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名胜古迹景点介绍英译语用问题探析——以海口五公祠景区为例

2012-04-14贾绍东

关键词:译语苏东坡景点

贾绍东

(海南大学国际文化交流学院,海南海口 570228)

名胜古迹景点介绍英译语用问题探析
——以海口五公祠景区为例

贾绍东

(海南大学国际文化交流学院,海南海口 570228)

论文以海口五公祠景区为例,剖析该景区两个英文介绍文本中存在的语用问题及原因。在此基础上,探讨名胜古迹景点介绍英译需要采用的翻译理论与方法,认为翻译名胜古迹景点介绍应更多地考虑目的语读者及其文化因素,使其符合译语读者的语言欣赏习惯和思维方式。

古迹名胜;海口五公祠;景点介绍;语用问题;翻译策略

名胜古迹景点介绍翻译是旅游文本翻译的重要组成部分,它是一种跨语言、跨社会、跨时空、跨文化、跨心理的交际活动。[1]名胜古迹景点介绍的翻译有其自身的语言与文体特点,其包括事件、人物、朝代、官职、碑文、对联、建筑等历史文化知识。名胜古迹景点介绍翻译的主要功能是向译语游客传递历史文化信息、诱导其行动、增长其知识、使其获得享受。因此,在翻译中既要考虑文本功能特征,又要考虑译语读者;既要关注美学标准,也要关注文化因素;还要了解文本内容与形式的关系以及相关的翻译策略与技巧。[2]另外,名胜古迹景点介绍的翻译也应注重实证性与动态性翻译相结合,只有这样,才能体现名胜古迹传播历史文化的价值,从而达到召唤译语读者的目的。笔者通过对海口五公祠景区(简称五公祠)英文介绍的实地考察,从获得的语料中发现,该景区介绍的原译文存在的语用问题与错误甚多,难以达到召唤译语读者的效应。下面就该景区介绍的两个源语文本及其原译文文本存在的典型语用问题进行探析,并运用相关翻译理论和翻译策略与方法,对原译文进行了改译,旨在为海南的名胜古迹文化建设和旅游文本翻译提供一些借鉴。

一 五公祠景区介绍原译文文本语用问题分析

(一)源语文本及其原译文案例

例1:五公祠位于海口市区。自北宋大文豪苏东坡于绍圣四年﹙1097﹚被贬来琼,借寓金粟庵﹙今五公祠内﹚留存遗迹以来,宋、元、明、清及民国历朝不断在其周围增建、重修古迹,习惯上把这组古迹群称之为“五公祠”。它包括:海南第一楼﹙又称五公祠﹚、学圃堂、观稼堂、西斋﹙五公精舍﹚、东斋、苏公祠、两伏波祠、泂酌亭、浮粟泉、琼园和新建的五公祠陈列馆。五公祠占地面积66,000平方米,建筑面积6,800平方米,2001年6月26日被国务院列为第五批全国重点文物保护单位。五公祠有近千年的历史,孕育着丰富的文化内涵,蕴藏着深厚的历史底蕴,它是全面了解海南历史、政治、文化发展的名胜古迹。

Five Officials’Temple is located in the urban district of Haikou city.The big eminent writer SU Dongpo of Northern Song Dynasty was dismissed in four year﹙1097﹚of shaosheng and sent to Hainan;He lodged in Jinsu but﹙now Five officials’Temple﹚ that was additionally reconstructed in its periphery and repairedthe historical site unceasingly,since taking advantage of preserving the vestige from song,Yuan,Ming,Qing and guoMing dynasties.the group of historical sites in the custom calls“Five officials’temple”.It inclues:he Hainan First Building ﹙ also called Five officials’temple ﹚,Xuepu Hall,Guanjia Hall,West Fast ﹙Five officials’Hell﹚,East Fast,Su Five officials’Temple,Two Fubo Temple,Jiongzhuo pavilion,Fusu Spring,Qiong Garden and the newly built Five Officials’Temple Exhibition Hall.

Five Officials’Temple covers an area of 66,000 square meters with the floor space of 6,800 squaye meters.On June 262001,the Council of the People’s Republic of China listed it in the fifth batch of nation Key cultural relic preservation organ.Five Officials’Temple has a history of nearly millenniums,breeding rich cultural connotation,containing the deep historical inside story;it is a scenic spot historical site that comprehensively understands the history, political,cultural development of Hainan.

例2:北宋靖国元年﹙1101﹚,苏东坡在离琼北归途中仙逝常州。为纪念坡翁,人们便将他寓居过的此地提名为“东坡读书处”。尔后,又置学田,建书舍,聘山长,设讲堂,开办“东坡书院”,成为海南历史上最早的书院之一。该书院在南宋、元、明、清历朝培养了众多学子才人。清光绪二十五年﹙1899﹚书院迁入府城,后停办。民国四年﹙1915﹚雷琼道台朱为潮在此添建亭阁、假山、花池,辟为“琼园”,成为游憩观赏之地。

In Jinguo First Year of Northern Song Dynasty﹙1101﹚ the Revered Mr.Su Dongpo died in Changzhou when he was on the way to leave Hainan for returning to the north.The people inscribed the place where he had stayed as“Dongpo Reading Place”in order to commemorate the Revered Mr Su Dongpo.Later,the people purchased land for learning,constructed school rooms,engaged deans,set up lecture hall,and established《Dongpo Academy》which was one of the earliest academies in Hainan history.Dongpo Academy has trained numerous students and talents in many dynasties such as Southern Song Dynasty,Yuan Dynasty,Ming Dynasty.In Guangxu 25th year of Qing Dynasty﹙1879﹚the Academy has been moved into Fucheng and then closed down.In Minguo Fourth Year﹙ 1915﹚ Zhu Weichao,Intendant of Leiqiong Circuit,constructed pavilions,rockery,flower beds here,which was named“Qiongyuan”for touring and sightseeing.

(二)原译文本存在的问题

1.语言错误(硬伤)枚不胜举

例1是海口五公祠景区门票上的中英文介绍,例2是五公祠景区内关于东坡书院的中英文介绍。作为全国重点文物景点之一的五公祠,其译文中的技术性错误(硬伤)几乎涵盖了所有种类的语言错误,例1译文中每句都有错误,包括拼写、大小写、标点符号、单复数、分词、时态、语态、用词、搭配、专有名词、句子结构等;如例2译文中将汉语书名号错用到英文中,如《Dongpo Academy》。此外,用词的典型错误,如例1中将“被贬”错译为“was dismissed”;例2中将“人才”错译为“talents”等等。其他类型错误在此不一一列举。

2.语篇层面“软伤”比比皆是

原译文除语法错误外,语篇层面也“软伤”累累。如例1中的句子“He lodged in Jinsu but﹙now Five officials’Temple﹚ that was additionally reconstructed in its periphery and repaired the historical site unceasingly,since taking advantage of preserving the vestige from song,Yuan,Ming,Qing and guoMing dynasties.”。原译文句子结构与语篇形式和源语句子结构与语篇形式几乎完全对等,毫无翻译策略和技巧可言,不能用符合译语文化标准的语言形式表达源语意义。句子之间缺乏衔接,篇内结构不合理,表面上看,这种翻译似乎完全“忠实”于源语文本,结果是难以起到宣传中国文化的作用,缺乏旅游景点介绍的“呼唤”功能,还可能导致某些译语读者对此产生反感。

3.信息缺失不全

原译文中存在信息缺失现象。例1中,苏轼(常被称为苏东坡)被贬来琼,被谁贬?他为什么被贬?原译文没有交代。五公祠是后人为纪念唐宋时期被贬到海南的五位重要人物而建的,苏东坡是“五公”之一,其他四位在译文中应作适当补充。例2中,“离琼北归”具有一定的历史背景和指代性,对多数了解中国历史的读者而言,理解基本没有问题,但对译语读者而言,就会产生疑问:苏东坡为什么要“离琼北归”?“北边”究竟在哪儿?具体指北方的哪个地方?这几个问题在译文中缺失,应有所交代。

4.信息多余

例1中提到五公祠“建筑面积6,800平方米,2001年6月26日被国务院列为第五批全国重点文物保护单位”,这一信息具有中国旅游景点宣传特色,如果“死译”,显得信息多余。例2中“清光绪二十五年﹙1899﹚书院迁入府城,后停办”,这些信息让源语读者了解无可厚非,但对译语读者其实可有可无,并不重要,可以省略不译,译出反而让译语读者觉得译文累赘。

德国语言学家Hans Vermeer提出的“翻译目的论”(The Skopos Theory)认为,翻译是一种有目的的跨文化交际活动,翻译活动既要考虑源语文本和译文的功能,更要考虑译语读者的期望和价值观。[3]也就是说,翻译应尽可能考虑译语读者的语言欣赏习惯和文化心理因素。就名胜古迹景点介绍翻译而言,并非是一对一的语言转换活动或行为,同样要顾及目的语读者的语言习惯、心理感受和文化思维。依据这一理论,在尽可能保留源语文本信息的同时,对源语文本信息和功能做适当的调整,以便使源语文本与译文在语义和语用功能两方面达到基本对等,使译文充分发挥诱导和呼唤读者的功能,而翻译策略和方法也应为这一功能提供有力支持。

二 改译策略与方法

(一)用增译法和释译法补充缺失信息

在名胜古迹景点中文介绍中,有许多隐含的历史文化知识,作为大多数的中国读者都能看明白。但对于不太了解中国历史文化的译语读者来讲,如完全对等翻译,可能会存在信息缺失不全,故在译文中有必要给予增译,补全其缺失信息,以达到语义顺应连贯的效果。

例1的源语文本只提到苏东坡,而未提及他另有其名“苏轼”;虽交代了苏东坡是大文豪,但未提及他是北宋朝廷官员;只提到他被贬,而未提及他被贬原因;只间接提到他是“五公”之一,而未提及在唐宋两朝期间被贬到海南的其他“四公”;只提到“借寓金粟庵﹙今五公祠内﹚留存遗迹在其周围增建、重修五公祠”,而未提到百姓为什么要这样做。除此之外,景点介绍中重要朝代的起始年份也没有交代。以上信息很有必要给与补充。依据以上缺失的信息,特做以下增译(英文斜体部分):“Mr.Su Shi(who is often referred to as Su Dongpo),a great eminent writer and government official,was exiled to Hainan by the Emperor because of political frameup.”“The temple complex was built… in memory of Mr.Su Dongpo and other four officials who were also sent into exile to Hainan during Tang and Song Dynasty”和“Southern Song Dynasty from 1127 to 1279”。

例2的源语文本中,苏东坡(苏轼)为何要“离琼北归”?“北边”具体指哪个地方?据史料记载,1101年(元符三年)苏东坡被大赦后,复任朝奉郎,北归途中,于1101年8月24日(建中靖国元年七月二十八日)卒于常州。[4]这里的“北归”含义应该是苏东坡返回当时北宋的首都开封。因此,译文要有所交代,增译见英文斜体部分:“Mr.Su Shi,who is often referred to as Su Dongpo,was granted amnesty and reinstated in his post,so he left Hainan and returned to Kaifeng,the capital of the dynasty in the north.”

同时,可根据译文上下文义、语篇内衔接与语义顺应的需要,增译其所需的词、短语或句子。如例2中(海南人民为感谢苏东坡)“又置学田,建书舍,聘山长,设讲堂”可增译为(见英文斜体部分):“The populace of Hainan showed its appreciation by contributing towards building an academy at this site.”例2中“该书院……培养了众多学子才人(其地位显著并闻名遐迩)”译为:“The Academy became famous and instrumental in teaching a large number of students and scholars.”例2“途中仙逝常州”译为:“Unfortunately,he passed away on his way in Changzhou.”增译Unfortunately使上下两句自然衔接,还表达了失去苏东坡的惋惜与不幸。

例2中“雷琼道台”是清朝和民国初期的官名,很难在英语中找到相对应的官位头衔,原译文中的“直译”显得不伦不类,因此应采用释译,用一个非限制性定语从句who was then in charge of Hainan’s administrative and military affairs,让译语读者更加了解该官职的权力管辖,也符合西方人的文化思维。

由于源语和译语读者的语言、社会、文化、历史背景、心理认知和生活环境完全不同,因此各自的关注点也存在着很大差异。名胜古迹景点汉语介绍往往突出其历史悠久、文化丰富等特点,多数源语读者一看即明白,而译语读者不一定看得懂。因此,对源语文本中涉及的一些历史文化背景方面的重要信息,在译文中应给予增译或释译,以帮助译语读者更好地了解源语的历史文化,避免其误解。

(二)用缩译法和省译法精简多余信息

一般来讲,旅游景点英文介绍结构严谨、行文用字简洁明了、语言表达直观通俗。所以,在尽可能保持源语文化元素和信息基本完整的同时,译文语言要尽量顺应英语语言范式和西方文化思维与欣赏习惯,在源语与译语的内容方面尽可能达到“动态对等”。[5]景点英语介绍比较注重景点的主题信息传递,在源语中对译语游客不重要的信息可以省译,做到源语文本和译文两者内外有别。

例1“宋、元、明、清及民国历朝”和例2“在南宋、元、明、清历朝”分别可缩译为“dating from Southern Song Dynasty from 1127 to 1279 to the Republic of China”和“from Southern Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty”,一个介词短语将近千年时间跨度囊括其中,简明扼要,且突出了时间的久远与跨度。例1“习惯上把这组古迹群称之为‘五公祠’”,在译文中已体现出来了,可省去不译。

(三)用意译法使语用顺应与关联

综合考虑名胜古迹景点介绍翻译的目的,译文应力图在篇内衔接与结构上顺应译文内容,实现译文内各因素之间的语用顺应、语用关联和语用等效。因此,除采用增译、释译、缩译、省译等翻译方法外,还可使用意译法,尽可能使译文内容获得语用顺应和关联,使译文结构和内容与源语文本基本达到语用对等。

例1“它包括:海南第一楼﹙又称五公祠﹚、学圃堂、观稼堂、西斋﹙五公精舍﹚、东斋、苏公祠、两伏波祠、泂酌亭、浮粟泉、琼园和新建的五公祠陈列馆”在原译文中被逐字译出,显得累赘,译语读者也不可能读得懂,应意译为:“The temple complex consists of springs and gardens and ancient Chinese architecture.”。此译句简洁明了,同样展现出了五公祠的历史与文化之美,即所谓“孕育着丰富的文化内涵,蕴藏着深厚的历史底蕴”,此句可用分词短语将其意译为“encompassing rich cultural and historical relics”。

例2“又置学田,建书舍,聘山长,设讲堂”等是指海南老百姓为感恩和怀念苏东坡而捐资兴建了“东坡书院”。可意译为:“The populace of Hainan showed its appreciation by contributing towards building an academy at this site.”改译后的词句(英文斜体部分)将几个不同侧面的意义涵盖其中,使其言简意赅。

为了凸显五公祠这一名胜古迹的历史文化价值及其重要地位,突出景点介绍的“呼唤”功能,激起译语游客对该景点的了解渴望和游览兴趣,可将例1最后两句“(五公祠)国务院列为第五批全国重点文物保护单位”,“它是全面了解海南历史、政治、文化发展的名胜古迹”意译为:“Five Officials’Temple is one of the key places of interest in Hainan as well as in China.The temple is a landmark of Hainan’s rich history and its cultural heritage.”

(四)用合译法顺应篇内衔接

将例1第一句“五公祠位于海口市区”和中间的短语“海南第一楼﹙又称五公祠﹚”以及最后一句“五公祠有近千年的历史”组合译成一句:“Five Officials’Temple(also known as Hainan’s First Building),located in Haikou city,has a history of about one thousand years.”。例1中“它(五公祠)包括:海南第一楼﹙又称五公祠﹚、学圃堂、观稼堂、西斋﹙五公精舍﹚、东斋、苏公祠、两伏波祠、泂酌亭、浮粟泉、琼园和新建的五公祠陈列馆”,“占地面积66,000平方米”和“孕育着丰富的文化内涵,蕴藏着深厚的历史底蕴”三句合译为:“The complex,which covers an area of 66,000 square meters,consists of springs and gardens and ancient Chinese architecture encompassing rich cultural and historical relics.”。合译后的译文语言表达简洁明了、结构严谨、风格简约自然,达到了源语文本与译文的语义关联和语用对等,很好地突出了五公祠悠久的历史和厚重的文化底蕴,译语游客读后一定会对此产生兴趣。

(五)改译后的译文

例 1:Five Officials’Temple(also known as Hainan’s First Building),located in Haikou city,has a history of about one thousand years.In 1097,the fourth year of Shaosheng of Northern Song Dynasty,Mr.Su Shi(who is often referred to as Su Dongpo),a great eminent writer and government official,was exiled to Hainan by the Emperor because of political frame- up.Upon his arrival,he settled down in this site known as Jinsu Hut.The temple complex was built at the site dating from Southern Song Dynasty from 1127 to 1279 to the Republic of China in memory of Mr.Su Dongpo and other four officials who were also sent into exile to Hainan during Tang and Song Dynasty.The complex,which covers an area of 66000 square meters,consists of springs and gardens and ancient Chinese architecture encompassing rich cultural and historical relics.

Five Officials’Temple is one of the key places of interest in Hainan as well as in China.The temple is a landmark of Hainan’s rich history and its cultural heritage.

例2:In 1101,the first year of Jinguo of Northern Song Dynasty from 960 to 1127,Mr.Su Shi,who is often referred to as Su Dongpo,was granted amnesty and reinstated in his post,so he left Hainan and returned to Kaifeng,the capital of the dynasty in the north.Unfortunately,he passed away on his way in Changzhou.Later,in commemoration of him,the people of Hainan designated the present site,where he had stayed,as“Dongpo Reading Place”.Subsequently,the populace of Hainan showed its appreciation by contributing towards building an academy at this site.This academy was named The Dongpo Academy and was one of the earliest schools in the history of Hainan.The Academy became famous and instrumental in teaching a large number of students and scholars from Southern Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty.In 1915,the fourth year of the Republic of China,Zhu Weichao,who was then in charge of Hainan’s administrative and military affairs,took charge of constructing the garden consisting of the pavilions and rockery and flower beds,which was named “Qiongyuan”.It has since become a famous site on the tourist circuit.

三 结语

名胜古迹景点介绍的翻译,其实是一种动态的再创造过程。通过对原译文的剖析,改译后的译文应力图把握三个方面:一是动态地对源语进行语内和语际阐释,注重信息的准确性和语言的实用性,尽可能准确地将源语的信息传递给译语读者,把译文的效度放在首位,同时兼顾译文的信度,使译文最大限度地向源语文本趋同;二是注意源语与译文之间的社会文化规约和表达上的差异,着眼于译文的文化语境和译语读者的文化认知和对源语文化的期待,考虑译语读者因素、译语文化因素以及译语读者的文化心理或被林语堂先生称之为“英文心理”;三是对源语文本进行了大胆的翻译重构,采用增译、释译、缩译、省译、意译、(组)合译等翻译策略与方法,最大限度地使源语文本与译语文本保持内在的语义关联和语用对等,让译语游客读译文景点介绍就像读有趣的故事一样得到享受,以期发挥旅游景点介绍的呼唤功能。此外,在许多情况下,有时需同时采用两种或两种以上的翻译策略,才能解决翻译中的复杂问题,从而更能获得理想的翻译效果。

[1]陈刚.旅游翻译与涉外导游[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,2004:59.

[2]贾文波.应用翻译功能论[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,2004:107-156.

[3]Wikipedia.Skopos Theory[EB/OL].(2012 -03 -07)[2012 -04 -07].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skopos_theory.

[4]林语堂.苏东坡传[M].天津:百花文艺出版社,2000:348-361.

[5]Nida,E.A.,Taber,C.The Theory and Practice of Translation[M].Leiden:E.J.Brill,1982:200.

An Analysis of Mistranslations in the English Translation of Introductions to Historic Sites:Problems and Their Solutions

JIA Shao-dong
(College of International Cultural Exchange,Hainan University,Haikou 570228,China)

This paper analyzes the mistranslations and pragmatic mistakes in the English translation of introductions to historic sites by studying the examples taken from Haikou Five Officials’Temple.On the basis of the case studies,the paper discusses how translation strategies are applied to translating introductions to historic sites.Furthermore,the paper opines that the translator should consider such factors as the culture of the target language and its readers in translating introductions to historic sites.

places of interest;Haikou Five Officials’Temple;introductions to historic sites;mistranslations and pragmatic mistakes;translation strategies

H315.9

A

1674-5310(2012)-05-0133-05

海南省教育厅高等学校科学研究项目“国际之旋游岛背景下跨文化翻译问题研究”(Hjsk201115)。

2012-03-08

贾绍东(1959-),男,宁夏中卫人,海南大学国际文化交流学院副教授,主要从事应用语言学与英语教学、跨文化交际与翻译研究。

(责任编辑胡素萍)

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