功能對等理論指導(dǎo)下的英文歌詞的漢譯

【摘 要】本文分析了奈達(dá)的功能對等理論在英語歌詞漢譯中的應(yīng)用。認(rèn)為在功能更對等理論的指導(dǎo)下，英語歌詞的漢譯需要實(shí)現(xiàn)英漢兩種語言在音、形和意上的功能對等，奈達(dá)的功能對等理論用于指導(dǎo)英語歌詞的漢譯是可行的。

【關(guān)鍵詞】功能對等理論 英語歌詞

1 The Realization of Functional Equivalence in Sound

1.1 Rhythm

In English one word consists of one vowel， or one syllable or more. While in Chinese， one character is composed of one syllable. And there are four tones in Chinese： the high and level tone， the rising tone， the upward tone and the falling tone. So it is necessary to make some adjustments in translation in order to realize functional equivalence.

First， in lyrics translation， wide rhyme should be the priority selection. Because it is better to express feelings and is easy to sing.

Second， modal words should be avoided to be rhyme for rhymes are often stressed and placed under the accented noted. Although the following lyrics are very popular， but in fact the lyric is not perfect：

Third， if possible， the translated lyric should follow this rhyme scheme： the final words in even lines share the same rhyme with the first line. From the above sentence， it can be seen that the last word in every sentence end with the rhyme “ang”， which make the lyrics very smooth and beautiful. The translated lyrics follow the final words in even lines and share the same rhyme with the first line. When reading it， it can be seen that the rhythm is very harmonious and created unique beauty.

2 The Realization of Functional Equivalence in Form

2.1 The adjustment of word and sentence structures

2.1.1 Word Structure

The adjustment of word structures usually covers the repetition， addition and subtraction of words.

First is the repetition of words. It is a good choice to make some translated lyrics repeated in lyrics translation in order to realize functional equivalence in form.

Second is the addition of words. Some additions of words are necessary to convey the original message perfectly or to meet the requirement of rhyme. So audience can comprehend the original lyrics easily.

Third is the subtraction of words. In order to make the lyric easy to sing， some unimportant word can be omitted in translation.

2.1.2 Sentence Structures

The adjustments of sentence structures mainly cover the shift of sentence order and the exchange of active forms and passive forms which is useful in lyrics translation to realize functional equivalence in form.

Sometimes we should shift the order of the original sentences because of the restriction of music and the difference of expression type between English and Chinese.

The exchange of active forms and passive forms is also a good means to realize functional equivalence in form.

2.2 The Coordination of Translated Lyrics and Music

In English lyrics， one syllable always corresponds with one note， and sometimes with two or more notes. But in Chinese lyrics， one character corresponds with one or more notes. This difference makes it necessary to adjust forms to realize the coordination of lyrics and music. How to do it？

The translator should make the number of the characters of the translated lyric equal to the original notes first. Then it can make sentence patterns similar to the original one.

3 The Realization of Functional Equivalence in Meaning

The following of the thesis will discuss how to realize functional equivalence in meaning through specific strategies.

3.1 Literal translation

Literal translation is to reproduce the ideological content and the style of the original works and retain as much as possible the figures of speech. Nida said： “If more or less literal correspondence is functionally equivalent in both designative and associative meaning， then obviously no adjustments in form are necessary.”（Eugene A. Nida 125） In some cases， it is better to take literal translation as the strategy in lyrics translation.

3.2 Domesticating translation

Domesticating translation supports fluency and creates the illusion of transparency. Nida thinks that the translation should be the complete naturalness of expression which favours fluency strategy. He said in Language and Culture： Contexts in Translating： “one requirement is essential in any lyric， namely that the words be completely natural.” （Nida： 177） Domesticating translation can minimize the strangeness of the foreign text for target receptors and preserve the original lyrics.

4 conclusion

In the function equivalence theory， translation of English lyrics need to realize the differences of the two languages in sound， form and meaning of functional equivalence， translation， Nida’s functional equivalence theory to guide English lyrics is feasible.To translate a poetic song is a hard work and couldn’t be told clearly recently.

Reference：

[1]Cao Xinyu， Zhang Wei （ed.）. Romantic English classics. Hefei： Anhui science and Technology Press， 2002

[2]Hornby A S. Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary. Beijing： The Commercial Press， 2009.

[3]Lv， Kai. “A Functionalist Approaches to Lyrics translation--via a Case Study of Edelweiss and Do-Re-Mi” . Hangzhou： Zhejiang University， 2011.