以案例分析談東西方翻譯轉換理論之差異與適用性

Abstract

本論文之目的為研究「對照語言學理論」在中英翻譯中之適用性。研究重點以兩個相似卻不盡相同的語言學翻譯理論為主，其一為Vinay和Darbelnet（維奈和達貝爾內）的翻譯轉換分類法，其二則為Loh Dian-yang（陸殿揚）的翻譯理論與技巧。Vinay和Darbelnet 的分類法幾十年來一直是公認為翻譯理論中最重要的語言學理論之一，而Loh Dian-yang同時期所產出之理論與技巧則一向被忽略，直到最近幾年才受到西方學者的關注。而Loh Dian-yang的研究之所以益受重視，部分原因是因為它與Vinay和Darbelnet的分類法相比，似乎更適合用來分析中文的翻譯。Vinay和Darbelnet的分類法經常遭受批評，指其過度注重歐洲語言。筆者將以吳明益小説《複眼人》英譯本中的四個章節為研究文本，比較上述兩個理論，以期釐清：

a) Vinay和Darbelnet 的分類法是否真的不適合分析非歐洲語言之翻譯？

b) Loh Dian-yang的理論與技巧是否確實更適合解釋中進英翻譯之特點？

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the applicability of contrastive linguistics theories with respect to Chinese-English translation. Specifically, the focus is on two related but distinct linguistic theories: Vinay and Darbelnet's translation shift taxonomy and Loh's model on the principles and techniques of translation. The former has been a fixture of mainstream translation studies for decades, while the latter, though of equal vintage, has been largely overlooked by Western scholars until quite recently. Loh's approach has risen to prominence in part because it offers a viable alternative to Vinay and Darbelnet's taxonomy, which is often criticised as being too Eurocentric.

Analysing four chapters from the Englishtranslation of Wu Ming-yi's novel The Man with the Compound Eyes, this thesis will compare the two models in an attempt to ascertain

a) if Vinay and Darbelnet's taxonomy really is as ill-equipped to deal with non-European languages as has been claimed, and

b) whether Loh's model is indeed better suited to explaining the processes that underlie Chinese to English translation.