"小说"及其亚文类名称的英译探究

“小说”及其亚文类名称的英译是一个复杂的问题,误译的现象在期刊和辞书中都并不鲜见。英语中的fiction与novel的含义并不相同,二者与汉语中的“小说”概念也均不一致,需根据情况来选择准确的译词。作为泛指,“小说”应当译作fiction,而不是novel,因为novel指的是长篇小说。在小说亚文类的划分上,英语文学界和中国文学界皆尚存在不同的意见。就当今汉语小说的实际情况而言,应当划分为四种亚文类:长篇小说、中篇小说、短篇小说和微篇小说。其中最后一种亚文类的命名歧出纷纭,而以“小小说”和“微型小说”最为通行,但最合理的命名则是“微篇小说”。“中篇小说”和“微篇小说”各自具有多种译名,而其合理性各有差别,经过辨析,可以甄选出最合适的英语词来作为译名。

Exploration on English Translation of the Names of “xiaoshuo” and Its Sub-Genres

English translation of the names of “xiaoshuo” and its sub-genres is complex, and the phenomena of mistranslation are not uncommon in periodicals and dictionaries. “Fiction” and “novel” are not synonymous in English, and neither word is equivalent to “xiaoshuo” in Chinese, therefore, we need to choose the right word according to the context. There are different opinions on the classification of “xiaoshuo” in English and in Chinese literature. In terms of contemporary Chinese “xiaoshuo”, it should be divided into four sub-genres: “changpianxiaoshuo”, “zhongpianxiaoshuo”, “duanpianxiaoshuo”, “weixingxiaoshuo” or “xiaoxiaoshuo”. The names of the fourth sub-genre (“weixingxiaoshuo” or “xiaoxiaoshuo”) are diverse and confused, while the two most prevalent names are “xiaoxiaoshuo” and “weixingxiaoshuo”. We think the best name should be “weipianxiaoshuo”. Moreover, both “zhongpianxiaoshuo” and “weipianxiaoshuo” have various English translations, which differ in rationality. We can select the precise English expression for each of them on the basis of analysis.