语用翻译：语用学理论在翻译中的应用

张新红 何自然

Abstract

This article is a tentative discussion of the application of pragmatic theories to translation studies and practice. Following Sperber & Wilson’s (1986) Relevance Theory, we hold that the process of translation is a double ostensive-inferential communication process which essentially involves the author, the translator and the translation reader. Drawing upon the achievements made in the studies of such pragmatics topics as conventional meaning, conversational implicature, linguistic politeness, and deixis, we then propose solving the cultural and pragmatic issues in translation practice in the light of these pragmatics achievements. Based upon these analyses, we propose that the ultimate aim for translation is the pursuit of fidelity but the means for achieving fidelity do not have to be invariable. It is the translator’s accurate assessment and understanding of the target readership’s cognitive and cultural environments and the differences between the source and the target languages that more often than not decides the specific translation strategy and means for achieving translation fidelity.

摘要

本文主要讨论语用学理论对翻译研究的理论输出、启发以及语用翻译的实际应用。文章首先根据认知语用学的关联理论提出翻译的本质是个双重示意-推理的交际过程，该交际过程是原文作者、译者和译文读者等三类交际主体之间的互动，因此翻译的语用观实际上是个动态的三元翻译观。本文把翻译活动看作是语用学的研究对象和练兵场。从另外一个角度来看，语用学理论的有效性在翻译领域里也可以得到检验。本文还尝试着把语用学关于规约意义、含意、礼貌、指示语等领域的研究成果应用于解决翻译实践中的文化、语用类问题，在此基础上文章最后提出，翻译的主要目的是追求“信”，而达到译文对原文忠实的手段不必追求千篇一律，决定翻译手段和策略的最主要参照标准应当是译者对译文读者的接受环境和译入语语言文化环境的正确评估和认识，对源语和译入语之间差异的评估。