目的论视域下翻译软件对科幻小说翻译有效性的对比研究
A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Translation Software in Translating Science Fiction Novels from the Perspective of Skopos Theory
DOI: 10.12677/ml.2025.136622, PDF, HTML, XML,    科研立项经费支持
作者: 张明赫*, 安 静#, 蔡锌彤, 司 灏, 王涵秋:中国地质大学(北京)外国语学院,北京
关键词: 目的论科幻文学作品翻译软件人工智能Teleology Science Fiction Literary Works Translation Software Artificial Intelligence
摘要: 进入新时代,对于提高中国“文化软实力”和“讲好中国故事,有效传播中华文化”的需求日益增长。其中,文学作品的英译具有极其重要的意义,承担着对外传播中华文化的使命。在各种翻译软件和人工智能蓬勃发展的当下,尽管翻译速度提升,译者压力减小,但仍面对各种挑战。本文在目的论的理论指导下,通过研究不同翻译软件及人工智能翻译的有效性,分析英译效果,以提高翻译的有效性,更好地传播中华优秀传统文化。
Abstract: Entering the new era, the demand for enhancing China’s “cultural soft power” and “telling good Chinese stories and effectively disseminating Chinese culture” is increasing day by day. Among them, the English translation of literary works is of extremely important significance and undertakes the mission of spreading Chinese culture to the outside world. In the current era of the vigorous development of various translation software and artificial intelligence, although the translation speed has increased and the pressure on translators has decreased, they still face various challenges. Guided by the theory of teleology, this paper studies the effectiveness of different translation software and artificial intelligence translation, and analyzes the effect of English translation, in order to improve the effectiveness of translation and better disseminate the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
文章引用:张明赫, 安静, 蔡锌彤, 司灏, 王涵秋. 目的论视域下翻译软件对科幻小说翻译有效性的对比研究[J]. 现代语言学, 2025, 13(6): 498-509. https://doi.org/10.12677/ml.2025.136622

1. 引言

文学作品是文化传播的重要载体,是传播中华文化的重要组成部分。于2008年发布的《三体二:黑暗森林》作为科幻小说在全世界范围内获得了广泛认可,小说中的语言蕴含丰富的中华优秀文化,在全世界范围内具有深刻影响[1]。近些年来,用于不同语言翻译的应用型软件和人工智能发展迅速,对日常沟通和文化交流起到了重大作用。但基于经验主义语言文学翻译策略的软件能否有效表达文学作品中的内涵,是一个重大课题。本文将以乔尔·马丁森(Joel Martinsen)的英文译本为标准,在目的论的理论指导下对不同翻译软件和人工智能软件进行对比式研究。

1.1. 目的论概念

目的论最早出现在二十世纪七十年代的德国。学者凯瑟琳娜·莱斯(Katharina Reiss)在1970年首次提出在进行翻译活动时要优先考虑译文的功能特点,这一观点为目的论的诞生奠定了基础。翻译家汉斯·弗米尔(Hans J·Vermeer)于1978年在《普遍翻译理论的框架》一书中正式提出了目的论(Skopos theory)这一概念并进一步完善了翻译目的论的内涵。目的论这一翻译理论深受功能主义的影响,强调不要过分拘泥于原文内容,而是要在忠于原文的前提下充分实现译文的目的,其中包括译者和被译者的目的等[2],在选择翻译方法时要以翻译目的为根本,要求译文能被译文读者所理解并接受的同时保留原文特色[3]

目的论中包含三大原则,第一项原则是目的原则(Skopos Rule)。其强调译文的目的性,明确译文的功能,着重考虑译文在目标文化环境中产生的效果,以此为选择翻译方式的标准。第二项原则是连贯性原则(Coherence Rule)。其要求译者在翻译时应选择符合译文读者阅读习惯的翻译方式,使译文具有可接受性,这需要译者充分考虑译文读者的社会和文化背景。第三项原则是忠实性原则(Fidelity Rule)。该原则要求在译者进行翻译活动时尽可能保持忠于原文,尽量让译文保持原文的语言特质[4]

1.2. 翻译软件和人工智能现状

2013年以来,各大主流翻译软件纷纷采取基于人工神经网络的深度学习技术(Neural Machine Translation)和翻译记忆(Translation Memory)作为机器翻译的主要技术,使得机器翻译能更加有效地应对英语中较常见的一词多义的情况[5]

本文主要选择了有道词典,苹果翻译,百度翻译三个使用人数较多,评分较高的翻译软件进行评估。

1) 有道词典是由北京网易有道计算机系统有限公司推出的全球首款基于搜索引擎技术的语言翻译软件,于2007年9月18日正式上线。有道词典完整收录学习型牛津词典、《新牛津英汉双解大词典》《韦氏大学英语词典》《柯林斯COBUILD高级英汉双解词典》等权威英汉词典,具有一定权威性。

2) 苹果翻译是苹果手机上出厂自带的翻译软件,其页面较简洁,在进行翻译活动时支持在线查询权威的英文词典,并支持自选多义词作为翻译输出结果,具有一定权威性。

3) 百度翻译是一款依托互联网数据资源和自然语言处理技术优势,致力于帮助用户跨越语言鸿沟,方便快捷地获取信息和服务的应用程序。支持全球200多个语言互译,覆盖4万多个翻译方向,通过开放平台支持超过50万企业和个人开发者,是国内市场份额第一的翻译类产品,具有一定权威性[6]

4) 2022年以来,以ChatGPT这一人工智能软件正式发行为标志,生成式人工智能(Generative Artificial Intelligence)在全球掀起了一股浪潮。生成式人工智能表现为能自主创造新内容,能够模仿人类创造力,生成符合其命令的内容。由字节跳动公司于2023年发行的人工智能软件“豆包”具有生成式人工智能的基本功能,且使用人数较多,在国内国际具有一定影响力,具有一定代表性,故本文选择该软件作为研究对象进行评估[7]

在使用生成式人工智能软件(豆包)多次进行翻译活动后,豆包会有意识地寻找《三体二:黑暗森林》的官方英文译本进行参考,这种情况影响了研究。为尽量减小该情况对翻译活动造成的影响,研究者在命令豆包进行两到三次翻译活动后就会更换其他设备继续研究,使其尽量客观有效。

1.3. 科幻小说概述

科幻小说全称科学幻想小说(Science Fiction Novel),是一种在尊重科学结论的基础上进行合理设想所创作的小说,是随着近代科学技术的蓬勃发展而产生的一种文学样式。这一文学体裁具有逻辑自洽、科学元素、人文思考三大元素,它关注人类在科学进步中的处境、挑战和机遇,探讨科学对人类生活、社会结构和价值观念的影响。

同时由于其存在对未来的幻想性,在作者进行文学创作时,文学作品里会出现由作者定义的,与科学相关的特殊自创名词(例如知名科幻作品《神经漫游者》中的“赛博空间”,《三体》系列作品中的“智子”“思想钢印”等)。此类名词具有原创性和系统性,作者通过对其进行理论化构建使其逻辑自洽,赋予虚构概念可信度。该类特殊自创名词会对以经验主义为翻译策略的翻译软件带来巨大挑战。本文在论述时会特殊标注该类名词。

2. 目的论视域下软件翻译的效果对比研究

2.1. 目的性原则下译文对比分析

例1:原文:水滴(特殊自创名词)

有道词典:the drop of water

苹果翻译:The Water

百度翻译:Water droplet

豆包:the Drop

人工译本:droplet

分析:“水滴”在《三体》中特指三体文明利用强互作用力材料(SIM)制造的宇宙探测器。书中描述其外形“似一滴水银,头部浑圆、尾部尖锐,表面为全反射镜面”,强调其小巧、光滑的液态质感与科幻属性。

软件译本均陷入“字面直译”误区,在翻译这一特殊名词时,从原文来看,水滴只是对其外观的总结,而非真正的水。“drop of water”,“the Drop”与“water”忽略其智能探测器的本质,仅描述外形。“water droplet”虽贴近形态,但未突出“微小”特征。

人工译本则选用“droplet”一词,较好地保留了“水滴”形态特征,更符合科幻小说中对高科技产物的描写。

软件翻译因缺乏对原文全文的深度解析,导致语义偏差。综上所述,人工译本更加符合目的性原则的要求。

例2:原文:他们在公众心目中的救世主形象已经建立起来,顺理成章地出现了面壁者崇拜。

有道词典:their messianic image in the public mind has been established, and it is natural that wall-faceers worship has appeared.

苹果翻译:their image of the savior in the public’s mind has been established, and the worship of the wall-faced people has logically appeared.

百度翻译:their savior image in the public’s mind has been established, and it is natural for wallfacer worship to emerge.

豆包:the image of saviors had been established in the public’s mind, and the cult of the Wallfacers emerged as a matter of course.

人工译本:they had been set up in the eyes of the masses as messiah figures. Accordingly, a Wallfacer cult sprang up.

本句是对面壁者公之于众之后公众对其的态度,从原文可见民众对面壁者的崇拜是不理性的,是偏离事实的,可见在进行翻译活动时的用词要尽量选择表达消极意义的词。

有道词典采用messianic一词,英文译本中采用了messiah一词。从西方社会的文化传统来看,messiah和messianic均与西方基督教有关,分别意为弥赛亚和弥赛亚的。“messianic和messiah”表达出了基督教文化中的救世主,契合西方文化背景,易于读者理解。

在翻译这句话时,苹果,百度和豆包翻译均采用了savior一词常用于表达“救世主”这一含义,使其偏向积极方面的救世主,不太符合作者的本意,且弱化了其文化含义。

而在对“崇拜”的翻译中,有道,苹果,百度使用了“worship”一词,该词多用于对神的理性敬拜,无法体现信仰的盲目性。而豆包和人工译本使用的“cult”一词含“邪教狂热”之意,精准的反应了原文中非理性的群体心理。

人工译本选用“messiah figures”与“cult”组合,既保留宗教色彩,又揭示了崇拜的极端性盲目性,较为完整传递作者意图。

翻译软件因仅对应词汇表层含义,导致文化内涵缺失且丢失了原文含义。人工译本则通过理解其语境和作者意图后选词,较好地体现了原文含义,更加符合目的性原则的要求。

例3:原文:这时,夕阳的光缕已离开了父亲,把他遗弃在一片朦胧中,但他的目光穿透这朦胧,看着投在对面墙上的最后一小片余晖。虽然即将消逝,但这时的夕阳是最美的。这夕阳最后的光辉也曾照在怒海的万顷波涛上。那是几道穿透西方乱云的光柱,在黑云下的海面上投下几片巨大的金色光斑,像自天国飘落的花瓣,花瓣之外是黑云下暗夜般的世界。暴雨像众神的帷幔悬挂在天海之间,只有闪电不时照亮那巨浪吐出的千堆雪。处于一个金色光斑中的驱逐舰艰难地把舰首从深深的浪谷中抬起来。在一声轰然的巨响中,舰首撞穿一道浪墙,腾起的漫天浪沫贪婪地吸收着夕阳的金光,像一只大鹏展开了金光四射的巨翅……章北海戴上军帽,帽檐上有中国太空军的军徽。他在心里说:爸爸,我们想的一样,这是我的幸运,我不会带给您荣耀,但会让您安息。

有道翻译:By this time the rays of the setting sun had left his father in the twilight, but he looked through the twilight at the last sliver of light that fell on the opposite wall. Although about to disappear, but this time the sunset is the most beautiful. The last light of the setting sun had shone on the vast waves of the angry sea. It was a few columns of light penetrating the chaotic clouds in the west, casting a few huge golden spots on the sea under the dark clouds, like petals falling from heaven, and beyond the petals was a dark world under the dark clouds. The rain hung like the valances of the gods between the sky and the sea, and only lightning from time to time illuminated the thousand heaps of snow that the great waves threw up. The destroyer in a golden light struggled to lift her bow out of the deep wave. In a loud crash, the head of the ship crashed through a wave wall, and the sky of the wave foam raised greetingly absorbed the golden light of the sunset, like a roc spreading its golden wings… Zhang Beihai put on a military cap with the insignia of the Chinese Space Air Force on the brim. He said to himself: “Dad, we think the same thing, this is my lucky, I will not bring you glory, but will let you rest in peace.”

苹果翻译:At this time, the light of the sunset had left his father and abandoned him in a haze, but his eyes penetrated the haze and looked at the last small afterglow cast on the opposite wall. Although it is about to fade away, the sunset is the most beautiful at this time. The last glow of the sunset also shone on the waves of the sea of anger. Those are several pillars of light that penetrate the western clouds, casting several huge golden spots of light on the sea under the dark clouds, like petals falling from heaven. Outside the petals is the dark night-like world under the dark clouds. The rainstorm hangs between the seas like the curtains of the gods, and only lightning illuminates the thousands of snow spit out by the huge waves from time to time. The destroyer in a golden light spot struggled to lift its bow from the deep valley. In a loud roar, the bow of the ship crashed through a wall of waves, and the waves that rose from the sky greedily absorbed the golden light of the sunset, like a giant wing of Dapeng shining with golden light… Zhang Beihai wore a military cap, and the military emblem of the Chinese Space Force was on the brim. He said to himself: Dad, we think the same. This is my luck. I won’t bring you glory, but I will let you rest in peace.

百度翻译:At this moment, the rays of the setting sun had left his father, leaving him in a hazy state. However, his gaze pierced through the haze, watching the last small patch of afterglow cast on the opposite wall. Although it is about to disappear, the sunset at this moment is the most beautiful. The final radiance of this sunset also shone on the vast waves of the raging sea. That were several beams of light piercing through the chaotic clouds in the west, casting several huge golden spots on the sea surface under the black clouds, like petals falling from heaven, and beyond the petals was a world like the dark night under the black clouds. Rainstorm hangs between the sky and the sea like the curtains of the gods, and only lightning illuminates the thousands of piles of snow thrown out by the huge waves from time to time. The destroyer, in a golden spot, struggled to lift its bow out of the deep valley. In a loud bang, the bow of the ship hit through a wave wall, and the rising waves greedily absorbed the golden light of the sunset, like a great Peng spreading its golden wings Zhang Beihai put on a military cap with the emblem of the Chinese Space Force on the brim. He said in his heart, “Dad, we thought the same thing. This is my luck. I won’t bring you glory, but I will let you rest in peace.”

豆包:At this moment, the rays of the setting sun had left the father, casting him into a blur. But his gaze pierced through this haziness, fixed on the last small patch of afterglow on the opposite wall. Although it was about to fade away, the setting sun was at its most beautiful right then. The final radiance of this setting sun had also shone upon the boundless, raging waves of the sea. There were several columns of light that pierced through the chaotic clouds in the west, casting huge golden patches on the sea surface beneath the dark clouds. They were like petals falling from the heavens, and beyond the petals was a world as dark as night under the dark clouds. The torrential rain hung like a curtain of the gods between the sky and the sea, and only the lightning occasionally illuminated the thousands of white crests spat out by the huge waves. The destroyer, located within one of the golden patches, struggled to lift its bow from the deep trough of the waves. With a deafening crash, the bow broke through a wall of waves, and the soaring spray greedily absorbed the golden light of the setting sun, like a roc spreading its giant wings that glistened with golden light… Zhang Beihai put on his military cap, on the brim of which was the insignia of the Chinese Space Force. He said in his heart: Dad, we think alike. This is my good fortune. I may not bring you glory, but I will let you rest in peace.

人工译本:As he was leaving the room, he turned back at the door to look at him, shrouded in shadow now that the light of the setting sun had departed. His eyes pierced the shadows and noticed one last scrap of illumination on the wall opposite. Although it was about to fade, this was the time when the setting sun was at its most beautiful. The last rays of sunlight shone, too, on the waves that rolled endlessly on the angry ocean and in shafts of light that pierced the jumbled clouds in the west and cast enormous golden bands on the water’s surface like petals fallen from heaven. Beyond the petals, dark clouds loomed over a world black as night as a thunderstorm hung between heaven and earth like the curtain of the gods, and only periodic lightning lit the snowlike spray thrown up by the waves. In one golden band, a destroyer struggled to lift its prow from the trough, and then broke through the wall of the wave with a thunderous crash, the spray greedily absorbing the light like a giant roc stretching enormous glittering wings to the sky. Zhang Beihai put on his cap, which bore the insignia of the Chinese Space Force. He said to himself, Dad, we think alike. This is my good fortune. I won’t bring you glory, but I’ll give you rest.

本段关键翻译难点如下,通过仔细分析原文可知,该段落出现的两次“朦胧”第一次指代精神层面的朦胧和迷茫,第二次则变成了现实世界物理上的模糊,如何处理该处的深层含义无论对机器还是人工都是一个重大的挑战。其次是文化层次上的隐喻,“大鹏展翅”需顾及与目标文化匹配。最后是描绘的文学意境,对这样一个史诗般的场景的刻画。

有道翻译使用西方神话中的巨鸟“roc”替代“大鹏”,符合目标读者的文化背景。但是,在双重语义处理方面,“twilight”隐含光线渐暗,但未明确传递“朦胧”精神和物理的双重语义和对人物心理变化的暗示。

苹果翻译与百度翻译采用“haze”,可同时映射物理模糊与心理困惑,保留Dapeng和Great Peng的处理保留原文大鹏意象,但需读者具备原文的文化背景知识,对西方读者理解难度较大。总体而言,苹果翻译、百度翻译语义传递较完整,但对文化隐喻的处理相对较粗糙。

豆包的翻译结果语义十分简化,如“blur”仅描述视觉模糊,完全丢失了对章北海“精神迷茫”的隐喻,“glistened”侧重反光效果,弱化“金光四射”的冲击力。核心语义与情感深度的丢失较严重。

人工译本同样将“大鹏”译为“roc”,使用了两次“shadow”来描述原文中的两个“迷茫”,该词常见含义为暗影,阴暗处。仅仅强调天色变暗,没表达出“朦胧”包含的迷茫心境,没能更好地体现原文的深层次含义。

总之,在面对复杂文化背景与深度情感的隐喻和表达时,无论是人工译本还是机械翻译都呈现出一定的困难。但总体来说,有道词典和人工译本比较符合目的性原则的要求。

2.2. 连贯性原则下译文对比分析

例1:穷经皓首

有道词典:A hoary head

苹果翻译:Poor Jing Hao Shou

百度翻译:Poor Classic with Bright Head

豆包:study painstakingly till one’s hair turns white

人工译本:spend a lifetime working on

根据新华词典的解释,穷经皓首的意思是专心研究经书和古籍。穷经,谓极力钻研经籍。皓首,白头,指老年。

通过对比翻译软件可以发现,有道词典将翻译重点放在最后的皓首,译为了一头花白,没能翻译出“穷经”,翻译不完整。

苹果翻译将成语拆分成四个字进行逐字翻译且只翻译了穷,后面三个字皆使用中国拼音,该翻译无效。

百度翻译也是讲成语拆分成四个字逐字翻译,与原文意思完全不同,同样翻译无效。

从生成式人工智能豆包的翻译结果我们可以看到,豆包先自行寻找了这一成语的中文含义,在这之后将中文含义翻译为英文,但其结果过于繁琐,不够简洁易懂。

英文译本则根据目的语接受者的文化背景,总结出穷经皓首的中文基本意思,再转换成西方文化语境下的“用一生的时间钻研”,让西方文化背景的读者能够更好地理解译文,译文在此精准的传递了其中蕴含的信息,相较于软件而言更加符合连贯性原则的要求。

例2:我这人确实胸无大志,很浮躁的。

有道翻译:I’m really not an ambitious person and I’m quite impetuous.

苹果翻译:I am indeed ambitious and impetuous.

百度翻译:I am indeed lacking ambition and restless.

豆包翻译:I’m really unambitious and rather impetuous.

人工译本:I really don’t have that kind of ambition. I drift.

通过不同翻译对比发现,有道翻译语法和语义都正确,但表达略显生硬,缺乏自然流畅感。

苹果翻译句子语法正确,但“indeed ambitious”翻译为“确实有野心”,与原文“胸无大志”的意思完全相反,在研究过程中,这是唯一一次我们发现苹果翻译出现如此重大的翻译错误。

百度翻译语法正确,但在这其中“restless”常见的释义为“坐立不安”,语义上与“impetuous”(冲动的)有一定偏差。

豆包翻译语法和语义都正确,语气自然,表达较为流畅。

人工译本句子同样语法正确,“I drift”隐喻表达“我漂泊”,语义上与“impetuous”(冲动的)有一定关联,但更偏向于一种情绪状态,口语化表达比较自然。

人工译文注重目标语接受者的文化背景,语言可读性和可接受度较高,相对于软件来说更加符合连贯性原则的要求。

例3:比他想象的还要快,伊甸园冰凉湿滑的毒蛇也爬进了他的意识,他找到了智慧果并吃下了它,心灵中的最后一缕阳光永远消失了,一切没入黑暗之中。

有道翻译:Sooner than he could have imagined, the cold, slippery serpent of Eden crept into his consciousness, he found the fruit of wisdom and ate it, and the last ray of sunshine in his heart vanished forever, plunging everything into darkness.

苹果翻译:Faster than he thought, the cold and slippery poisonous snake of Eden also crawled into his consciousness. He found the fruit of wisdom and ate it. The last ray of sunshine in his heart disappeared forever, and everything fell into the darkness.

百度翻译:Even faster than he had imagined, the cold and slippery venomous snake in the Garden of Eden crawled into his consciousness. He found the Fruit of Wisdom and ate it, and the last ray of sunshine in his heart disappeared forever, plunging everything into darkness.

豆包翻译:It was even faster than he had imagined. The cold and slippery snake in the Garden of Eden also slithered into his consciousness. He found the fruit of wisdom and ate it. The last ray of sunlight in his heart vanished forever, and everything was plunged into darkness.

人工译本:Faster than he had imagined, Eden’s cold, slippery vipers crawled into his consciousness. He found the fruit of knowledge and ate it, and the last rays of sunshine in his soul disappeared forever as everything plunged into darkness.

由分析可知,本段与西方传统的基督教神话关系颇深,传说毒蛇欺骗了在伊甸园生活的亚当和夏娃,使他们吃下来被视为禁忌的智慧果,从此被赶出了伊甸园。对于本段来说,如何翻译“毒蛇”,“智慧果”等意象,对于无论是软件还是人工都是一个巨大的难题。

有道词典选用圣经中对毒蛇的原词“serpent”,使目的语读者直接联想到了圣经《创世记》当中的毒蛇,符合目标语读者的文化背景。但对于“智慧果”的翻译,有道使用了“fruit of wisdom”这是对其的直译,精准但是过于简单,容易引起误解。而对于毒蛇“爬进去”这一动作,有道采用了crept一词,其常见释义为隐秘,缓慢的移动,又可描述对人思想的腐蚀和影响,该用词较准确并生动。

苹果翻译使用了“poisonous snake”,该词仅仅简单地表述了物理意义上的“毒蛇”,忽略了其实际上是精神层面的影响和侵蚀,没能准确表达出原文的意思。“fruit of wisdom”与有道词典翻译一致,这里不在赘述。“crawled”被用来表达“爬行”一词,该词常见用于描述昆虫类动物爬行的状态,仅注重现实物理层面的爬行,没能准确翻译出其对精神的腐蚀。

百度翻译使用了“venomous snake”一词,该词与苹果翻译的不足之处相同,都是仅注重其物理意义上的毒害。“fruit of wisdom”的问题前文已经提到不再探讨。“crawled”的问题也已探讨过,这里不再赘述。

豆包使用了“snake”一词描述毒蛇,该词的使用中规中矩,易于理解。“fruit of wisdom”的问题已经探讨过。“slithered”一词被用来形容蛇的爬行,该词常见释义为爬行,蛇行。该词用来形容蛇爬行是十分准确的,但同样也仅仅重点描述了物理意义上的爬行,缺少对精神层面的描述。

人工译本使用“vipers”来形容毒蛇,该词重点描述了蛇的毒性,该词也可以描述思想层面上的毒性,但缺少了基督教文化上的内涵。“fruit of knowledge”符合圣经当中对智慧树“Tree of Knowledge”的描述。“crawled”的分析上文已经提到。

如上所述,可见在翻译动作和复杂文化背景的事物时,无论是软件还是人工都呈现了一定的困难。但通过交叉比较可知,有道词典在一段中更符合连贯性原则的要求。

2.3. 忠实性原则下译文对比研究

例1:醉眼朦胧

有道词典:a drunken haze in his eyes

苹果翻译:Drunken eyes are hazy

百度翻译:drunken eyes

豆包:bleary-eyed from drunkenness

人工译本:slur out

原文中本词出现在“老张醉眼朦胧地说。”这一句中,是对老张酒醉后其神态的描写。

有道词典的翻译保留了“醉眼朦胧”当中的朦胧感,较为忠实于原文意境。

苹果翻译直接将“醉眼朦胧”翻译为“Drunken eyes are hazy”,较为直白地呈现了原文内容,但同时也失去了原文当中的美感。

百度翻译省略了“朦胧”的细节,虽然简洁,但也牺牲了原文的意境。

豆包的译文“bleary-eyed from drunkenness”中,“bleary-eyed”较为准确地对应了“朦胧眼”,且“from drunkenness”明确了原因,逻辑完整。然而,该译法过于繁琐,失去了原文简洁的美感,而且与原文中老张心理压抑的情境略有偏差,不太符合忠实性原则的要求。

人工译本则将“醉眼朦胧”与老张说话的状态相结合,其用词简单易懂,贴合原文美感,更符合原文语境。

总的来说,豆包的译文在精确性方面有所提升,但对语境的理解相对较差。有道词典和人工译本在保持原文意境和语境方面表现较好,更加符合忠实性原则。

例2:我告诉你,这事儿对你退休金的长远影响可不止半分钱。对老杨的这副书呆子气,张援朝一笑置之。

有道词典:I’m telling you, the long-term impact on your pension will be more than half a cent. Zhang Yuanchao laughed off Yang’s bookishness.

苹果翻译:Let me tell you, the long-term impact of this on your pension is more than half of the money. Zhang Yuanchao laughed at Lao Yang’s nerd.

百度翻译:I’m telling you, the long-term impact of this matter on your retirement pension is not just half a penny. Zhang Yuanchao laughed off Lao Yang’s bookworm like demeanor.

豆包:“I’m telling you, this could have a long-term impact on your pension that’s worth a lot more than half a cent.” Zhang just laughed off Yang’s pedantry.

人工译本:I say it’s got more than a penny’s worth of lasting implications for your pension. At the time,Zhang had merely laughed at Lao Yang’s wonkish outburst.

本句中需要注意“书呆子气”是指老杨的迂腐、不谙世事的学者气质。且“一笑置之”意为“以笑回应并忽视”,强调“不予重视”,而非单纯地对其进行嘲笑。

有道词典、百度翻译、豆包的“laughed off”精准对应“一笑置之”,其常见含义为以笑摆脱、不予理会,可见这三款软件语气十分恰当,较好地表达了原文含义。

苹果翻译表达简洁,适合口语化场景。

在这其中,我们通过牛津在线词典查询了有道词典使用的“bookishness”和人工译本使用的“wonkish”,发现这两个词很少在正式文本中出现,很可能对读者造成理解问题。以下数据来源于牛津在线词典。

但三个翻译软件和AI对原文中“半分钱”的理解都存在误差,将极少量的钱狭义的理解为一半,这是严重的曲解其含义。人工译本“more than a penny’s worth”对应“不止半分钱”,体现“影响重大”的强调意图。其整体框架清晰,但对于“一笑置之”的理解仅仅有表面的嘲讽。

综上所述,软件和人工虽各有优点,但在符合忠实性原则的角度看,无论是软件翻译还是人工翻译,都存在其缺陷。

例3:一阵低沉的隆隆声从船坞方向传来,“唐”号缓缓地移动起来,为了腾空船坞,它只能提前下水,再由拖轮拖往另一处船坞拆毁。当“唐”号那尖利的舰首冲开海水时,章北海和吴岳感觉它那庞大的舰体又有了一丝生气。它很快进入海中,激起的大浪使港口中的其他船只上下起伏起来,仿佛在向它致意。“唐”号在海水中漂浮着,缓缓前行,静静地享受着海的拥抱,在短暂而残缺的生涯中,这艘巨舰至少与海接触了一次。

有道词典:A low rumble came from the direction of the dock, the “Tang” slowly moved up, in order to empty the dock, it can only be launched ahead of time, and then dragged by a tug to another dock to destroy. When the Tang’s sharp bow burst into the water, Zhang Beihai and Wu Yue felt a breath of life come back to its massive hull. It quickly entered the sea, stirring up waves that made the other ships in the harbor rise and fall as if to greet it. “Tang” floating in the sea, slowly moving forward, quietly enjoying the embrace of the sea, in the short and incomplete career, this giant ship has at least once in contact with the sea.

苹果翻译:A low rumble came from the direction of the dock, and the “Tang” moved slowly. In order to empty the dock, it could only go into the water in advance and then be towed to another dock by the tugboat to dismantle it. When the sharp bow of the Tang washed away the sea, Zhang Beihai and Wu Yue felt that its huge hull had a trace of life again. It quickly entered the sea, and the big waves made the other ships in the port up and down, as if they were groing it. The “Tang” floated in the sea, moving forward slowly, quietly enjoying the embrace of the sea. In its short and incomplete career, the giant ship came into contact with the sea at least once.

百度翻译:A low rumbling sound came from the direction of the dock, and the “Tang” slowly moved up. In order to clear the dock, it had to be launched early and then towed by a tugboat to another dock for demolition. When the sharp bow of the Tang broke through the sea, Zhang Beihai and Wu Yue felt a hint of vitality in its massive hull. It quickly entered the sea, causing large waves that caused other ships in the harbor to rise and fall, as if paying tribute to it. The “Tang” ship floated in the sea, slowly moving forward, quietly enjoying the embrace of the sea. In its short and incomplete life, this giant ship had at least one contact with the sea.

豆包:A deep rumbling sound came from the direction of the dock. The “Tang” began to move slowly. In order to vacate the dock, it had to be launched into the water ahead of schedule and then towed by tugboats to another dock for demolition. When the sharp bow of the “Tang” cut through the seawater, Zhang Beihai and Wu Yue felt that the huge hull regained a glimmer of vitality. It quickly entered the sea, and the large waves it stirred up made the other ships in the port rise and fall, as if saluting it. The “Tang” floated in the seawater, moving forward slowly and quietly enjoying the embrace of the sea. In its short and incomplete career, this giant ship had at least made contact with the sea once.

人工译本:A low rumble came from the direction of the shipyard, and Tang slowly started to move. To vacate the dock, it had to take to the water ahead of schedule and be towed to another dock for demolition When Tang’s sharp prow split the seawater, Zhang Beihai and Wu Yue sensed a trace of anger in the massive hull. Quickly, it entered the sea, tossing up huge waves that caused the other boats in the port to rock, as if paying tribute. Tang crept slowly forward in the water, quietly enjoying the sea’s embrace. In its brief and aborted career, this giant ship had at least met the ocean once.

原文描写了“唐”号被迫提前下水并最终被拆毁的场景,包含了丰富的情感色彩,例如无奈和悲壮。翻译的重点在于准确传递这些情感和含义,具体而言,需要准确传递以下信息:“低沉的隆隆声”、“腾空船坞”、“拖轮拖往另一处船坞拆毁”。这其中蕴含被动、无奈的语境。“尖利的舰首冲开海水”、“庞大舰体有了一丝生气”,对生命复苏的隐喻,而在这其中,我们通过对中文原本的分析不难看出,这其中蕴含着对故事中重要人物“章北海”心情的隐喻和人物性格的体现。

有道词典在基本信息传达上较为准确,如“launched ahead of time”、“stirring up waves”,但“destroy”(拆毁)不够专业,情感描写也较为平淡,如“a breath of life”。

苹果翻译的“groing”存在拼写错误,在查询多个词典之后我们确信这个单词并不存在,这是严重的错误。且情感表达不足,难以传递原文的悲壮感。

百度翻译的“clear the dock”、“paying tribute”较为准确,“a hint of vitality”传递了一定的生命力,但“for demolition”略显书面化,“contact with the sea”稍显直白。

豆包的“vacate the dock”(腾空船坞)、“glimmer of vitality”(一丝生气)、“saluting”(致意)较为贴合原文情感,并通过“regained”、“quietly enjoying”保留了原文的悲壮与温柔。

人工译本通过“sharp prow”、“split the seawater”、“aborted career”、“met the ocean”等词语体现了专业性和文学性,拟人化的表达,如“met the ocean”也增强了情感,较好地表现了原文情感。

综合来看,苹果翻译和有道词典在信息传递上基本准确,但情感表达略有欠缺。百度翻译在准确性和情感表达之间取得了较好的平衡。豆包和人工译本在情感传达和意境表达方面表现更好,更符合忠实性原则的要求。

3. 结语

基于上述多维度译文分析及综合考量,通过大量实验数据的反复验证和交叉对比,我们可以发现,在全球化发展下,翻译软件和生成式人工智能软件的发展日新月异,其功能日益强大。我们必须承认,翻译软件及人工智能具有以下优点。

1) 翻译速度极快,输入原语言之后目标语随即出现,能够适应沟通速度较快的情景。

2) 翻译能力较强大,在面对例如日常交流的简单语境中,翻译软件及人工智能能够有效地传达源语言的含义,能够较好完成基本的交流任务。

3) 翻译语言较多,翻译软件和人工智能软件能够完成中、英、法等多个语言的互译,能够做到满足不同语言背景用户的需求。

但是,基于现有文献和大量分析数据,我们可以合理系统性地归纳和得出以下具有重要意义的研究结论:

1) 在面对拥有复杂文化背景的叙述,例如中文当中的成语等,翻译软件明显展示出其翻译存在巨大困难。而生成式人工智能虽然能够理解其中文含义,但对其翻译活动呈现出复杂性,无法简洁高效地将其译为目标语言。

2) 当文学作品中出现使用“意象”即用客观事物暗示主要人物情感活动的写作手法时,翻译软件对其进行的翻译活动呈现出仅“浮于表面”的情况,十分不利于展示原作者写作意图,对读者对作品的解读起到了负面作用。

3) 在翻译科幻小说当中特有的“自创名词”时,翻译软件和人工智能可明显看出其难以理解。这一情况需要译者在通读原文之后根据理解进行翻译。从上文分析数据可见,大部分翻译软件及人工智能无法承担翻译该类名词的任务。

但由本文章分析可知,翻译软件和人工智能在当前依旧无法独立自主地承担翻译活动,其依旧存在翻译不精等无法避免的问题。所以,本文建议:

1) 在当前大环境下,将翻译软件及人工智能与人工翻译结合起来这一方法,显然更有益于翻译活动的进行,译者可在先进行软件翻译之后进行细致的人工校对,使用更加合适的用词以提升翻译有效性。这种方法既减少了翻译所需的时间,又可以比较有效地减少翻译软件的天生缺陷的影响。

2) 翻译软件语言库急需与时俱进继续更新自身算法,提升其对含有复杂文化背景的语言的理解,以期提升对其翻译的有效性。

3) 当面对科幻小说当中虚构的,逻辑自洽的“自创名词”时,可先命令人工智能通读全文并总结其概念和特点后,由人工对其进行翻译活动,以期节省翻译时长并提升对这一类名词的翻译有效性。

翻译软件以经验主义作为其翻译策略,使其面对复杂文化背景和新兴词时不可避免地会出现局限性。时至今日,在生成式人工智能蓬勃发展的情境下,大多翻译软件已经官宣将在未来接入生成式人工智能以增强其翻译水平,这无疑会增加翻译软件的翻译有效性,使其更好地服务于文化传播和文明交流互鉴。

本文在目的论三大原则的指导下,通过研究不同软件对文学作品的翻译,研究其有效性,使其能更好发展,对我们进行翻译的研究和实践具有重大意义。

基金项目

本研究系中国地质大学(北京)大学生创新创业训练计划项目(项目编号:A420)的阶段性成果。

NOTES

*第一作者。

#通讯作者。

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