从读者反应看中国文学的译介效果:以英文版《中国文学》为例
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摘要
近年来政府在推动中国文学外译方面做出了很多努力,但是效果仍然差强人意。大部分学者认为导致中国文学在外遇冷的原因是翻译质量太差,我国缺少一支优秀的中译外队伍。但是这种观点鲜有实证性研究支撑,很少看到对国外读者反馈的调查研究,而读者反应恰恰是直接体现文学译介效果的一项指标。本文通过详细考察《中国文学》发行50年间的读者群及其评论,发现制约翻译文学读者反应的因素主要包括译介目的、作品选择和翻译策略,而这些又受国家外交关系、主流意识形态和诗学的影响。因此,文学外译不仅受翻译质量影响,还受到源语国家生产环境和译语国家接受环境的双重制约。
China has done a lot to promote the translation of Chinese literature in the past decades. Chinese literature,how ever,does not have good reception in the world. Most scholars believe it's because the translation is not good enough,which,how ever,is not supported by empirical studies,especially on the foreign readers.This paper aims to study the readership and their comments on Chinese literary translations published in the English magazine Chinese Literature w hich lasted from 1951 to 2000. It turns out that readers value both literariness and translation methods,which are influenced by ideology,poetics and even political relations.
China has done a lot to promote the translation of Chinese literature in the past decades. Chinese literature,how ever,does not have good reception in the world. Most scholars believe it's because the translation is not good enough,which,how ever,is not supported by empirical studies,especially on the foreign readers.This paper aims to study the readership and their comments on Chinese literary translations published in the English magazine Chinese Literature w hich lasted from 1951 to 2000. It turns out that readers value both literariness and translation methods,which are influenced by ideology,poetics and even political relations.
引文
阿卞:“读者对《中国文学》的反应”,《对外大传播》5(1995):50。[A,Bian.“The Reception of Chinese Literature”(du zhe dui zhong guo wen xue de fan ying).International Communications 5(1995):50.]
戴延年陈日浓编:《中国外文局五十年大事记(一)》。北京:新星出版社,1999年a。[Dai,Yannian,and Chen Rinong eds.Events of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 years(zhong guo wai wen ju wu shi nian da shi ji)PartⅠ.Beijing:New Star Press,1999a.]
——:《中国外文局五十年大事记(二)》。北京:新星出版社,1999年b。[—.Events of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 years(zhong guo wai wen ju wu shi nian da shi ji)PartⅡ.Beijing:New Star Press,1999b.]
谷鸣:“杨宪益夫妇的译事”,《书屋》4(2010):44-49.[Gu,Ming."The Translation Career of Yang Xianyi and His Wife Gladys Yang"(yang xian yi fu fu de yi shi).The Study 4(2010):44-49.]
Gunn,Edward M.Jr..“An Index to'Chinese Literature'1951-1976 by Hans J.Hinrup;Subject and Author Index to Chinese Literature Monthly(1951-1976)by Donald A.Gibbs.”The China Quarterly 79(1979):638-639.
Hegel,Robert E..“The Panda Books Translation Series”.Chinese Literature:Essays,Articles,Reviews 6.1-2(1984):179-182.
Hsia,T.A..“Heroes and Hero-Worship in Chinese Communist Fiction”.The China Quarterly 13(1963):113-138.
金介甫:“中国文学(一九四九—一九九九)的英译本出版情况述评”,查明建译,《当代作家评论》3(2006):67-76。[Kinkley,Jeffrey C.."A Bibliographic Survey of Publications on Chinese Literature in Translation from 1949 to 1999”(zhong guo wen xue de ying yi ben chu ban qing kang shu ping).Trans.Zha Mingjian.Contemporary Writers Review 3(2006):67-76.]
—.“APPENDIX:A Bibliographic Survey of Publications on Chinese Literature in Translation from 1949 to 1999”.Chinese Literature in the Second Half of a Modern Century:A Critical Survey.Eds.Chi Pang-Yuan,and Wang David Der-Wei.Bloomington:Indiana University Press,2000.239-286.
Lee,Leo Ou-fan."Contemporary Chinese Literature in Translation-A Review Article".The Journal of Asian Studies 44.3(1985):561-567.
雷音:《杨宪益传》。香港:明报出版社,2007年。[Lei,Yin.Biography of Yang Xianyi(yang xian yi zhuan).Hong Kong:Ming Pao Press,2007.]
廖旭和:“把中国文学精品推向世界”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。430-438。[Liao,Xuhe."Introducing Chinese Masterpieces to the Outside World"(ba zhong guo wen xue jing pin tui xiang shi jie).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration during the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.430-438.]
刘东:“与伊大十八年的交流和合作”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。73-77。[Liu,Dong.The Communication and Cooperation with Illinois State University(yu yi da shi ba nian de jiao liu he he zuo).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.73-77.]
罗俊:“亲切关怀,终生难忘”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。1-9。[Luo,Jun.“Cordial and Unforgettable”(qin qie guan huai zhong sheng nan wang).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.1-9.]
毛大风:“关于对外宣传的艺术性问题”,《中国外文局五十年书刊对外宣传的理论与实践》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。39-54。[Mao,Dafeng.“Skills of China International Communication”(guan yu dui wai xuan chuan de yi shu xing wen ti).Theories and Practices of International Communication through Books and Journals Published by China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.39-54.]
Wilhelm,Hellmut."The Image of Youth and Age in Chinese Communist Literature."The China Quarterly 13(1963):180-194.
徐慎贵:“《中国文学》对外传播的历史贡献”,《对外大传播》8(2007):46-49。[Xu,Shengui."Chinese Literature's Contribution to Literary International Communications"(zhong guo wen xue dui wai chuan bo de li shi gong xian).International Communications 8(2007):46-49.]
赵学龄:“翻译界尽人皆知的一对夫妇——记杨宪益、戴乃迭”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。502-508。[Zhao,Xueling.“A Well-Known Couple in Translation Field:Yang Xianyi and His Wife Gladys Yang”(fan yi jie jin ren jie zhi de yi dui fu fu:ji yang xian yi dai nai die).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.502-508.]
郑晔:“国家机构赞助下中国文学的对外译介——以英文版《中国文学》(1951-2000)为个案”,博士论文。上海:上海外国语大学,2012年。[Zheng,Ye."The Production and Circulation of the Translation of Chinese Literature under the Patronage of Chinese Government:A Case Study of Chinese Literature(English Version,1951-2000)"(guo jia ji gou zan zhu xia zhong guo wen xue de dui wai yi jie:yi ying wen ban zhong guo wen xue 1951-2000 wei ge an).PhD Disser.Shanghai:Shanghai International Studies University,2012.]
中国文学出版社:《中国文学出版社大事记》,未出版。[Chinese Literature Press.Events of Chinese Literature Press(zhong guo wen xue chu ban she da shi ji).Unpublished.]
—:“总序”,《红杏文学丛书》。北京:中国文学出版社,1999年。[—.Preface(zong xu).Chinese Masterpiece Series.Beijing:Chinese Literature Press,1999.]
中国文学杂志社:“丰富多采的《中国文学》杂志——国外读者对《中国文学》的评论”,《动向与线索》11(1986):3-4。[Foreign Languages Press.“Splendid Chinese Literature:Foreign Readers'Reception”(feng fu duo cai de zhong guo wen xue za zhi:guo wai du zhe dui zhong guo wen xue de ping lun).Trend and Clue 11(1986):3-4.]
周东元亓文公编:《中国外文局五十年史料选编(一)》。北京:新星出版社,1999年。[Zhou,Dongyuan and Qi Wengong eds.Selected Historical Documents of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years(zhong guo wai wen ju wu shi nian shi liao xuan bian)PartⅠ.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.]
(1)该刊由英国伦敦大学亚非学院于1960年创办,是欧美研究中国学的重要刊物之一。
(1)当然,不可否认的是,被选登的这些读者来信在当时的意识形态下必然经过严格的筛选和操作,并不能代表真正的读者反馈;但是从另一方面来看,它们毕竟是读者反馈的一部分,能够部分体现《中国文学》的接受特点。
(1)这种观点其实并不准确,刊物1962年第10-11期译介了沈从文的《边城》。自1980年代开始,刊物的译介范围扩大很多,受意识形态影响明显变小。
戴延年陈日浓编:《中国外文局五十年大事记(一)》。北京:新星出版社,1999年a。[Dai,Yannian,and Chen Rinong eds.Events of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 years(zhong guo wai wen ju wu shi nian da shi ji)PartⅠ.Beijing:New Star Press,1999a.]
——:《中国外文局五十年大事记(二)》。北京:新星出版社,1999年b。[—.Events of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 years(zhong guo wai wen ju wu shi nian da shi ji)PartⅡ.Beijing:New Star Press,1999b.]
谷鸣:“杨宪益夫妇的译事”,《书屋》4(2010):44-49.[Gu,Ming."The Translation Career of Yang Xianyi and His Wife Gladys Yang"(yang xian yi fu fu de yi shi).The Study 4(2010):44-49.]
Gunn,Edward M.Jr..“An Index to'Chinese Literature'1951-1976 by Hans J.Hinrup;Subject and Author Index to Chinese Literature Monthly(1951-1976)by Donald A.Gibbs.”The China Quarterly 79(1979):638-639.
Hegel,Robert E..“The Panda Books Translation Series”.Chinese Literature:Essays,Articles,Reviews 6.1-2(1984):179-182.
Hsia,T.A..“Heroes and Hero-Worship in Chinese Communist Fiction”.The China Quarterly 13(1963):113-138.
金介甫:“中国文学(一九四九—一九九九)的英译本出版情况述评”,查明建译,《当代作家评论》3(2006):67-76。[Kinkley,Jeffrey C.."A Bibliographic Survey of Publications on Chinese Literature in Translation from 1949 to 1999”(zhong guo wen xue de ying yi ben chu ban qing kang shu ping).Trans.Zha Mingjian.Contemporary Writers Review 3(2006):67-76.]
—.“APPENDIX:A Bibliographic Survey of Publications on Chinese Literature in Translation from 1949 to 1999”.Chinese Literature in the Second Half of a Modern Century:A Critical Survey.Eds.Chi Pang-Yuan,and Wang David Der-Wei.Bloomington:Indiana University Press,2000.239-286.
Lee,Leo Ou-fan."Contemporary Chinese Literature in Translation-A Review Article".The Journal of Asian Studies 44.3(1985):561-567.
雷音:《杨宪益传》。香港:明报出版社,2007年。[Lei,Yin.Biography of Yang Xianyi(yang xian yi zhuan).Hong Kong:Ming Pao Press,2007.]
廖旭和:“把中国文学精品推向世界”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。430-438。[Liao,Xuhe."Introducing Chinese Masterpieces to the Outside World"(ba zhong guo wen xue jing pin tui xiang shi jie).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration during the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.430-438.]
刘东:“与伊大十八年的交流和合作”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。73-77。[Liu,Dong.The Communication and Cooperation with Illinois State University(yu yi da shi ba nian de jiao liu he he zuo).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.73-77.]
罗俊:“亲切关怀,终生难忘”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。1-9。[Luo,Jun.“Cordial and Unforgettable”(qin qie guan huai zhong sheng nan wang).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.1-9.]
毛大风:“关于对外宣传的艺术性问题”,《中国外文局五十年书刊对外宣传的理论与实践》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。39-54。[Mao,Dafeng.“Skills of China International Communication”(guan yu dui wai xuan chuan de yi shu xing wen ti).Theories and Practices of International Communication through Books and Journals Published by China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.39-54.]
Wilhelm,Hellmut."The Image of Youth and Age in Chinese Communist Literature."The China Quarterly 13(1963):180-194.
徐慎贵:“《中国文学》对外传播的历史贡献”,《对外大传播》8(2007):46-49。[Xu,Shengui."Chinese Literature's Contribution to Literary International Communications"(zhong guo wen xue dui wai chuan bo de li shi gong xian).International Communications 8(2007):46-49.]
赵学龄:“翻译界尽人皆知的一对夫妇——记杨宪益、戴乃迭”,《中国外文局五十年回忆录》,中国外文局编。北京:新星出版社,1999年。502-508。[Zhao,Xueling.“A Well-Known Couple in Translation Field:Yang Xianyi and His Wife Gladys Yang”(fan yi jie jin ren jie zhi de yi dui fu fu:ji yang xian yi dai nai die).Memoirs of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years.Ed.China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.502-508.]
郑晔:“国家机构赞助下中国文学的对外译介——以英文版《中国文学》(1951-2000)为个案”,博士论文。上海:上海外国语大学,2012年。[Zheng,Ye."The Production and Circulation of the Translation of Chinese Literature under the Patronage of Chinese Government:A Case Study of Chinese Literature(English Version,1951-2000)"(guo jia ji gou zan zhu xia zhong guo wen xue de dui wai yi jie:yi ying wen ban zhong guo wen xue 1951-2000 wei ge an).PhD Disser.Shanghai:Shanghai International Studies University,2012.]
中国文学出版社:《中国文学出版社大事记》,未出版。[Chinese Literature Press.Events of Chinese Literature Press(zhong guo wen xue chu ban she da shi ji).Unpublished.]
—:“总序”,《红杏文学丛书》。北京:中国文学出版社,1999年。[—.Preface(zong xu).Chinese Masterpiece Series.Beijing:Chinese Literature Press,1999.]
中国文学杂志社:“丰富多采的《中国文学》杂志——国外读者对《中国文学》的评论”,《动向与线索》11(1986):3-4。[Foreign Languages Press.“Splendid Chinese Literature:Foreign Readers'Reception”(feng fu duo cai de zhong guo wen xue za zhi:guo wai du zhe dui zhong guo wen xue de ping lun).Trend and Clue 11(1986):3-4.]
周东元亓文公编:《中国外文局五十年史料选编(一)》。北京:新星出版社,1999年。[Zhou,Dongyuan and Qi Wengong eds.Selected Historical Documents of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration in the Past 50 Years(zhong guo wai wen ju wu shi nian shi liao xuan bian)PartⅠ.Beijing:New Star Press,1999.]
(1)该刊由英国伦敦大学亚非学院于1960年创办,是欧美研究中国学的重要刊物之一。
(1)当然,不可否认的是,被选登的这些读者来信在当时的意识形态下必然经过严格的筛选和操作,并不能代表真正的读者反馈;但是从另一方面来看,它们毕竟是读者反馈的一部分,能够部分体现《中国文学》的接受特点。
(1)这种观点其实并不准确,刊物1962年第10-11期译介了沈从文的《边城》。自1980年代开始,刊物的译介范围扩大很多,受意识形态影响明显变小。