《英汉翻译简明教程》学习辅导书(课文-演 讲)【圣才出品】

第10单元演讲（Speeches）

10.1 复习笔记

翻译理论选读

一、

A New Concept of Translating

by Eugene A. Nida and Charles R. T aber

Each language has its own genius.1

In the first place, it is essential to recognize that each language has its own genius. That is to say, each language possesses certain distinctive characteristics which give it a special character.

尤金·奈达(Eugene A. Nida)博士是美国圣经学会翻译部主任。他不仅在美国主持《圣经》的英译工作，还在世界各地指导许多其他语言的翻译工作。

奈达认为，过去人们在翻译过程中过于重视与原文在形式上保持一致，而他主张着重考虑读者对译文的反应，应使译文的读者和原文的读者产生同样的感受。

关于原语，就《圣经》而言，也就是希伯来语和希腊语，奈达认为它们也不过是工具，被人们用来表达《圣经》里包含的意思而已。

关于译语，奈达认为每一种语言都有自己的特点，在构词法、语序、句子结构、谚语诸方面各不相同。各个民族的文化背景不同，对各自的语言也产生不同的影响。译者不必因为译语缺少某种表达方式而抱怨；相反地，他应该尊重这一语言的特点，最大限度地发挥其潜

力，以找出适当的表达方式。他的结论是，要想使译文保持原作的内容，就必须在形式上有所改变。

word-building capacities, unique patterns of phrase order, techniques for linking clauses into sentences, markers of discourse,2 and special discourse types of poetry, proverbs, and song. Each language is rich in vocabulary for the areas of cultural focus, the specialties of the people, e.g., cattle (Anuaks in the Sudan), yams (Ponapeans in Micronesia), hunting and fishing (Piros in Peru), or technology(the western world). Some languages are rich in modal particles.3Others seem particularly adept in the development of figurative language, and many have very rich literary resources, both written and oral.

To communicate effectively one must respect the genius of each language.

Rather than bemoan the lack of some feature in a language, one must respect the features of the receptor language4and exploit the potentialities of the language to the greatest possible extent. Unfortunately, in some instances translators have actually tried to “remake” a language. For example, one missionary in Latin America insisted on trying to introduce the passive voice of the verb into a language which had no such form. Of course, this was not successful. One must simply accept the fact that there are many languages which do not have a passive voice. They merely choose to report actions only as active.

Rather than force the formal structure of one language upon an- other, the effective translator is quite prepared to make any and all formal changes5 necessary

to reproduce the message in the distinctive structural forms of the receptor language.

To preserve the content of the message the form must be changed.

If all languages differ in form (and this is the essence of their being different languages), then quite naturally the forms must be altered if one is to preserve the content. For example, in Mark I:4,6the Greek employs a nominal construction, “baptism of repentance,” but translated literally into English the resulting phrase really does not convey the meaning of the original. The average person is simply unable to describe clearly what is the relationship between “baptism”and “repentance” .Moreover, in a high percentage of languages, terms which express events (and both “baptism”and “repentance”are events, not objects) are expressed more naturally as verbs, rather than as nouns. Even this Greek noun expression is really only a nominalization (or adaptation) of what occurs in Acts 2:38 in verbal form, namely, “repent and be baptized.”In languages which either requires that such events be expressed as verbs or normally use verb rather than noun phrases, it is not only right, but essential, that the nominal form of this Greek phrase be changed into a corresponding verbal expression.

(from Eugene A. Nida and Charles R.Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation,

Ch.1)

1. genius：特点