Analysis on the Chinese translation of Jane Eyre based on Skopos theory

王林鑫

Abstract：This is a piece of thesis and the source text is excerpted from the first chapter to the second chapter of Jane Eyre. This paper will analysis several cases of Jane Eyre Chinese tranlation in the light of Skopos theory from aspects of selecion of word meaning， amplification and division.By analyzing those examples， the writers translating thought and skills are all performed very clearly.

Key Words： Jane Eyre， Skopos Theory， amplification， division

Skopos theory is a translation approach which was proposed by Hans Vermeer in Germany in the late 1970s. From Hans Vermeers perspective， translation is not a process of translation but a specific type of human action， it is also an intentional， purposeful humankind action. According to Hans Vermeers viewpoints， Skopos theory was reduced to three basic rules： skopos rule， coherence rule and loyalty principle.

1 Selection of Word Meaning

E.g.： There were moments when I was bewildered by the terror he inspired， because I had no appeal whatever against either his menaces or his inflictions； the servants did not like to offend their young master by taking my part against him， and Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject： she never saw him strike or heard him abuse me， though he did both now and then in her very presence， more frequently， however， behind her back.

Translation：有幾次我被他的恐嚇嚇的手足無(wú)措，但是無(wú)論他恐嚇我還是懲罰我，我都沒(méi)法向他人求助。那些仆人們不愿意因?yàn)閹椭遥米锪怂麄兊男≈魅恕Ｋ＠锏路蛉藢?duì)于此事更是裝聾作啞。約翰當(dāng)著她的面沒(méi)少打我，背著她就更不用說(shuō)了，她總是裝作看不見(jiàn)。

Analysis： In Chinese， “blind and deaf” has a meaning of “盲人、聾子” or “看不見(jiàn)的、聾的”. In order to make the translation meet Chinese readers demand， the writer changed the meaning of the word “盲的” into “啞的” and recombined the phase as “裝聾作啞”. This kind of translation approach can express the real meaning of the original work reads more natural not as stiff as a poker

2 Amplification

E.g.1： John had not much affection for his mother and sisters， and an antipathy to me.

Translation： 約翰和他媽媽、姐妹的感情并不是很好，對(duì)我就更厭惡了。

Analysis： The writer added one word “更” here to emphasis Johns aversion to Jane. Such kind of emotion John expressed is incremental increasing.

E.g.2： “That is for your impudence in answering mama awhile since，” said he， “and for your sneaking way of getting behind curtains， and for the look you had in your eyes two minutes since， you rat！”

Translation： 我就是得教育教育你，剛才和我媽媽說(shuō)話也太沒(méi)有禮貌了吧.”他說(shuō)，“誰(shuí)讓你偷偷摸摸地躲在窗簾的后面，誰(shuí)讓你兩分鐘前眼睛是那副德行，你這個(gè)混蛋！”

Analysis： “that is” means “這是”，this sentence will be translated as “這是因?yàn)槟銊偛鸥覌寢屨f(shuō)話沒(méi)有禮貌而給你的”. It is very rigid and unusual to express it like that. The writer added some words： “我就是得教育教育你” can express the meaning of original text more proper. Furthermore， it shows an arrogant and rude attitude of John which is more suitable to describe his characters.

3 Division

E.g.： “It is well I drew the curtain，” thought I； and I wished fervently he might not discover my hiding-place： nor would John Reed have found it out himself； he was not quick either of vision or conception； but Eliza just put her head in at the door， and said at once——

Translation： “還好我藏在了窗簾下”我想，可千萬(wàn)別讓他發(fā)現(xiàn)我藏在這兒了。約翰·里德果然沒(méi)發(fā)現(xiàn)，他的視力很遲鈍，思考也不敏捷。可是伊麗莎剛把腦袋伸進(jìn)門里，便立即說(shuō)——

Analysis： In this sentence， if translate “he was not quick either of vision or conception” as “他的視力和思考都不敏捷” will lead to a inappropriate expression. According to Skopos Rule， the target text must reach a communicative purpose. Hence， the writer uses a division approach to express the meaning and translate the sentence as “他的視力很遲鈍，思考也不敏捷。”.

Bibliography：

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[3]陳德鴻，張南峰. 西方翻譯理論精選 [M]. 香港：香港城市大學(xué)出版社， 2000.

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（作者單位：西南科技大學(xué)外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院）