谈谈汉英对译中的文化因素

The Cultural Factor in C-E Translation

文化差异对翻译具有重大影响。尤其中西两种文化的歧异可以说是是绝对的,普遍的,即使大体对应的说法和相互引进的词语,也有涵义或用法上的众多不同。大多数问题则涉及文化的核心:不同的生活方式、价值观点(包括伦理道德、意识形态、宗教与生活信仰、以至与此关联的称谓和亲属关系)和思维方式及行文特点。作者用翻译实践中发现的典型谬误,指出应如何对此进行研究。

Cultural differences have an essential bearing upon translation. Even approximate equivalent and loan words have different implications and usages in English and Chinese. Most problems, however, concern the core of culture: ways of life, values (including ethical criteria, ideology, religion, and relevant terms of address and relations of kinship) and ways of thinking and writing, which vary greatly from Chinese to English. Typical examples in C-E translation are cited to show how best to avoid mistranslations due to such cultural differences.