西方翻译理论

会计学1西方翻译理论西方翻译理论n n1 Equivalence in meaning(between words in different languages)n nJakobson points out that there is ordinarily no full equivance between code-units.n nFrom a lingusitic and semiotic angle,Jakobson approaches the problem of equivance with the following definition:n nEquivalence in difference is the cadinal problem of language and the pivotal concern of linguistics.第1页/共21页n nIn Jakobsons discussion,the problem of meaning and equivalence thus focuses on differences in the structure and terminology of languages rather than on any inability of one language to render a message that has been written in another verbal language.Thus Russian can still express the full semantic meaning of cheese even if it breaks it down into two seperate concepts.第2页/共21页n nFor Jakobson,cross-linguistic differences center around obligatory grammatical and lexical forms:Languages differ essentially in what they must convey and not in what they may convey.n nExamples of differences are easy to find.They occur at:第3页/共21页n nthe level of gender:e.g.honey is masculine in French,German and Italian,feminine in Spanish,neuter in English,etc.n nthe level of aspect:in Russian,the verb morphology varies according to whether the action has been completed or not;n nthe level of semantic fields:e.g.the German Geschwister is normally explicated in English as brothers and sisters.第4页/共21页n n2 Nida and the science of translatingn n2.1 The nature of meaning:advances in semantics and pragmaticsn nNida moves away from the old ida that an orthographic word has a fixed meaning and towards a functional definition of meaning in which a word acquires meaning through its context and can produce varying responses according to culture.第5页/共21页n nMeaning is broken down into lingustic meaning,referential meaning and emotive meaning.(?)n nA series of techniques,apdaptd from work in linguistics,is presented as an aid for the translator in determining the meaning of different linguistic items.n nTechniques to determine referential meaning and emotive meaning focus on analyzing the structure of words and differentiating similar words in related lexical fields.第6页/共21页n nThese include hierarchical structuring,which differentiates series of words according to their level(for instance,the superordinate animal and its hyponyms goat,dog,cow,etc.)and techniques of componential analysis.The latter seek to identify and discriminate specific features of a range of related words.The results can be plotted visually to assist in making an overall comparison.n nAnother technique is semantic structure analysis in which Nida separates out visually the different meanings of spirit(demons,angels,gods,ghost,ethos,alcohol,etc.)第7页/共21页n nThe central idea of this analysis is to encourage the trainee translator to realize that the sense of a complex semantic term such as spirit varies and most particularly is conditioned by its context.Spirit thus does not always have a religious significance.n nIn general,techniques of componential analysis are proposed as a means of clarifying ambiguities,elucidating obscure passages and identifying cultural differences.第8页/共21页n nNida stresses the importance of context for communication when dealing with metqphorical meaning and with complex cultural idoms.第9页/共21页n n2.2 The influence of Chomsky第10页/共21页n n2.3 Formal and dynamic equivalence and the principle of equivalent effectn nThe old terms such as literal,free and faithful translation,are discarded by Nida in favor of two basic orientations or types of equivalence:(1)formal equivalence and(2)dynamic equivalence.第11页/共21页n n1 Formal equivalencen nFormal equivance focuses attention on the message itself,in both form and content.One is concerned that the message in the receptor language should match as closely as possible the different elements in the source language.n nFormal equivalence is thus keenly oriented towards the ST structure,which exerts strong influence in determing accuracy and correctness.第12页/共21页n nMost typical of this kind of translation are gloss translation,with a close approximation to ST structure,often with scholarly footnotes,allowing the student to gain access to the language and customs of the source culture.第13页/共21页n n2 Dynamic equivalence n nDynamic equivalence is based on what Nida calls the principle of equivalent effect,where the relationship between receptor and message should be substantially the same as that which existed between the original receptors and the message.n nThe message has to be tailored to the receptors linguistic nees and cultural expectation and aims at complete naturalness of expression.第14页/共21页n nNaturalness is a key requirement for Nida.Indeed the goal of dynamic equivalence as seeking the closest natural equivalent to source-language message.This receptor-oriented approach considers adaptations of grammar,of lexicon and of cultural references to be essential in order to achiee naturalness;the TT language should not show interference from the SL,and the foreigness of the ST setting is minimized in a way that would not be criticized by later culturally oriented translation theorists.第15页/共21页n nFor Nida,the success o the translation depends above all on achieving equivalent response.It is one of the four basic requirements of a translation,which are:n n1 making sense;n n2 conveying the spirit and manner of the original;n n3 having a natural and easy form of expression;n n4 producing a similar response.第16页/共21页n nAlthough dynamic equivalence is aimed at,it is also a graded concept since Nida accepts that the conflict between the traditional notions of content and form cannot always be easily resolved.As a general rule for such conflicts,Nida underlines that correspondence in meaning must have priority ove correspondence in style if equivalent effect is to be achieved.第17页/共21页n n2.4 Discussion of the importance of Nidas workn nThe key role played by Nida is to point the road away from strict word-for-word equivalence.His introduction of the concepts of formal and dynamic equivalence were crucial in introducing a receptor-based(or reader-based)orientation to translation theory.However,both the principle of equivalent effect and the concept of equivalence have come to be heavily criticized for a number of reasons.第18页/共21页n nLefevere feels that equivalence is still concerned with the word level,which van den Broeck consider equivalent effect or response to be impossible(how is the effect to be measured and on whom?how can a text possibly have the same effect and elicit the same response in two different cultures and times?)Indeed,the whole question of equivalence inevitably entails subjective judgement from the translator or analyst.第19页/共21页n nHowever,Nidas detailed description of real However,Nidas detailed description of real translation phenomena and situations is an translation phenomena and situations is an important rejoinder to the vague writings on important rejoinder to the vague writings on translation that had preceded it.He went a long translation that had preceded it.He went a long way to producing a systematic analytical procedure way to producing a systematic analytical procedure for translators working with all kinds of text and he for translators working with all kinds of text and he factored into the translation equation the receiers of factored into the translation equation the receiers of the TT and their cultrual expectations.Despite the the TT and their cultrual expectations.Despite the heated debate it has provoked,his systematic heated debate it has provoked,his systematic linguistic approach to translation has been linguistic approach to translation has been influential on many subsequent and prominent influential on many subsequent and prominent translation scholars,among them Peter Nemark in translation scholars,among them Peter Nemark in the UK.the UK.第20页/共21页