论鲁迅的翻译思想:鲁迅翻译思想研究

　　Lu　Xun　（1881-1936）　has　been　Zhou　Shu-ren"s　pen　name　since　he　published　Diary　of　A　madman.　He　was　born　into　a　declining　feudal　family.　His　extensive　reading　in　youth　enabled　him　to　accumulate　a　great　store　of　national　culture.　During　the　Reform　Movement，he　read　translation　works　of　modern　social　science　and　literature　of　the　west，in　which　his　favorite　was　Huxley"s　Evolution　and　Ethics　and　other　essays　entitled《天演论》.Actually，evolutionary　ideals　used　to　be　his　spiritual　weapon　against　feudalism.　In　1902，his　academic　excellence　won　him　an　opportunity　to　study　in　Japan　where　he　laid　a　solid　foundation　in　Japanese，German，English　and　Russian.　In　1906，he　gave　up　medicine　and　began　his　lifelong　literary　creation　and　translation　career.　In　Chinese　history，he　is　considered　as　a　great　man　of　letters，thinker，revolutionist　as　well　as　an　outstanding　literary　translator.　He　devoted　himself　to　translation　of　foreign　literature.　It　is　he　who　inherited　and　developed　traditional　translation　theory　in　China.　On　account　of　his　great　contribution，he　has　been　regarded　as　the　founder　of　Chinese　translation　theory.
　　Lu　Xun"s　literary　activities　began　with　translation　of　foreign　literature.　In　his　whole　life，he　translated　over　200　kinds　of　works　written　by　100　writers　of　14　countries.　His　translation　activities　can　be　divided　into　three　periods.　During　the　first　period　（1903-1919），he　studied　in　Japan　and　mainly　translated　literary　works　from　Russia，Poland　and　Balkans.　The　first　literary　works　he　translated　is　a　well-known　scientific　fiction，A　Journey　to　Moon.　At　that　time，he　stood　on　the　side　of　the　weak　and　the　oppressed　and　called　for　their　fighting　against　injustice.　During　the　second　period（1920-1927），his　belief　was　shifting　from　revolutionary　democratic　ideology　to　communism.　In　order　to　provide　ideological　weapon　for　people，he　translated　a　great　deal　of　literary　works，most　of　which　were　from　Russia，Northern　and　Eastern　Europe.　He　even　published　special　issues　on　literature　of　the　oppressed　nations.　The　third　period　（1927-1936）　is　the　most　splendid　one　for　him　to　translate　foreign　literary　works.　During　this　period，he　had　transformed　from　a　democratic　revolutionist　to　a　great　communist.　In　1935，he　accomplished　his　last　translation　works--　Dead　Souls　by　Gogol，a　Russian　classicist.
　　Lu　Xun　was　ardent　in　translation　and　was　faithful　to　it.　He　took　translation　rather　seriously　and　spared　no　effort　in　it.　His　main　translation　theories　are　as　follows：
　　On　the　purpose　of　translation：　His　translation　works　can　be　divided　into　two　categories.　The　first　one　includes　scientific　literary　criticism　and　revolutionary　literary　works.　The　second　one　refers　to　those　common　works.　As　for　translation　of　the　former，he　said　that　it　directly　served　revolution　just　as　if　to　transport　ammunitions　to　uprising　slaves.　But　for　the　latter，he　managed　to　provide　some　useful　and　beneficial　reference　for　people.　He　favored　translation　of　various　works　for　Chinese　readers"　reference.　He　hoped　that　scholars　took　up　translation　of　proletarian　works　as　well　as　those　so-called　proletarian　works　colored　with　prejudice　of　capitalism.　After　critical　judgments，readers　can　have　a　correct　understanding　about　them.　Of　the　value　and　function　of　translation，Lu　Xun　had　a　high　evaluation.　He　said，“Translation　is　not　easier　than　creation.　It　has　rendered　service　to　the　development　of　new　literature　in　China　and　done　much　good　to　Chinese　writers　and　readers.” 　　On　translation　standard：　It"s　no　exaggeration　to　say　that　this　standard　is　the　nucleus　of　Lu　Xun"s　translation　theory.　In　his　opinion，there　must　be　two　things　involved　in　translation.　One　is　to　seek　for　understandability　and　the　other　is　to　preserve　the　original　flavor.　Actually，this　standard　inherits　and　develops　Yan　Fu"s　three-character　standard　（i.e.faithfulness，expressiveness　and　elegance）.　In　general，three-character　standard　aims　at　content，language　and　style　respectively.　Lu　Xun"s　theory　aims　at　seeking　for　understandability　and　keeping　the　original　flavor.　That"s　to　say，the　translation　version　should　be　both　faithful　and　smooth　to　the　original.　Here，Lu　Xun"s　“faithfulness”　means　complete　and　thorough　loyalty　to　the　original　from　the　content　to　the　style.　It　also　alludes　to　meaning　of　“smoothness”　and　“elegance”.　In　a　word，translation　works　should　be　faithful　to　the　inseparable　unity　of　the　original　in　terms　of　content　and　form.　What"s　more，this　standard　settled　a　dispute　between　domestication（归化）　and　foreignization（异化）in　translation　circle.　According　to　him，with　a　view　to　fully　preserving　the　originally　exotic　flavor，the　translation　version　cannot　be　thoroughly　adapted.　As　a　matter　of　fact，there　is　no　translation　version　of　full　domestication　in　the　world.　He　argued　that　what　translators　could　do　was　change　its　clothes　（i.e.　transform　the　language　form）　instead　of　slicing　off　its　nose　and　gouging　its　eyes.　（i.e.　change　its　original　flavor）
　　On　translation　method：　Lu　Xun"s　another　contribution　in　modern　translation　history　is　on　the　reform　of　translation　method.　He　and　Zhou　Zuo-ren　dauntlessly　challenged　the　traditional　translation　method　（i.e.　translation　from　other　versions）　and　adopted　a　new　method---　literal　translation.　During　the　heated　dispute　of　1930s　between　the　school　of　literal　translation　and　the　school　of　free　translation，Lu　Xun　was　a　staunch　advocate　of　literal　translation.　But　he　didn"t　object　to　any　unavoidable　free　translation.　In　fact，he　proposed　both　faithfulness　and　smoothness　as　the　main　criteria　to　be　observed　in　translation.　In　his　practice，as　Li　Ji（李寄）　pointed　out，Lu　Xun　did　never　set　literal　translation　against　free　translation　and　repel　it　though　he　put　emphasis　on　the　former.　Just　on　the　contrary，he　held　that　the　method　of　free　translation　might　be　used　where　and　when　necessary.　And　Li　Ji　cited　Lu　Xun"s　own　words　in　the　Preface　to　his　translation　entitled　《小彼得》as　a　convincing　proof：
　　“It"s　not　quite　proper　for　foreign　language　learners　to　begin　their　translation　with　children"s　stories，for　they　are　apt　to　rigidly　adhere　to　the　original　text　and　dare　not　translate　it　in　a　free　way　so　that　the　translation　is　very　difficult　for　the　children　to　read.　The　manuscript　of　《小彼得》had　this　kind　of　shortcoming.　Thus　I　revised　it　on　a　large　scale　while　reading　and　correcting　proofs.　As　a　result，the　translation　became　more　smooth　than　before.”（The　Complete　Works　of　Lu　Xun，Vol.14，p.237） 　　Some　scholars　argue　that　his　literal　translation　aims　at　attacking　“bad　translation”（歪译）.　Just　as　Jiang　Chun-fang，a　scholar　has　pointed　out　here　“literal　translation”　actually　refers　to　“correct　translation”.　Superficially　speaking，literal　translation　and　free　translation　are　opposite　to　each　other.　At　the　deepest　level，literal　translation　means　correct　translation　that　includes　correct　free　translation.　He　held　a　rather　dialectical　viewpoint　on　contradiction　between　the　two.　He　also　recognized　those　deviation　caused　by　overemphasis　on　literal　translation　and　felt　regretful　about　it.　In　Lu　Xun"s　Brief　Preface　to　his　translation　of　the　work　On　Art，《艺术论》，in　which　he　said，“If　there　is　someone　who　devotes　himself　to　the　study　of　the　book，it"s　better　for　him　to　reorganize　the　sentences，make　the　terms　easy　to　understand　and　render　it　in　such　a　free　way　that　the　translation　may　be　close　to　interpretation.”（The　Complete　Works　of　Lu　Xun，vol.175，p.175）　Anyhow，he　advocated　literal　translation　but　didn"t　want　his　translation　to　be　obscure　and　unintelligible.　In　terms　of　faithfulness　and　smoothness，he　preferred　faithfulness.　His　open　declaration　that　he　would　prefer　faithfulness　to　smoothness　was　aimed　to　oppose　Zhao　Jingshen"s　one-sided　advocation　of　“preferring　smoothness　to　faithfulness.”　He　agued　that　while　translating，translators　should　import　not　only　new　content　but　also　the　new　ways　of　expression.　Readers"　critical　judgments　can　enable　some　expressions　to　become　smooth　and　others　to　be　washed　away　completely.　He　even　said　that　translators　should　learn　from　Chinese　historical　experience　in　translation　of　Buddhist　scriptures.　Those　newly　imported　syntax　may　be　unfamiliar　to　readers，but　later　they　could　become　assimilated　into　readers"　culture.　Those　unaccepted　would　be　got　rid　of　as　waste　matters.　As　a　matter　of　fact，he　advocated　not　only　literal　translation　and　free　translation，but　also　import　of　new　ways　of　expression.　This　is　the　essence　of　his　literal　translation　method.　In　Lu　Xun"s　translation，Li　Ji　concluded　that　the　method　of　literal　translation　and　the　method　of　free　translation　were　merged.　He　merely　regarded　the　former　as　primary　and　the　latter　as　supplementary.　In　a　word，he　was　a　successful　practitioner　who　combined　literal　translation　and　free　translation.
　　On　retranslation　and　translation　from　other　versions：　These　are　the　important　components　of　Lu　Xun"s　translation　theory.　They　serve　prosperity　of　our　translation　cause　and　promotion　of　cultural　exchange　with　the　west.　As　for　translation　from　other　versions，he　maintained　that　ideal　translation　should　be　performed　directly　from　the　original　by　translators　who　have　a　good　command　of　the　original.　He　also　confessed　great　necessity　of　translation　from　other　versions　due　to　some　limitations.　He　strongly　disapproved　of　those　who　blindly　looked　down　upon　it.　He　even　pointed　out　inconformity　between　the　original　and　the　translation　by　means　of　this　method.　In　terms　of　concept　and　style，he　held　that　the　original　and　the　translation　versions　cannot　be　identical.　（Lu　Xun　and　Translation，by　Xu　Guangping）　He　expected　those　who　mastered　Danish　language，Norwegian　and　Spanish　to　translate　directly　from　the　original.　As　for　retranslation，he　argued　that　there　was　no　perfect　translation　version.　By　retranslation，translators　could　select　advantages　of　the　old　version　for　learning　and　imitation　and　simultaneously　add　their　own　understanding.　In　his　opinion，retranslation　was　a　good　approach　to　defeat　bad　translation　and　served　to　promote　the　development　of　new　literature.　Because　of　the　development　of　language，retranslation　is　very　necessary. 　　On　translation　criticism：　Though　he　is　not　the　first　who　put　forward　translation　criticism，he　laid　much　emphasis　on　it.　In　his　Defense　for　Translation　（written　on　August　14th，1933），he　pointed　out　that　translation　critics　should　be　responsible　for　defects　of　translation　version　besides　translators.　It"s　critics"　responsibility　to　give　a　credit　to　those　versions　with　high　qualities.　If　there　was　none，fairly　good　ones　should　also　be　given　a　note.　In　a　word，he　was　undoubtedly　the　founder　of　Chinese　modern　literary　criticism.　He　also　guided　the　further　development　of　modern　literary　criticism　and　translation　criticism.
　　On　the　equal　status　of　translation　and　creation：　In　Chinese　literary　history，creation　has　been　always　overemphasized　while　translation　has　been　ignored.　Liu　Yuxi（刘禹锡）　in　Tang　dynasty　has　warned　people　not　to　despise　translation.　It"s　Lu　Xun　who　first　put　forward　that　translation　and　creation　should　share　equal　status.　In　his　Titleless　Essay　（1）　in　the　second　collection　of　Qiejieting　Essays，Lu　Xun　says，“I　have　always　thought　that　translation　is　easier　than　writing，for　at　least　you　needn"t　work　out　a　plot.　But　as　soon　as　you　put　pen　to　paper，you　meet　with　obstacles.　For　instance，you　can　avoid　a　noun　or　a　verb　you　can"t　make　good　use　of　in　writing，but　you　can"t　do　so　in　translation.　You　will　have　to　rack　your　brains　for　it　until　you　get　dizzy　as　if　you　are　feeling　in　your　head　for　a　key　to　open　a　box，but　in　vain.”　Even　when　he　came　to　his　old　age，he　still　felt　it　difficult　to　do　translation.　He　ever　said，“as　if　you　were　doing　a　mere　drudgery　and　had　a　hard　time　of　it.”　（See　The　Letter　to　Xiao　Hong　on　March　1，1935）　“I　felt　it　to　be　a　painful　task　to　render　Gogol.　It　seems　as　if　I　had　an　attack　of　some　illness　whenever　I　finish　translating　two　chapters.”（See　The　Letter　to　Hu　Feng　on　June8，1935）　From　his　experience　above，we　can　see　translation　should　deserve　equal　status　with　creation.　It"s　no　exaggeration　that　Lu　Xun　has　greatly　elevated　the　position　of　translation　in　our　culture.
　　As　a　preeminent　man　of　letters　and　translator，Lu　Xun　considered　literature　as　a　means　to　serve　social　reconstruction　and　liberation.　He　devoted　himself　to　transporting　nourishment　for　mind，awakening　national　consciousness，seeking　for　truth　and　exploring　the　way　to　save　our　country　out　of　disaster.　Chairman　Mao　ever　said，“On　the　frontier　of　new　culture，Lu　Xun　represents　the　majority　of　the　people　and　is　regarded　as　the　most　correct，courageous，staunch，loyal　and　passionate　hero　who　charged　directly　at　the　enemies.”　In　a　word，his　translation　theories　occupy　an　important　status　in　translation　history　in　China.
　　【Bibliography】
　　［1］陈福康.　中国译学理论史稿.　上海外语教育出版社，1992.
　　［2］王秉钦.　20世纪中国翻译思想史.　南开大学出版社，2004.
　　［3］中国翻译工作者协会.　翻译研究论文集.　外语教学与研究出版社，1984.
　　［4］刘重德.　文学翻译十讲.　中国对外翻译出版公司，2000.

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