谚语英译文本元功能分析:系统功能视角

A Metafunctional Analysis of English Translated Texts of Proverbs: A Systemic Functional Perspective

为加快中国特色话语传播,谚语英译受到了广泛关注。本文从系统功能语法视角,探究翻译质量不同的谚语译文在文本特征上是否存在差异。研究发现,从概念功能来看,翻译质量不同的译文在参与者和环境使用上存在显著差异:高质量译文中,参与者多为低语境词汇,力求易于理解和接受;环境往往较短或直接省略。而过程类型没有显著差异,译文均多使用物质过程与关系过程。从人际功能来看,译文在情态和语气的使用上并无明显差异,均较少使用情态,多使用肯定语气。语篇功能上,译文在主位使用上无明显差异,均多使用无标记主位,尤其以主语作为主位。通过对比翻译质量不同的译文的文本特征差异,可以为特色话语翻译提供依据,加快文化交流与互鉴。

In order to accelerate the spread of texts with Chinese characteristics, English translation of proverbs has attracted wide attention. From the perspective of systemic functional grammar, this paper explores the metafunctional features of translation texts with different qualities. It is found that, from the perspective of ideational function, there are significant differences between the participants and the environment of the translations with different qualities. In high-quality translations, the participants are mostly low-context words, easy to understand and accept, and the environment is often shorter or simply omitted. However, there is no significant difference in the process, and the translations mostly use material process and relational process. As for the interpersonal function, there is no obvious difference in the use of modality and mood in the translation;both high-quality and low-quality translations use less modality and more positive mood. In terms of the textual function, there is also no obvious difference in the use of theme in the translation. Most translations frequently use subject as unmarked theme. By comparing the metafunctions of translations with different qualities, this study can provide evidence for the study on proverb translation and thus accelerate cultural exchange and mutual learning.