8．1　Literal Translation and Free Translation直译与意译

8．1　Literal Translation and Free Translation直译与意译

Speaking of translation methods，people naturally think about the two methods“literal translation”and “free translation”in translation history．The translators and scholars in the world are constantly exploiting them．You may ask what literal translation is，what free translation is and how we distinguish between them．Actually the discussion is going on in translation field．Some scholars think that all the translators should stick to the two methods when translating，some suppose that there are utterly no methods in translation，and different people have different understandings of the methods．

Actually，literal translation is “a notion which has for many centuries been at the heart of most translation controversies，where it has been either staunchly defended against or vigorously attacked in favor of its rival，free translation．However，there is a certain amount of variation in the way this term is applied，as literal translation is sometimes understood as including the related notion of word-for-word translation．A literal translation can be defined in linguistic terms as a translation‘made on a level lower than is sufficient to convey the content unchanged while observing TL norms’” ．(Shuttleworth＆ Cowie，2004: 95)Catford(1969: 25)argues that literal translation takes word-for-word translation as its starting point，although because of the necessity of conforming to TL grammar，the final TT may also display group-group or clause-clause equivalence．The term metaphrase put foreword by Dryden(1680/1989)，is commonly used in translation studies，which is closely related to literal translation．It is defined as the process of“turning an author word by word，and line by line，from one language into another．”

Free translation is a type of translation in which more attention is paid to producing a naturally reading TT than to preserving the ST wording intact; also known as sense-forsense translation．Linguistically it can be defined as a translation“made on a level higher than is necessary to convey the content unchanged while observing TL norms”(Barkhudarov，1969: 1)．In other words，the unit of translation in a free translation might be anything up to a sentence(or more)even if the content of the ST in question could be reproduced satisfactorily by translating on the word or group level．Furthermore，according to Catford it is a prerequisite of free translations that they should also be unbounded as regards the rank(or level)on which they are performed．Free translations are thus generally more“TL-oriented”than literal translations．(Shuttleworth ＆ Cowie，2004: 63)Paraphrase put foreword by Dryden(1680/1989)is one of three methods of translating: imitation，metaphrase and paraphrase．“While imitation and metaphrase are the procedures which represent the two extremes of free and literal translation，paraphrase is conceived as a middle way between them．”Paraphrase is defined as “translation with latitude，where the author is kept in view by the translator，so as never to be lost，but his words are not so strictly followed as his sense．”(Shuttleworth ＆ Cowie，2004: 121)

In China，translators and scholars also have different opinions about literal translation and free translation．Zhu Guangqian (朱光潜)said ，“所谓“直译”是指依原文的字面翻译，有一字一句就译一字一句，而且字句的次第不更动。”(The so-called literal translation is to translate something literally，that is，the translation version will be definitely determined word for word，phrase for phrase，and the sequence of words and phrases will not be changed．)Mao Dun (茅盾)once said ，“我以为所谓‘直译’者也，倒并非一定是‘字对字’ ，一个不多，一个也不少。‘直译’的意义就是不要歪曲了原作的面目，要能表达原作的精神。”(I think that the so-called literal translation is by no means the word-for-word translation，exactly judging by the words and phrases of the original．It should mean to express the original spirit without distorting the original features．)At the same time，there is a point of view against the two above-mentioned opinions．In 1951，Ba Jin(巴金)said ，“我觉得翻译的方法其实只有一种，并没有‘直译’和‘意译’的分别。好的翻译应该都是‘直译’ ，也都是‘意译’ 。(《翻译通报》，1951)”(I feel that there exists only one translation method．There is no distinction between“literal translation”and“free translation” ．The good translation should include both．”Therefore，some scholars try to distinguish between them by changing the term from“free translation”into“liberal translation)．

We think that the methods are present and very useful in translation，if we correctly define the two terms and properly employ them in translating．In our opinion，literal translation refers to the translation that a translator tries to keep the original form and meaning，including meaning，structure，style，figure of speech，etc．But it is not the word-for-word translation．Let us look at some English sentences for literal translation．

to kill two birds with one stone一石二鸟

　to shed crocodile tears掉鳄鱼眼泪

　chain reaction连锁反应

　armed to the teeth武装到牙齿

These phrases are very vivid and figurative．They are good examples for literal translation．It seems that the version is the word-for-word translation．But we can say that this is a coincidence，exactly speaking，this is one of the similarities between two languages and cultures．Because all the people own the same globe and resources and have experienced similar developing procedures，it is understandable and reasonable that they have certain similarities in some aspects．All English sentences，however，cannot possibly be translated like this．So the method of literal translation is used in one way．Sometimes we should employ the other way to deal with the original．

We saw an acrobat standing on his head．

　我们看见一个杂技演员正站在他的头上。(word-for-word translation)

　我们看见一个杂技演员正在倒立。(literal translation)

Speaking of free translation，we think we had better use the word“liberal”instead of“free”because the definition of“free”is moving about at will，that is，translating at will or in one＇s own inclinations．As a matter of fact，a translator roughly expresses the original meaning，keeping the target language smoothly．But it is not the random translation．

Don＇t cross the bridge till you get to it．

　到了桥边才过桥。(literal translation)

Comments This translation is difficult for Chinese to understand．So we have to use liberal translation to cope with it．Either of both versions below is much better:不必担心过早。/不必自寻烦恼。

In actual translation，it is impossible for us only to use one method translating the original．And also it is very difficult for us to decide which is better，or worse．Let us analyze a couple of sentences．

Don＇t lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen．

　不要等马被盗后，才去锁厩门。(literal translation)

　不要贼走关门。(liberal translation)

Smashing a mirror is no way to make an ugly person beautiful，nor is it a way to make social problems evaporate．

　砸镜子不能使丑八怪变漂亮，也不能使社会问题烟消云散。(literal translation)

　砸镜子并不能解决实际问题。(liberal translation)

Comments We have found that in sentence 1，liberal translation is better than literal translation，but in sentence 2，literal translation is much better than free translation．How do we decide when to use literal or liberal？We probably follow such a principle “Translate literally，if possible，or appeal to liberal translation．”Sometimes we can use the two methods together．

In short，the fundamental task of methodology of translation is how to take the advantages of the receptor language to have the original implication mood fully expressed，and at the same time keep the translation readable，faithful to the original both in essence and in form．It is an issue involving content and form．Translation is actually to emphasize appropriately approaching the original content while considering the form．Translation is to pursue formal correspondence with the original and to strive to reach correspondence in essential content．Translation is to realize the artistic form of the original and transfer the spirit of the original．Whether a translation is faithful to the original in all the aspects depends on the possibility of finding the closest，the most natural equivalent and depends on，to a great extent，a good command of the transformation of the kernel sentence and the choice of surface structure by a translator．In order to have this goal fully won，both literal and liberal translation should be simultaneously used．Any single one of the two will fail to work unless the source language and the target language are equivalent to a great extent like the above-mentioned examples．Let us compare a couple of sentences to find the advantages of literal and liberal methods．

And I do not mistrust the future; I do not fear①what is ahead．For our problems are②large，but our③heart is④larger．⑤Our challenges are⑥great，but our will is greater．And if our flaws are⑦endless，God＇s love is truly⑧boundless．Literal version:而我不是不相信未来;我不害怕①即将来临的事情。因为我们的问题是②大的，但是我们的③心④更大。⑤我们的挑战是⑥大的，但是我们的决心更大。如果我们的缺点是⑦没完没了的，上帝的爱是真正的⑧无穷无尽的。

　Liberal version:我并非不信任未来;我不害怕①我们面临的问题。我们的问题②很多，但是我们的③心胸④更宽广。⑤我们面临的挑战⑥很严峻，但是我们的决心更大。如果我们的弊病⑦层出不穷的话，那么上帝的爱是真正的⑧广袤无边。

Comments: By comparison，liberal method can be used to flexibly choose words and phrases．As a result，the liberal method is much better than literal method．

The mantle of your high office has been placed on your shoulder at a time when the world at large and this Organization are going through an exceptionally critical phase．

　Literal version:正当全世界和本组织处于一个异常危机的时期中，这个崇高职务的重担落在了你的肩上。

　Liberal version:整个世界和本组织正经历着一个异常危机的时期。在这样一个时期中，这个崇高职务的重担落在了你的肩上。

(冯庆华，《实用翻译教程》，上海外语教育出版社，2002)

Comments: Through comparison and analysis between source and target languages，it is obvious that the literal version is much better because the literal version retains the vivid and clear abstract of the original context，and maintains the original structural form．