文化在汉译英过程中出现的问题和原因;在此基础上,尝试提出功能对等或文化适应的英译策略,以期为学界提供一些有益的启发与参考。

School motto is a reflection on the guiding principles for a university. Chinese and foreign universities have formed much diversified university motto culture because of the difference of educational philosophy and educational system. However,for a long time the English translation of university mottos has been neglected in China.Based on a case study of Guangzhou University,the paper starts with a comparative analysis of the themes and cultural characteristics of university mottos at home and abroad.Afterwards,the paper explores the acculturation strategies such as functional equivalence strategy,domestication,foreignization,literary translation and free translationas solutions to the current problems in the English translation of Chinese university mottoes.