模因论视角下《红楼梦》英译本比较研究

A Comparative Study of the English Translations of Hongloumeng from the Perspective of Memetics

摘要: 本研究运用模因论(Memetics)作为理论框架，对《红楼梦》的两种经典英译本，即霍克斯(David Hawkes)的The Story of the Stone和杨宪益、戴乃迭夫妇的A Dream of Red Mansions，进行比较分析。研究核心在于考察文化模因(cultural memes)在跨语言翻译过程中的复制与传播机制。文章重点区分了两种模因传播策略：一是“基因型”(genotypic mode)，即内容相同而形式各异，强调语义和文化意象的忠实传递；二是“表现型”(phenotypic mode)，即形式相同而内容各异，侧重于通过形式上的嫁接与调适来提升译文在目标语文化中的可读性和接受度。研究发现，杨氏夫妇的译本更倾向于基因型传播，力求保存源语的文化内涵与意象，但可能牺牲了部分目标语读者的可接受性。相比之下，霍克斯的译本更倾向于表现型传播，通过文化本土化和联想嫁接等策略来增强可读性，但有时会削弱源语文化的独特性。论文最终认为，一部成功的文学翻译作品需要在模因的忠实性(fidelity)与适应性(adaptability)/多产性(fecundity)之间寻求平衡，以实现文化信息的精准传递与跨文化共鸣的持久性。

Abstract: This study adopts Memetics as its theoretical framework to conduct a comparative analysis of two canonical English translations of Hongloumeng: David Hawkes’s The Story of the Stone and Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang’s A Dream of Red Mansions. The primary objective is to investigate the mechanisms underlying the replication and transmission of cultural memes in the process of cross-linguistic translation. Particular attention is paid to two distinct modes of memetic transmission: the genotypic mode, in which identical content is conveyed through different forms, emphasizing the faithful reproduction of semantic content and cultural imagery; and the phenotypic mode, in which similar forms convey different content, prioritizing formal grafting and adaptation to enhance the readability and acceptability of the translated text within the target culture. The findings indicate that Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang’s translation exhibits a stronger preference for the genotypic mode, seeking to preserve the cultural connotations and imagery of the source text, potentially at the expense of its acceptability among target-language readers. In contrast, Hawkes’s translation demonstrates a greater inclination toward the phenotypic mode, employing strategies such as cultural domestication and associative grafting to improve readability, although these strategies may occasionally diminish the distinctiveness of the source culture. Ultimately, this study argues that successful literary translation requires a balance between memetic fidelity and adaptability/fecundity, thereby facilitating the accurate transmission of cultural information and fostering sustained cross-cultural resonance.