基于功能对等理论探讨《苹果树》中的翻译技巧_英语论文

An Exploration into Translation Skills in The Apple Tree in the Light of Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory

摘要

本文旨在探究奈达的“功能对等”理论是否对屠枫先生翻译的《苹果树》中所运用的翻译技巧具有指导和借鉴作用。《苹果树》作为英国现实主义文学的一大代表作，在20世纪初广为流传，其译本是中国读者了解高尔斯华馁作品和英国文学的一大重要途径。该作品先后被黄子祥、董衡巽和屠枫翻译，其中，屠枫的译本是2005年出版的，在用词、语言习惯等方面更贴近现代读者的阅读习惯。本研究将研究基于奈达的功能对等翻译理论对屠枫先生翻译的《苹果树》中所运用的翻译技巧进行分析，探究这些翻译技巧的运用是否使原文中蕴含的功能在译语中实现了奈达所说的“功能对等”。通过用案例分析的方法，结合具体的译例找出原文与译语之间在功能方面相对应的情况，印证“功能对等”理论指导下所运用的翻译技巧是否有助于译文表达的内容与原文的意思达到相近或等同，引起原文与译语读者相同的反应。研究发现，屠枫在翻译《苹果树》的过程中，运用了大量的增译、省译以及视角转移等翻译技巧，很好地把原文的意思传达给中国的读者。其汉译本不仅在信息内容上实现了功能对等，也在形式上实现了功能对等。一定程度上证明了奈达功能对等翻译理论对翻译技巧的运用具有重要的指导和借鉴作用。

关键词：《苹果树》；翻译技巧

Abstract

Through the exploration into the translation skills applied by Tu Feng in the translation of The Apple Tree, this dissertation aims to provide the explanation to prove the fact that Nida’s “functional equivalence” can be realized in the target text. As one of the masterpieces of the English realistic literature, The Apple Tree, was popular in the early 20th century, whose Chinese version also served as an important channel for the Chinese readers to obtain the knowledge of Galsworthy’s works and English realistic literature. This novel was translated by Huang Zixiang, Dong Hengxun and Tu Feng successively. Among these translations, Tu Feng’s version, published in 2005, was much closer to the readers’ reading habits in terms of words and expressions. Based on Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory, this dissertation aims to investigate the translation strategies used by Tu Feng in the translation of The Apple Tree, and then to find out whether these translation skills can help realize the “functional equivalence”. Through case study and in combination with some related examples, the author finds that “functional equivalence” can be realized between the original text and the translated text, and the applied translation skills by Tu Feng can help the translated text convey the closest or the same meaning as the original one, which stimulates the same response among the target readers. The results of this research has shown that Tu Feng used a number of skills, such as amplification, omission, shift of perspective and so on, during the translation process, in a bid to present the original meaning of The Apple Tree as faithfully as possible to the Chinese readers. His translation achieves functional equivalence in meaning and the style. To some extent, it is proved that the translation skills applied by Tu Feng in the translation of The Apple Tree are helpful in the realization of the “functional equivalence” in the target text.

Keywords: The Apple Tree, translation skills

Contents

摘 要 II

Acknowledgements IV

Chapter One  Introduction 3

1.1 Background of the Study 3

1.2 Objectives and Questions 4

1.3 Methods of the Study 5

1.4 Significance of the Study 5

1.5 Structure of the Study 6

Chapter Two  Literature Review 7

2.1 The Development of Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory 7

2.2 Previous Studies of the Functional Equivalence Theory 8

2.3 Previous Studies of The Apple Tree 9

Chapter Three  Theoretical Background 11

3.1 A Brief Introduction to Functional Equivalence Theory 11

3.2 The Four Principles of the Functional Equivalence Theory 12

Chapter Four  An Analysis of Translation Strategies 13

4.1 Amplification 13

4.2 Omission 16

4.3 Repetition 18

4.4 Shift of Perspective 19

4.5 Condensation 21

4.6 Summary.22

Chapter Five  Conclusion 23

5.1 Major Findings of the Study23

5.2 Limitations of the Study.23

5.3 Suggestion24 

References 25