浅谈词语意义及其可译性限度

词语意义分为两个层面,所指意义和内涵意义。由于思维的同构性,不同语言的词语在这两个意义层面均具有可译性,而由于思维的同构性是相对的,英汉思维方式和语言符号系统存在着差异等原因,词语的可译性限度又是不同的。从英语为原语汉语为目的语和汉语为原语英语为目的语两个角度对译例的分析,也都说明了词语在两个意义层面的可译性限度是相对的。由于内涵意义的特殊性,内涵意义的可译性限度低于所指意义的可译性限度。

Discussion of Word Meaning and its Translatability Limit

There are two aspects of word meaning: referential meaning and connotative meaning. The isomorphic nature of human thought leads to the tianslatability between different languages. On the other hand since such isomorphic nature is relative, together with the different way of thinking and systems of language symbols between English and Chinese, the translatability limit varies with different words. The analysis of the translation examples either from English to Chinese or vice versa, indicates that the translatability of words in their two aspects of meaning is just relative. Due to its special feature, connotative meaning has a lower translatability than referential meaning.