“红毛”的现代转化 ：从新加坡“宏茂桥”的改译看译名的社会功能 = A modern transformation of "Ang Mo" : a study on the social functions of the retranslated name of Singapore's "Ang Mo Kio"

翻译不单只是一种语言文字上的转换，更是两种语言之间的一种跨文化上的信息交流。译者在翻译的过程中会受到种种社会制度与文化上的限制，而这将影响译者最终所选用的字词与翻译技巧。 本论文将针对新加坡宏茂桥地区的前称红毛桥，及后来的改名与名称翻译，以探讨翻译与社会文化上的关系。“红毛”是19世纪时期中国人给予西方人的一种贬低性称呼，其称呼随后传入了全球华人圈。本文将从目的论的角度，研究译者如何改变红毛桥名称里所隐含的贬低性意识形态，并成功通过新译名宏茂桥，塑造一个全新的正面形象，以取代原称负面性的含义。在成功将“红毛”进行现代转化的同时，亦保留了该地区的历史价值与文化色彩。本论文的结论，将说明宏茂桥地区受改译，如何有助于削弱新加坡华族内部的社群意识，从而巩固华人的国家意识。 Translation is not simply just a conversion of a language text to another; it is even more a cross-cultural exchange of information between the two languages. During the process of translation, the translator may be restrained by different social and cultural aspects, and this in turn influences the choice of words and translation techniques used in the target text. This paper aims to examine the social and cultural contexts of translation, through Ang Mo Kio’s current retranslated name, and its previous name Amokiah/Amokia, which was transliterated according to the pronunciation of its Chinese dialect name. “Ang Mo” is a derogatory form of address given by the Chinese to westerners during the 19th century; This form of address was later spread into the various Chinese communities around the world. Applying the Skopos theory, this paper also explores the various social and cultural aspects taken into consideration by the translator in the attempt to alter the implied derogatory representation of Amokiah/Amokia. Through the modern transformation of “Ang Mo”, the translator has successfully incorporated a new positive image to Ang Mo Kio while retaining its historical value and cultural features. This retranslation has contributed to the weakening of Chinese internal communities in Singapore, which in turn strengthens the national consciousness of Singaporean Chinese.Bachelor of Art