文体翻译论

A Brief Introduction of Stylistics and Translation
文体学与翻译概论
1.What Is Stylistics?
•
•
• • • • • • • • •
• •
Language is a medium of Communicating information and Conveying feelings. Considering different communicative environments, modes, objects and purposes, communicators opt different language varieties (语言“变体”）or corresponding methods which have different language functions so as to achieve their purposes. These varieties are the “styles” .(文体或语体) For instance, we may classify the writings into “EST( English for Science and Technology), English for Advertising, English for Press, English for Tourism, etc. As for “文体”, Liu Xie, a famous literary critic in ancient China, once mentioned that “若总其归涂, 则数穷八体:一曰典雅,二曰远奥,三曰精约,四曰显附,五曰繁缛,六曰壮丽,七 曰新奇,八曰清靡。”In the middle 1970s, many scholars made the application of modern linguistics and literary studies to the exploring study of various styles or various types of writings, which brought us a new discipline---Stylistics.(文体学） Simply defined, STYLISTICS is a discipline that studies the ways in which language is used; it is a discipline that studies the styles of language is used.
3.Standards of Various types of Translation
• •
• • • • • • • There are many types of writings in both English and Chinese. As we mentioned above section, English writings can be classified into such types: 1.Practical English Writings, which mainly include: Letters, telex, notice, contract, instruction, etc. 2.English for Press 3.English for Tourism 4. EST (English for Science and Technology) 5.English for Advertising 6.English for Law 7.English for Literary Works
2.Stylistics and Translation Studies
Generally speaking, stylistics covers such fields: 1) analyzing various habits of language use to ensure the typical characteristics of a certain style; 2) explaining the reason that a certain style has its own characteristics; 3)classifying these character according to their language functions. As a matter of fact, different writings have different linguistic characteristics in the aspects of vocabulary, syntax, rhetoric, structure etc. • According to linguists Buler and Jackbson, there are three functions of language: expressive function(表情功能）, informative function（信息功能）, and vocative function（呼 唤功能）. Any original work has the three functions, but different writings are characterized by different functions. Just as Newmark says, “ The main functions of language are expressive (the subjective or “I” form), the descriptive or informative (the ‘it’ from), and the vocative or directive or persuasive (the ‘you’ form). All texts have aspects of the expressive, the informative and the vocative function). Generally speaking, literary work mainly
•
• focuses on the expressive function, while non-literary works mainly center on informative function. Compare the differences of English for Advertising and Literary work, for example. Now the examples: • 1.He laughs best who runs longest. • 谁跑到最后,谁笑得最好。（轮胎广告） • 2.In Miami, it’s no newelty. (a tour ads) • 游了迈阿密，才知天下奇。 • 3.Some fishing boats were becalmed just in front of us. Their shadows slept, or almost slept, upon the water, a gentle quivering alone showing that was not complete sleep or if sleep, that is was sleep with dream. • 眼前不远,渔舟三五,凝滞不前,樯影映在水上,仿佛睡去,偶尔微见 颤动,似又未尝熟睡,恍若惊梦。
•ຫໍສະໝຸດ Baidu
• • • •
It is very important for us to introduce stylistics into translation study. Why can Stylistics be applied to translation study? It lies in that both of them have the same aim, that is, how to fulfill social communication with effective linguistic methods. They both put emphasis on the social standard of communicative function; they don’t ignore the timeliness and individuality of writing style as well. In the process of translation, it is necessary for translator to deal with his translation carefully in order to make the translation accord with the source text in the aspect of style. Now for some examples: 5.Grasp all, lose all. Version 1：如果你样样都要抓, 就会一样都抓不到手。 Version 2：样样抓，样样差。（贪多必失） Analysis：The original sentence is a brief and simple saying。When rendered into Chinese, the four-word sentence becomes sixteen-character Chinese sentence. The problem, of course, not lies in the length of the sentence but in the style.
•
Of course, there are many other types of writings, such as Movie English, Recipe English, English for Resume, etc. Each type of writing have its special feature. To judge whether it is formal or informal, we can make the use of degree of “extremely formal-formal-comparatively informal-extremely informal”. For example. • 6. It has been noted with concern that the stock of books in the library has been declining alarmingly. Students are requested to remind themselves of the rules of the borrowing and returning of books, and to bear in mind the needs of other students. Penalties for overdue book will in the future be strictly enforced. • 7. The number of books in the library has been going down. Please make sure you know the rules for borrowing, and don’t forget that the library is for everyone’s convenience. So from now on, we’re going to enforce the rules strictly. You have been warned!
• 4. Portia: And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: • The law allows it, and the court awards it. • Shylock: Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare! • (Excerpted from: Act IV, The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare) • 鲍西娅:你必须从他的胸前割下这磅肉来;法律许可你,法庭判给你。 • 夏洛克：博学多才的法官！判得好！来，预备！