1、用功能对等理论解读许渊冲英译诗以李白诗选部分诗歌为例摘 要本文拟用奈达的功能对等翻译理论解读许渊冲的译作英文版李白诗选，选取许渊冲译作李白诗选中部分典型的研究个例，从语音，语义，语篇，语用的角度出发，运用功能对等理论的翻译原则对译作进行分析，品位许渊冲先生唯美的翻译艺术，同时证明奈达的功能对等理论对中国的翻译实践，特别是诗歌的翻译具有重要意义，其翻译的原则对衡量译作的优劣具有指导作用。关键词：功能对等，李白诗选，许渊冲ABSTRACTThis paper aims to apply Nidas functional equivalence theory to the study of the
2、English version of Selected Poems of Li Bai, translated by the well-known Chinese professor Xu Yuanzhong. Some typical poemswill be taken as research examples, and be analyzed from phonetic, semantic, contextual, and pragmatic perspectives. The aesthetic art of Xu Yuanzhongs translation will be appr
3、eciated in this way, and it will be proved that Nidas functional equivalence theory is significant to Chinese translation practice too, especially to poetry translation。 its principles of translation also provide a clear guidance tothe evaluation of translated works.Keywords: functional equivalence。
4、 Selected Poems of Li Bai。 Xu YuanzhongContents1.Introduction12.Introductions of Xu Yuanzhong and His Translated Work Selected Poems of Li Bai22.1Brief introduction of Xu Yuanzhong22.2Xu Yuanzhongs Poetry Translation Selected Poems of Li Bai23.The brief introduction of Function Equivalence of Nida43
5、.1Introduction of Nida43.2Introduction of Functional Equivalence44.Analysis of Xus Translation of Selected Poems of Li Bai from Functional Equivalence Perspective64.1Functional Equivalence in Sound64.1.1Rhyme64.1.2Meter74.2Functional Equivalence in Meaning84.2.1Word meaning114.2.2Sentence meaning124
6、.3Functional Equivalence of Context134.3.1Linguistic Context.134.3.2Non - linguistic Context134.4Functional Equivalence in Pragmatics144.4.1Functional Equivalence in Reading Habits144.4.2Functional Equivalence in Cultural Transmission155.Conclusion16Acknowledgements17References181.IntroductionFuncti
7、onal equivalence follows the principle of equivalent effect, that is, translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language, first in terms of meaning, and secondly in terms of style. It attempts to render texts from one language to anothe
8、r, and caters to the receptors linguistic competence and cultural needs.Classic Chinese poetry is the gem in the history of Chinese civilization. Chinese language is not burdened with cases, genders, moods, tenses, etc., neither is the classical Chinese poetry. The poets intentionally omitted some p
9、arts to break away from the limitation of time and space and leave more room for imagination, turning the individual experience into something that invites peoples resonance, which is imbued with artistic characteristics. Many scholars home and abroad have studied Li Bais poems, and there is no doub
10、t that Xu Yuanzhong is one of the masters of translating classic Chinese poems into English. Different scholars have different views, and we can not judge them in an arbitrary way. However, impersonally, most of Xu Yuanzhongs translations are always considered as classic. He built a bridge of apprec
11、iation between western readers and ancient Chinese poets such as Li Bai.2.Introductions of Xu Yuanzhong and His Translated WorkSelected Poems of Li Bai2.1Brief introduction of Xu YuanzhongXu Yuanzhong (1921- is the translator and professor of Beijing University. His works are published in Chinese, E
12、nglish, and French, including The Book of Poetry, Songs of the South, Selected Poems of Li Bai, The West Chamber, Red and Black, Madame Bovary, and other famous works in the world. In 1999 he was nominated as candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature.Xu Yuanzhong is also an outstanding representa
13、tive in translation circle and he translates poetry in the poetic way. Not only has he made brilliant contributions to cultural exchanges, but his innovative translation theories and thinking have pointed out the future direction and way-out for translation. Prof. Xus theory of poetry translation ha
14、s a significant status in the framework of Chinese poetry translation. He has a unique opinion about poetry translation, which can be summed up in one sentence: art of beautification and creation of the best as in rivalry. It is further expressed in five aspects: (1 the principle of beauty in sense,
15、 sound and form. (2 the principle of similarity in sense, sound and form. (3 the principle of generalization, equalization and particularization. (4 the theory of comprehension, appreciation and admiration. (5 the theory of advantage and rivalry.However, the question of how to treat his theory scien
16、tifically has not been solved in a convincing way. Some scholars point out that there are too many unspecific expressions in his theory. It is no uniform standard when they use his theory to translate. It seems that the theory lack of scientific foundation and logicality.Every theory can not be perf
17、ect, and no one can deny Xu Yuanzhongs contribution to the poetry translation theory and practice. As a fact, he is a productive translator with high-quality works.2.2Xu Yuanzhongs Poetry Translation Selected Poems of Li BaiLi Bai is one of the best-known Chinese poets in the world. He is regarded a
18、s the greatest romantic poet of the Tang Dynasty and of China of all times. The first English version of his poetry is The Work of Li Po translated by Shigeyoshi Obata and published in 1922 by Dutton in New York, on which Professor Wen Yiduo wrote a critical essay in 1926. Selected Poems of Li Bai c
19、ontains 111 poems, and it has almost covered poems in Li Bais whole life. Some of poems reveal his deep love of nature as well as his native land, such as The Moon over the Eyebrow Mountains and the most famous poem Thoughts on a Silent Night。 some are for the emperor and his favorite lover, such as
20、 The Beautiful Lady Yang。 others express his political ideal, Hard is the Way of the World and Hard is the Road to Shu are supposed to be important works of this theme.Xu Yuanzhongs Selected Poems of Li Bai was first published in1987. Because of his authority in translation, his translation is alway
21、s quoted as an example in many scholars articles. We can find a lot of favorable remarks on Xu Yuanzhongs poetry translation. Qian Zhongshu evaluated Xus Selected Poems of Li Bai:If Li Po lived in the same age as you (Prof. Xu, he would surely regard you as his sworn friend! (“与君苟并世,必莫逆于心耳。” Yang Zh
22、enning, Xus schoolmate and good friend, praised that Xus poetry translation was like an elegant dance without bonds. A British professor, after finishing reading his work, said that his translation was a wonder that can even be compared favorably withShakespeares sonnets. Still, some scholars critic
23、ized that his translation was not faithful enough to the original text. The current researches mainly focus on his translation principle of beauty in conception, sound and form. The majority of the scholars think that his theory of Three Beauties is the guiding principle in poetry translation. He ma
24、kes great contribution to the practice of poem translation. Based on his extensive practice and experience, Professor Xu puts forward systematic theories on translation, a combination of traditional translation theories in China from ancient times and his own creative insights.Few scholars have syst
25、ematically commented on Professor Xus translation of Selected Poems of Li Bai. None has ever tried to apply any western translation theory to his practice of poem translation. Therefore I will make a research from this perspective on the basis of current researches.3.The brief introduction of Functi
26、on Equivalence of Nida3.1Introduction of NidaEugene A. Nida (1914- is a distinguished American translation theorist as well as linguist. His translation theory has exerted a tremendous influence on translation studies in western countries. His works on translation set off the study of modern transla
27、tion as an academic field (Snell-Hornby 1988: 1。 Heylen 1993: 4。 Baker 1998: 277, and he is regarded as the most influential one among all contemporary translationtheorists (Newmark 1993: 133.From the early 1960s to the 1980s, Nidas theory has great impact on western translation theorists, and enjoy
28、s great popularity both in Germany and in the United States. Nidas scientific approach to translation has heavily influenced German translation studies and “the science of translation” has predominated the teaching of translation in German.Nidas influence upon Chinese translation studies is greater
29、still. Before his theory was introduced into China in the 1980s, people mainly focused attention on tradition Chinese theories on translation, especially Yan Fus three-character principle of translation, i.e. faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance. Since Nidas theory was based solidly on contempo
30、rary developments of linguistics, communication theory, information theory, semiotics and anthropology, Chinese translation scholars took great interest in his theory. As time went by, Nidas theory was questioned and challenged. As a matter of fact, there are quite some misunderstandings and misconc
31、eptions about certain aspects of his theory. Take dynamic equivalence for example. Some Chinese scholars regard Nidas dynamic equivalence the same as the concept of equivalence in western translation theories. To a certain degree they have concealed the real nature of his theory, and created confusi
32、on in the field of Chinese translation study. Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine Nidas theory and get a true picture of it.3.2Introduction of Functional EquivalenceEquivalence in Nidas theory, however, never means absolute sameness. In his view, translating was not to get something completely identical, but to reproduce “the closest natural equivalent to the source-language message” in the receptor language (1969: 12 Dynamic equivalence is a key concept in Nidas translation theory. It was fir
