Introduction to Chinese-English Translation many speeches to encourage his fighters,and these have become historical documents.The translator of these speeches today certainly does not have the same purpose as de Gaulle. This leads us to the whole issue of different purposes,different readerships,and differing translations.Since a translator's purpose and readership are very different from those of the original writer and the original text,it is quite normal to have different translations of the same source text. For instance,the Bible has appcared in numerous different versions and has even been rendered into a style more appropriate for children.Producing such commonly used texts in different versions to suit different readerships is not only acceptable but should actively be encouraged.There have always been different perspectives and slants in the translation of literary works because of varying readerships and purpose.The question to ask,therefore. is"Who is translating what,for whom,when,where,why,and in what circumstances?" Now that we have examined some of these concepts,we have a much more comprehensive understanding of the statement at the beginning of this chapter-i.e.,translation is about transferring the meaning from a source text to a target one.The concepts above all revolve around how to do this, but since they approach this goal from different perspectives and with varying emphases,it is useful to understand the assumptions made here,and the objectives pursued,prior to actually translating. Before We Start One of the ways to leam how to translate is by comparing a translation with its original.So before we start,let's compare some translations with the original texts to see how linguistic and cultural barriers have been overcome in the process
Chapter 1 Basic Concepts of Translation Original 【原文一】因为我的父母觉得小孩应该要韩才健康，九岁开 如到进入滨艺界前，我一直被他们“喂得”很非，静重达 一百一十公厅。以前明友或许只凳得我可爱。扫从来没有人 觉得我帅。十几岁时陪妹妹到日本发展演艺事业时，我性告 诉妹妹的普乐老师自己翅进滨艺界，他开玩笑地尝诉我，我 留在日本相扑界发展还比较有成场的希复。 Translation L参考译文】My parents always felt that a child should be chubby to be healthy.From the time I was nine,right up until when I started to break into show business.they always stuffed me nice and plump.At one point I weighed 110 kilos.My friends might have thought I was cute,but nobody considered me handsome.When I was in my teens,I went with my younger sister to Japan.where she was developing her career in the performing arts.I once told her music teacher that I wanted to get into showbiz.too.He said jokingly that if I stayed in Japan and got into Sumo instead my chances would be better 《原文及译文均选自台湾《光华》杂志) Original 原文二]衡污的率，古今中外滔滔皆是，不谈也罢。孟子所 说穷不苟求的“廉士”才是难能可贵，谈起来令人齿顿留香。 东汉杨震。非夜有人婚送十斤黄金，送金的人说：~暮夜无人 知。”杨震说：“天知。神知。我知.子知，何谓无知？”这 句话万古流传，直到晚近件多姓杨的人家常榜门媚日“四知 堂杨”， 3
Introduction to Chinese-English Translation Translation E参考i译文】Cases of comuption have abounded in China and elsewhere,in ancient as well as in modern times,and would rather not talk about them.On the other hand.those poor but incorruptible people referred to by Menclus asmen of integrity"are few and far between and deserve our highest esteem,and it gives us endiess pleasure to talk about them. Yang Zhen.who lived during the Eastem Han dynasty.was one of them.One night he had a visitor who offered him ten catties of gold as a present The visitor said to him,"It's nighttime and nobody knows."Yang said,"Heaven knows The gods know.I know and you know.How can you say that nobody knows?"His words have become an adage that has passed from generation to generation.Since then,even in recent years,many houses with the same family name still keep on the lintel of their front door a wooden tablet that reads:"The Yangs of Four-Knows Fame." (原文和译文均选自梁实秋《推舍小品》) Original 【原文三1祥子的心要跳出来。一直飞到空中去，与白鸽们 同去盘旋！什么都有了，事情，工线，小福子，在几句话里 美满地解决了一切，想也没想到呀！看这个天，多么晴爽干 燥，正像北方人那样直爽痛快。人遇到喜事，连天气也好了 他似平没见过这么可爱的冬销。 (选自老舍路驼祥子】 Translation r参考i译文IXiangz's heart seemed about to take flight to circle in the sky with the white pigeons.He had everything-a job
Chapter 1 Basic Concepts of Translation wages,and Joy.He had never thought it could all be settled so wonderfully with just a few words.Look at that clear crisp sky,just like the straightforward,easy-going people of the North.When one is happy,even the weather seems extra fine.He couldn't remember ever having seen such a lovely clear winter's day before Exercises Translate the following sentences,paying attention to whether you are doinga literal or free translation.Compare yours with the sample trnslations presented at the end of this book,and see if you were literal or free in your approach. 1.人生是一个一个阶我规系而成的。我们常常没有意议到，原来上一 个阶段是为下一阶假领准备。 2现在他已属速休年龄，正面临后整无人的国境 3.年极有梦，栽要业勉们闻一闻，否刚老了有失落感。 4,走过斯头巷尾，林指发境原来的店面又换了新名字。 5.夏光生手头紧，一个小钱包不肯整易撒于
Introduction to Chinese-English Translation 6.他只把地当作个会给点零钱的女人，并不十分喜攻地. 7.坦组的身于已不大方便，连上撕买德东断都怕有些问失 8事尖上。中回不是爱有好作品。只是缺乏译介 9.网结世界，薄常让人联想到青少年或白领阶层 10.“宁为鸡首，不为牛后”的中国诗语的境是中国人偏爱自已创业的 最仕注解。 Test Translate the following.There is no need to pay too much attention to how you transate,but when you have finished,xmn youreom the perspective of literal and free translation,and then compare yours with the sample translations in the answer key and decide which technique is more appropriate. 1.他们的想法各有千款，读者可以自己判断我是款非 2,虽然这些是少数人的行为，中影响多数人的观念 3.你出身在一个华人家庭，接受的中是西方教育 16