译言堂（下）
Jason Zhang, P&Q
[2007-8-12]

 

续前文…

　　在归化还是异国情调的问题上，有人认为译文应力求优美，应多用汉字的四字结构，多数人反对这一观点，认为：读者阅读外国文学译本，是希望通过译作欣赏文学作品特有的韵味，领略外国文学别具一格的情调：但原作的韵味、情调、与原作语言形式密切相关，语言形式的改变，便可能丧失原作的韵味和情调，若完全予以归化，便不成为翻译。
As to the choice of domestication or exoticism, some believed translation shall be elegancy-oriented, with a wide use of Chinese four-letter structure, but this viewpoint was objected by the majority who believed, the audience read translated foreign literature through translated works, in the hope of appreciating the distinctive charms and appeals of foreign literature, which are closely connected to the linguistic forms of the original works. As a result, changes in the linguistic forms may result in the loss of charms and appeals of the original works, and a total domestication is anything but translation.

　　在上面两种译文中，前者采取了追步原文句法结构的异化译法，后者采取了“发挥译文优势”的归化译法。前者语言质朴，符合原文风格，既简洁，又有“洋味”，后者则有雕琢之感，难以体现原作的朴素语言。
In above two sorts of translation styles, the former adopts foreignization method by following the syntactic structures of the original works, while the latter takes domestication method of “exerting the advantages of translation works”．The former, with its simplicity in language and coherence to the original style, is found to be concise, and foreign flavored. On the opposite, the latter is artificial and unable to convey the simple languages used in the original works.

　　因此，Domestication and foreignization是两个相辅相成的翻译方法，要处理好两者的关系，关键还要讲辨证法，要掌握分寸，而不可走极端，我们的原则是：可能时尽量异化，异化时不妨碍译文的通达自如，归化时不改变原作的“风味”，特别不导致“文化错位”。
As a conclusion, domestication and foreignization are two translation methods which supplement each other. To handle their relations properly, the key lies in dialectic, i.e., to take the measures properly and avoid to go extreme of either kind. Our principle is, foreignization shall be applied as far as possible, provided it does not affect the perspicuity and coherence of translated works; the application of domestication shall not cause changes in the “flavor” of the original works, especially the cultural malposition.

　　语言可以转换，甚至可以归化，但文化特色不宜改变，如果不是万不得已，特别不宜归化，而要尽可能真实地传达出来。“文化传真”应是翻译的基本原则，不要用带有浓厚中国文化特色的字眼作为传译手段，以免以“中国味”取代“洋味”，造成“文化失真”。
Languages can be transformed, or even domesticated, but the cultural features shall not be altered, and if ever possible, shall not be domesticated, but expressed the way it is. "Cultural Facsimile＂ should be the basic principle of translation. Never use words with strong Chinese cultural characteristics as means of translation, in case they may replace the “foreign flavor” with “Chinese flavor”, which will result into “Cultural Distortion”.