A Study of Relevance of Translation Equivalence to Textual Functions

[[abstract]]本研究之目的在於探討翻譯等值與文本功能間的關聯性。翻譯等值(TE translation equivalence) 一直以來都是翻譯理論探討的核心概念。德國功能翻譯理論學家卡塔琳娜萊思(Katharina Reiss)提出之「文本類型理論」(text typology theory)強調，在譯文中傳遞與原文相同之文本功能，即可視譯文已達到翻譯等值。爾後漢斯費米爾(Hans J Vermeer)提出之「翻譯目的論」(the Skopos theory)更進一步說明文本目的與文本功能之關係。在台灣，則有國立高雄第一科技大學史宗玲(Shih)教授提出之四個翻譯等值模式(four TE modes)，提供翻譯等值的強弱準則，強調翻譯等值有強弱之分並有其動態特徵(dynamic feature)。為探究文本功能(textual functions)是否為影響翻譯等值之主要原因，本研究採萊思(Reiss)之三個文本類型(informative expressive and operative types)以及史宗玲(Shih Chung-ling)教授所提出之四個翻譯等值模式(strong TE fair TE weak TE and very weak TE modes)為研究架構，用以分析三種不同文本類型之樣本，且檢視譯文與原文之間的翻譯等值強弱，並探索四種翻譯等值模式在不同文本功能下的表現，進而了解兩者之間的關聯性。 本研究進行質化與量化兩種分析。量化分析主要用於分析資訊類文本(informative texts) 、表述類文本(expressive texts)以及行動類文本(operative texts)之譯文中四個翻譯等值模式之比例。結果發現在資訊類與表述類之譯文中fair TE所佔的比例最高；而在行動類譯文中，則是由weak TE佔最高比例。質化分析探討之重點乃是：1)資訊類譯文中高比例之fair TE與內容導向(content-focused)、真實完整地傳遞訊息之功能有關; 2) 表述類譯文中高比例之fair TE與形式導向(form-focused)及保存原文形式風格之功能有關; 3) 行動類譯文中高比例之weak TE與勸說導向(appellative-focused)及增加、刪減訊息內容之功能有關。 本研究之分析結果發現，三種文本類型之譯文皆符合Reiss 的「文本類型理論」及Vermeer的「翻譯目的論」，也證實了翻譯等值與文本功能確實有極高之關聯性。雖本研究收錄之樣本為數不多，但其調查結果可供作翻譯教學或實際翻譯操作之參考，亦有助於學生及譯者了解到翻譯等值與傳遞文本功能及翻譯目的之間的密切關係。[[abstract]]This study aims to probe the relevance of translation equivalence (TE) to textual functions Translation equivalence (TE) has been a major concept discussed in theories of translation Katharina Reiss a German theorist of translation functionalism proposes the text typology theory and emphasizes that the transmission of the original textual function in the translation is the prerequisite to achieve TE Thereafter the Skopos theory raised by Hans J Vermeer highlights the relationship between the translation purpose and the textual function In Taiwan Dr Shih Chung-ling (史宗玲) proposes four TE modes including strong TE fair TE weak TE and very weak TE modes and emphasizes the dynamic feature of TE To investigate whether textual functions are crucial elements that govern TE this study adopts Reiss’ concept of three text types and Shih’s four TE modes as the research framework to investigate the TE phenomenon in the Chinese translations of informative expressive and operative texts Varied distributions of the four TE modes in the translated texts of three text types support the relevance of translation equivalence to textual functions and further clarify the dynamic feature of TE This study adopts the methods of quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis The quantitative analysis is made to identify the distributions of four TE modes in the translated texts of informative expressive and operative types The findings show that fair TE occupies the highest frequency in the Chinese translations of informative and expressive texts while weak TE holds the highest frequency in the Chinese translations of operative texts The qualitative analysis is used to discuss the following translation phenomena: 1) Relevance of the highest frequency of fair TE in the translated informative texts to the function of clear transmission of the content-focused texts 2) relevance of the highest frequency of fair TE in the translated expressive texts to the function of the reproduction of the original form in the form-focused texts and 3) relevance of the highest frequency of weak TE in the translated operative texts to the function of creating the concentrative impressive effect by adding or deleting information in the appellative-focused texts The analytical results accord with Reiss’ text typology theory and Vermeer’s Skopos theory and confirm the relevance of translation equivalence to textual functions The sample size in this study is not large enough but the research findings have provided come guidelines for translation teaching and translation practice In addition the research findings are beneficial to both trainee and professional translators to realize the close relationship among translation equivalence textual functions and translation purpose