中式英语之鉴PART5

那艺娜

Chapters 9 and 10 of Joan Pinkham’s The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish explore nuanced challenges in translation, focusing on "Improper Word Choice" and "Misuse of Passive Voice." These chapters build on earlier lessons about linguistic logic but shift the lens toward subtler errors that distort meaning or tone, even when sentences appear grammatically correct.

Chapter 9, "Improper Word Choice," dissects how direct translations of Chinese terms often lead to misleading or overly literal English equivalents. Pinkham emphasizes that dictionary definitions alone cannot capture context-specific connotations. For instance, translating the Chinese word "问题" as "problem" in all contexts ignores its broader semantic range, which can include "issue," "topic," or "question" depending on usage. The chapter critiques "false friends"—words that seem interchangeable between languages but differ in nuance, such as "propaganda" (often negative in English) versus the neutral Chinese term "宣传." This analysis resonated with my own struggles in selecting terms that balance accuracy with cultural appropriateness. Pinkham’s advice to prioritize "function over form" (e.g., using "monitor progress" instead of "grasp the dynamics of progress" for Chinese "把握进展动态") reinforced the need to interpret ideas, not just words.

Chapter 10, "Misuse of Passive Voice," addresses a structural issue rooted in differing rhetorical traditions. Chinese frequently employs passive constructions with agents omitted (e.g., "被强调" or "it is emphasized"), whereas English often favors active voice for clarity and directness. Pinkham illustrates how overusing passive voice in English translations creates ambiguity or an unintended impersonal tone. For example, translating "必须采取措施" as "Measures must be taken" obscures responsibility, whereas "We must take action" specifies the actor. The chapter also warns against "pseudo-passive" structures borrowed from Chinese, such as "This problem needs to be solved" instead of the more natural "We need to solve this problem." This section deepened my understanding of how voice shapes a text’s tone—passive constructions can sound evasive in English, whereas active voice conveys accountability.

Together, these chapters highlight the intersection of linguistic precision and cultural intuition. Pinkham’s examples, like replacing "carry out reforms" with "reform" to avoid wordiness, demonstrate that effective translation requires reimagining sentences holistically rather than substituting words individually. This approach aligns with her earlier emphasis on concision but introduces a new dimension: the cultural weight of vocabulary. A translator must ask not only "Is this correct?" but also "How does this resonate with an English-speaking audience?"

One lingering tension is the balance between domestication and foreignization. While Pinkham advocates for fluency, certain texts—especially those dealing with culturally specific concepts—may require retaining some "foreignness" to preserve authenticity. For example, translating "关系" as "guanxi" (with explanation) might be more appropriate than "connections" in a sociological context. Pinkham’s guidelines prioritize readability, but translators must occasionally navigate gray areas where strict adherence to "natural English" risks oversimplification.

In conclusion, Chapters 9–10 underscore that translation is an act of cultural mediation as much as linguistic skill. They have encouraged me to approach word choice and sentence structure with heightened sensitivity to connotation and audience expectation. Moving forward, I aim to cultivate a dual awareness: respecting the source text’s intent while crafting language that feels organic in English—a delicate equilibrium between fidelity and reinvention.