从归化异化角度看专有名词翻译-以《哈利˙波特与魔法石》为例_英语论文

The Translation of Proper Nouns from the Perspective of Domestication and Foreignization —with reference to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

摘要

1997年出版的《哈利·波特与魔法石》是英国作家J.K.罗琳创作的魔幻小说《哈利·波特》系列的第一部。本书一经发表好评如潮，斩获多个奖项，随后被翻译成70多种语言，并翻拍了同名电影。它展现的独特英伦风情和魔法世界跨越文化、种族、性别、年龄等障碍，俘获了大量不同背景的读者的心。对于许多母语为非英语国家的人来说，译本是他们领略《哈利·波特与魔法石》原著魅力的主要手段，因此，译本是否能准确而充分的表达原著的意思将影响着读者对作品和其背后文化的理解。

许多学者都曾对《哈利·波特与魔法石》翻译中突出的各个部分进行过相关研究，例如标记语Well（王超，2012），隐喻翻译（陈继清，2010）等等。然而中英版本对比中，最为引人注目的还是专有名词的翻译。它们大多由作者一手创造，每个名词都蕴含一个或多个不同的意义和文化内涵，为翻译领域的研究开拓了新的战场。翻译行为同时关乎语言问题和文化问题，而其最重要的策略之一就是归化与异化。何时让读者感觉宾至如归，又何时让读者感受异域风情？归化异化之争由来已久，归异化的抉择问题在本书专有名词的翻译上更是体现的淋漓尽致。

本文主要从归化异化角度出发，探究《哈利·波特与魔法石》中译本中人名、魔咒、魔法生物及物品等专有名词的翻译。首先，本文对原作和译作、归化异化理论及相关文献的研究内容、研究方法、研究结果进行了简要的阐述和说明。其次，通过例证的详细解析分析了专有名词的翻译方法、翻译目的和归化异化之间的抉择。最后，综合各项结论整理汇总出本文的研究结果和其存在的局限性。

专有名词的翻译方法许许多多，有音译、意译、加注、增译等等，而在《哈利·波特与魔法石》中译本中，这些翻译方法都是在归化异化的指导下为译文可读性、为读者服务的。归化和异化这一对看似对立的翻译策略，实际的界限并没有从定义看上去那么清晰。在此次翻译研究中，绝对的归化或异化是不存在的。不管译者本身是倾向归化或是异化原则，他们的最终目的还是促进文学文化的世界交流。

关键词：《哈利·波特与魔法石》；专有名词翻译；归化与异化

Abstract

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first piece of Harry Potter series by English writer J. K. Rowling. Since its public appearance, the book has enjoyed a roaring reputation. It is the winner of countless awards and has been translated into more than 70 languages. The unique charm of the U.K. and the magic world it presents seizes the hearts from readers with various cultural, racial and sexual backgrounds. For non-English speakers, the translated versions are the most vital means to appreciate the magnificence of this piece.

A multiple of researchers have studied the translation of Chinese version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone from different perspectives, such as the translation of the discourse marker Well (Wang Chao, 2012), the translation of metaphors (Chen Qingji, 2010) and so forth. Nevertheless, the most intriguing part of the Chinese translated version is the translation of proper nouns. Most of them are partly borrowed from other languages or created by the author, and the deeper cultural meanings contained in these proper nouns create a new research area for translators. Translation is related to not only the language but to also the culture, and one of the most significant strategies is dubbed as domestication and foreignization. It is vital for translators to decide whether it is high time to allow readers to experience the familiarity or the exotic charm. The dispute over the choice between the two has been existed for a long time, and how to choose is clearly suggested in the translation of proper nouns in this piece.

In this article on the translation of proper nouns in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone from the perspective of domestication and foreignization, we discuss the translation methods utilized, and the reason why these specific domestication or foreignization methods are employed. We first review the brief introduction to the text, the contents, methods and findings of relative documents and literature, and the theory of domestication and foreignization. We then discuss how the proper nouns in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone are translated and why they are translated in these specific ways. Illustrative examples of studies that investigate how domestication and foreignization are engaged in translation are discussed. 

In the first piece of Harry Potter series, a number of translation methods are utilized, for example, transliteration, semantic translation, annotation and amplification. All of these methods serve the readability and the interest of readers under the guidance of domestication and foreignization. It is obvious to be noticed that the line between domestication and foreignization is not as clear as that between the two definitions. There is no such a thing as pure domestication or pure foreignization. No matter which one is preferred by translators, the final aim is to exchange and broadcast various cultures and literary.

Keywords: domestication and foreignization; the translation of proper nouns; Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Contents

Acknowledgements i

Abstract ii

摘要 iv

Chapter One Introduction 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2   Introduction to the Story 2

1.2.1 Original Work 2

1.2.2 Translated Version 3

1.3 Research Objectives 3

1.4 Research Methodology 3

1.5 Thesis Arrangement 3

Chapter Two Literature Review 5

2.1   Previous Studies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 5

2.2   Previous Studies of Domestication and Foreignization 6

Chapter Three Case Study 9

3.1   The Translation of Names of People 9

3.1.1 Overview 9

3.1.2 Transliteration 10

3.1.3 Transliteration PlusSemantic Transaltion 12

3.1.4 Annotation 13

3.2   The Translation of Magical Incantations 14

3.2.1 Overview 14

3.2.2 Transliteration 15

3.2.3 Semantic Transaltion 15

3.2.4 Transliteration Plus Semantic Translation 16

3.3   The Translation of Designations of Magical Creatures and Instruments 17

3.3.1 Overview 17

3.3.2 Semantic Translation 18

3.3.3 Amplification and Omission 19

3.3.4 Conventionality 20

Chapter Four Conclusion 22

4.1   Summary 22

4.2   Major Findings 22

4.3   Limitations 23

References 24