论文总字数：26468字

摘 要

本研究从语义模糊的视角探讨了毛泽东诗词中的带有语义模糊的数字的翻译原则和技巧。翻译原则包括：民族性、普适性和修辞性，翻译技巧包括：直译法、省略法、增译法、减译法和改译法。

关键词：模糊性；语义模糊数字；翻译原则与技巧

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Motivation of the Present Research 1

1.2 Significance of the Study 1

1.3 Layout of the Thesis 2

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 Forming of Fuzzy Theory 2

2.2 Fuzzy Language 3

3. Principles and Strategies of Translating Numerals with Semantic Fuzziness in Mao Zedong’s Poetry 6

3.1 Three Principles 6

3.2 Translation Strategies 8

4. Conclusion 13

Works Cited 15

1. Introduction

1.1 Motivation of the Present Research

Rigid and inflexible, numerals are usually used for calculation and barely valued by literati. However, sometimes the quantity presented by numerals in poetry is definite, but sometimes is not. Due to great differences in ethnic and cultural customs, the use of numerals with semantic fuzziness varies a lot from language to language. For example, “three” and “nine” in Chinese represent a large number with fuzziness other than its literal meaning. It also applies to “twenty” and “a hundred and one” in English as follows:

He has warned me against pickpockets twenty times.

(他多次提醒我谨防扒手。）

However, in Chinese language, “twenty” and “a hundred and one” only represent literal meaning of exact numbers. The study of the translation of such numbers with semantic fuzziness is a very important topic fascinating a great number of scholars. This topic is hotter and is much more difficult in poetry translation. Thus deliberation of concrete situations within specific contexts is highly suggested when it comes to translating numerals with fuzziness in Chinese poetry.

1.2 Significance of the Study

Mao Zedong’s poetry is much more than poetry itself and many things can be found in it including literariness, art and politics, the history of Chinese democratic revolution and construction of a new China, etc., the poet’s ambition permeating between the lines. The poems arouse a surge of aspiration and struggle of Chinese people. He Jingzhi extolled Mao’s poetry as “the treasure of Chinese culture and the monument in the history of poetry”(2000: 4-5). Mao Zedong’s poetry is imbued with the poet’s thoughts, ambition, heart, and ideals, which can be traced by a long period from the initial stage of the Great Revolution to the 1960s after the establishment of new China. It can be found that Mao’s preference of numerals in his poems. Statistics show that 194 numerals are employed in total, each poem having an average number of 2.8. Among these numerals, “million” and “thousand” in particular indicating the meaning of maximum and prominence, prevail in his diction. Loaded with the emotions of this great man, these originally dull numerals come in different forms with vivid and dramatic images, witnessing the arduous course of China’s successful revolution, displaying the poet’s thinking of different periods, expressing unparalleled ambition of embracing the world and quaking the earth.

1.3 Layout of the Thesis

In the first part the writer gives a general introduction to the thesis, including the motivation of the present research, significance of the study and specific layouts of the thesis.

In the second part, the writer gives a brief description of previous studies on fuzziness and further introduces numerals with semantic fuzziness.

In the third part,, the writer attempts to present principles and strategies of translating numerals in detail by analyzing several English versions about typical numerals with semantic fuzziness in Mao Zedong’s poetry.

The last part is the summary of the findings of the thesis. In addition, the limitations of the thesis is also covered in this chapter.

2. Literature Review

2.1 Forming of Fuzzy Theory

Just as Rome was not built in a day, so is the formation of fuzzy theory. Now, let’s catch a glimpse to the development of fuzzy theory in the light of epistemology. Enlightened stage of development witnessed the emergence of precise thinking. However, it didn’t prevail owing to the poor living condition and low productivity. With the rapid development of productivity, human began to acquire the concept of numbers and figures. Thus precise thinking was in vogue.

In the 19th century, the application of precise mathematics was attributable to notable progress of science and technology. In the period of precise-thinking domination, most people preferred preciseness to fuzziness. Absolute preciseness of science was cherished and pursued by philosophers and scientists.

The 20^th century was an era of information where people’s lifestyle and way of thinking underwent profound changes. People began to follow closely the phenomenon of fuzziness and then fuzziness became a hot topic. It is the striking reformation of science that makes us realize that fuzziness has its positive side and we should not regard it as absolutely negative factor. It is the dramatic reformation of methodology that enables us to take advantage of fuzziness in some circumstances instead of trying every means to avoid it. All this serve as necessary preparations for the founding of fuzzy theory.

2.2 Fuzzy Language

It is not uncommon to find that our expressions have fuzzy referential boundaries in daily communication. It often occurs in our life when someone describes the appearance of a man, using the expressions like: mid-forties, medium height, brownish-haired, in a business suit, etc. Here, “mid-forties”, “medium height”, “brownish-haired”, “business suit” are examples of fuzzy language.

2.2.1 Definitions of Fuzziness

Although it is difficult to define exactly fuzziness, many linguists at home and abroad once gave their definitions to fuzziness which can guide us to conduct many researches. Among those definitions, Pierce’s is always well-received as the original definition in natural language as follows.

A proposition is vague where there are possible states of things concerning which it is intrinsically uncertain whether, had they been contemplated by the speaker. He would have regarded them as excluded or allowed by the proposition. By intrinsically uncertain we mean not uncertain in consequence of any ignorance of the interpreter, but because the speaker’ s habits of language were indeterminate; so that one day he would regard the proposition as excluding, another as admitting, those states of things. Yet this must be understood to have reference to what might be deduced from a perfect knowledge of his mind; for it is precisely because these questions never did, or did not frequently, present themselves that this habit remained indeterminate.

(Bas 2004: 47)

In Semantics: An Introduction to the Science of Meaning, Ullmann described fuzziness as “Words with Blurred Edges”(1962: 117). He pointed out that “if one looks more closely at this fuzziness one soon discovers that the term itself is rather fuzzy and ambiguous: the condition it refers to is not a uniform feature but has many aspects and many results from a variety of causes. Some of these are inherent in the very nature of language, whereas others come into play only in special circumstances”(1962:118)

Ullmann also concluded four elements of fuzziness: the first element is generic character of words (what words refer to are not single items but classes of things or events bound together by some common element.); the second element is meaning being never homogeneous (Interpretation of meaning is context-bound.); the third one is lack of clear-cut boundaries in the non-linguistic-world is fuzzy; the fourth one is lack of familiarity with what the words stand for(1962: 123).

Crystal once said “fuzziness is a term coming from mathematics and used by some linguists to refer to the indeterminacy involved in the analysis of a linguistic unit or pattern.”(1969: 37)

From the point of view of Chinese scholars Mao Ronggui and Fan Wuqiu(2005: 1), fuzziness means that a certain phraseology has covert and wide semantic extension and it is explained from aesthetics aspect. To some extent, artistic beauty can be created if a thorough meaning is veiled.

Backed by some opinions of prestigious experts and pundits, we can safely definite fuzziness like this: uncertainty of the limits of the subject.

2.2.2 Causes of Language Fuzziness

Since the concept of vagueness was proposed by the American professor Zadeh in his article entitled Fuzzy Sets in 1965, studies about fuzzy language have been further deepened and expanded. However, opinions of the origin of language fuzziness vary from one scholar to another. Some hold that fuzziness of things is responsible for the fuzziness of language symbols. In all, the causes of Language fuzziness can be classified into three groups: 1) fuzziness of the objective world; 2) finite human thinking; 3) fuzzy nature of the language system. The contradiction between the complicated and ever-changing external word and finite cognitive ability of human beings constitute a main reason for the fuzziness of language.

It is a common sense that words of a language is definite, because it’s impossible for human being give every thing a unique name. When people use the limited words of language to express the unlimited world, language fuzziness will occur unavoidably.

2.2.3 Fuzzy Numerals

On the one hand, numerals are employed to express exact numbers and quantities, and confusion is not tolerable at all. On the other hand, they are widely used in idioms and phrases because of their uncertain and fuzzy traits. There is an old English saying: “Keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it.” It may be mistaken to translate into Chinese as “东西放上七年，准会派上用场的。” However, if you give it a second thought, you will find it unreasonable. Virtually, the word “seven” in the sentence, of religious origin, doesn’t mean exactly seven years. It stands for a long period of time of uncertainty out of English people’s preference for the number. More examples can be listed: “the fifth wheel” means “a spare tyre” in connotative meaning; its figurative meaning is “redundant persons or things”. “catch-22” stands for “第二十二条军规” and “unsurpassable barrier”. In Chinese, “三寸之舌” means “unrivalled eloquence”. “七步之才” refers to “agility and cleverness”. Used as rhetorical devices such as hyperbole and metaphor, numerals in literature strengthen expressive power and aesthetic attractiveness. Here are some examples:

Hamlet: I loved Ophelia, forty thousand brothers could not all with their quantity of love make up my sum.

哈姆雷特：我爱奥菲利亚，四万个兄弟的爱合起来，也抵不过我对她的爱。

Hamlet employed rhetorical device of hyperbole to express his deep love toward Ophelia. The use of numeral with semantic fuzziness helps to reveal Hamlet’s plentiful inner world and unswerving loyalty to love.

I could forgive the boy now if he’d committed a million sins.(Mark Twain)

现在哪怕这孩子犯一百个错误，我也能原谅。（马克·吐温）

These numerals play the role of exaggeration, easily arousing rich imagination and association of readers. The inner world of characters is vividly presented, rendering characters to the life.

3. Principles and Strategies of Translating Numerals with Semantic Fuzziness in Mao Zedong’s Poetry

3.1 Three Principles

Translation is anything but a work that should be done word by word, while the genre and strength of the language should be stressed over the quantity of the words used in the process. Owing to restrictions created by linguistic and cultural differences between Chinese and English, implied meanings, images, expressive power as well as aroma outweigh precise figures in the numerals’ translation. Therefore, three basic principles should be followed in the translation of numerals with semantic fuzziness: 1) nationality; 2) universality; 3) figurativeness.

3.1.1 The Principle of Nationality

A language carries a specific culture to which it attaches. While numerals, as a special part of a language, play an emphatic role in publicizing ethnic culture and connotation. In the long course of history, both China and the UK have developed unique aesthetic tastes on some particular numerals respectively. Thus choices and comprehension of these numerals are unconsciously influenced. In this case, it is highly suggested that we adhere to the principle of nationality in translation. i.e. faithfully delivering original messages while taking ethnic characteristics and culture psychology into consideration; providing acceptable, fluent and natural versions to the target readers and reducing rigid components to the best of our ability. For instance:

看万山红遍，

层林尽染。（《沁园春·长沙》）

Lo! Ten thousand mountains are clothed in red

With serried maples all dyed through.

(Gu Zhengkun, 1996: 9)

In conformity with the principle of nationality, “万” was literally translated into “ten thousand”. In Chinese languages, “万, 百,千and百万” are typical numerals with semantic fuzziness to express large numbers and quantities. However, “hundred, thousand, million and one thousand and one” are more likely to be employed in English language. For lack of a unit of measurement of “万” , its uses are rarely found in English expression.

3.1.2 The Principle of Universality

To meet the readers’ demand of understanding, close attention should be paid to popular and easy-to-understand language, especially in the translation of numerals with semantic fuzziness, terms, symbols, cultural features and character identities. Universality, conciseness, plainness and lucidity are the best policies. Since translation never compels a complete equivalence of words and phrases, culture and custom of a target language should be given due consideration. An overall perspective and a moderate insight into rejection and assimilation constitute the principle of universality.

指点江山，

激扬文字，

粪土当年万户侯。（《沁园春·长沙》）

We criticized the state affairs then,

With vigorous strokes of the pen,

剩余内容已隐藏，请支付后下载全文，论文总字数：26468字