主述位理论下的散文汉英翻译——以张培基《英译中国现代散文选(一)》为例

Chinese-English Translation of Prose from the Perspective of Theme-Rheme Theory—A Case Study of Zhang Peiji’s Selected Modern Chinese Essays in English Translation (I)

摘要: 中文散文“形散神不散”，与英文行文习惯不同，在英译时难度较大。论文以主述位理论为框架，以张培基《英译中国现代散文选(一)》为例，探讨中文散文及其译文在主位推进模式上的异同，以及造成差异的原因，并总结散文翻译的策略。论文发现，主位同一型文本常见于叙事散文，具有结构清晰、逻辑明显的特点，通常可以保留原文推进模式，但对于“零主位”的现象，需要补充主位；延续型的文本信息层层递进，常见于议论类散文，译者有时需要调整信息的组织，将认知主体置于中心；交叉型通过主述位的交替承接，从不同角度展开对事物的描写，常用于描写类散文，译者往往需要对信息进行整合并采用必要的衔接手段，使译文内容更紧凑；自由型推进模式常用于写景、抒情类散文，主位随作者视线的转移、思绪的变化而不断转化，需要结合文章类型和文本功能，或保留其艺术效果，或通过调整突出情感主体。

Abstract: Chinese prose is characterized by the principle that its form might be scattered while its spirit remains unified, which differs from the organizational patterns of English, and thus poses considerable challenges in translation. Drawing on the Theme-Rheme Theory, this study takes Zhang Peiji’s Selected Modern Chinese Essays in English Translation (I) as a case study to examine the similarities and differences between Chinese prose and its English translations in terms of thematic progression patterns, analyze the factors contributing to these differences, and summarize effective translation strategies for prose. The study finds that the constant Theme pattern is commonly found in narrative prose and is characterized by a clear structure and explicit logic. The original thematic progression can generally be retained, but in cases of zero Themes, an explicit Theme needs to be added in the translation. The linear Theme pattern, which presents information in a step-by-step progression, is commonly found in argumentative prose. Translators may need to reorganize the information and center it around the cognitive subject. The derived Theme pattern, in which the Theme and Rheme of successive clauses are alternately carried forward, is often used in descriptive prose to depict an object from different perspectives. Translators generally need to integrate the information and employ necessary cohesive devices to make the translated text more concise and cohesive. The constant progression pattern, which is common in scenic and lyrical prose, features constantly shifting Themes as the author’s gaze moves and thoughts change. Translators therefore need to consider the type and textual function of the prose and either retain the original artistic effect or adjust the information structure to foreground the emotional subject.