Abstract:

The current study of Lin Yutang’s translation in the domestic academic circles is limited to a relatively large number of English translations, that is, to mainly focus on the study of his role of introducing Chinese culture to the foreigners, and it neglects his important contribution of introducing foreign cultures to the Chinese people. The lack of research on Lin Yutang’s Chinese translation is caused by a variety of factors, which include the following objective facts. First of all, Lin Yutang’s Chinese translation works are weaker than its English translation works in terms of the number and the influence. Secondly, it is rather difficult for the researchers to finish collecting Lin Yutang’s Chinese translation works completely. Thirdly, there are a lot of flawed words or contradictory statements in the existing Lin Yutang’s anthology of Chinese translations. And the subjective fact is that Lin Yutang personally holds a less serious attitude to his Chinese translation activities while he actively and continually involves in introducing Chinese culture to the West through his English translation and English writing. It is helpful to further demonstrate Lin Yutang’s contribution to the translation of western culture by a detailed study on the lack and the upcoming prospect of research on Lin Yutang’s Chinese translation, which will lead to comprehensively understanding of Lin Yutang’s equally important achievements in English and Chinese translations.

Keywords: Lin Yutang; English-Chinese translation; English-Chinese works; western culture

摘要：

当前国内学术界对林语堂翻译的研究仅限于考察其数量相对较多的英文著译作品,即重视其“对外国人讲中国文化”的研究,但却忽视其“对中国人讲外国文化”的重要贡献。林语堂汉译活动研究的缺失是由多种因素造成的,包括林语堂英译汉译著在数量及其影响力方面弱于其英译作品、研究者完整收集和整理林语堂汉译作品的难度大、现有林语堂文集中汉译资料存在大量文字纰漏或互相矛盾的表述等客观原因,以及林语堂对待汉译活动的主观投入程度远不如其英译活动等主观原因。探讨林语堂汉译活动研究缺失的根源并对林语堂汉译活动的后续研究提出初步设想,有助于进一步完整展现林语堂在译介西方文化方面所作的贡献,从而全面理解林语堂在英译和汉译两方面的重要成就。

关键词: 林语堂, 汉译活动, 汉译作品, 外国文化