翻译概念的流变及其反思

Reflections on the Evolvement of the Concept of Translation

要进行深入的翻译研究,必须先确定翻译概念。通过梳理翻译概念的历史流变过程表明,翻译概念迄今为止仍有一定的不确定性。雅各布森的翻译三分法、《现代汉语词典》"翻译"词条的定义以及斯坦纳的"理解即翻译"的命题是当代翻译概念的典型代表,并由此推论:翻译不只是语言转换活动或"工具",而且是人类生活方式的一部分。认识到这一点,对翻译研究具有深远的意义。

Profound translation studies call for unequivocal concept of translation. This paper, through reviewing the history of the evolvement of the concept of translation, perceives some uncertainty in the present concept of translation. It is construed in the paper that Jakobson's classification of translation, the definition of translation in the Modern Chinese Dictionary and Steiner's proposition of 'Understanding is translation' is typical of the modern concept of translation,from which it is inferred that translation, more than a linguistic transference or an 'instrument', is part of human life. To realize this point is paramount to future translation studies.