中國傳統醫學的翻譯問題
下面是本站小編整理的中國傳統醫學的翻譯問題，供廣大學者參考。
Research on English Translation of TCM
1. Chuan-Yue NIU (Foreign Language Education Center, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203)
2. La-Ping WANG (College of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200233, China )
3月份以來，應邀參加了一些有關中醫對外翻譯及中醫術語英語翻譯規範化的國內、國際學術會議，聽取了各方關於中醫術語英語翻譯問題的意見和建議，受益可謂頗豐，然而困惑卻也甚隆。因爲每個人對翻譯的體會和對相關概念的理解總是不盡相同的，所以研中自然有討，論中難免有爭，這其實是很自然的。然而如何研，如何討，如何論，如何爭，卻是很有些講究的。振臂一呼，一時可能飛砂走石，卻終屬意氣用事之舉;義憤填膺，當下也許翻江倒海，但終爲強弩末勢之態。
靜觀近來關於中醫術語英譯問題的研討和論爭，總不免想起莊子《齊物論》的忠告：“夫大道不稱，大辯不言，大仁不仁，大廉不謙，大勇不忮。道昭不道，言辯不及，仁常不周，廉清而不信，勇忮而不成。”《山海經·南山經》說：“有木焉，其狀如谷而黑理，其華四照，其名曰迷谷，佩之不迷。”真希望能採得迷谷一枝，常佩胸前，以防論爭之際迷失自己。會議期間，曾信筆塗鴉了一些雜感，今選錄幾則，串掇爲文，藉以表達自己對相關問題的理解。
1 內涵是綱，其餘皆目
近有媒體報道，雲南學者戈叔亞經過近8年的艱苦努力，終於找到了抗戰時期一外國記者拍攝的滇緬公路上的著名險境——24拐。所謂“24拐”，指的是位於雲南省境內、有24個拐彎的滇緬公路的一段。多年來，外國記者當年拍攝的那幅著名的照片已經成爲滇緬公路的標誌，海內外人士提到滇緬公路時，自然而然地想到或提到“24拐”，但卻從來沒有人實際考察過“24拐”的具體方位。爲了深入地研究滇緬公路的歷史及其在中國抗戰中所發揮的巨大作用，戈叔亞從 1995年開始尋找“24拐”原址。然而當他踏遍了雲南境內與滇緬公路相關的山山水水時，卻沒有能夠“按圖”索到“驥”。
“著名的'24拐'究竟在哪裏呢?”戈叔亞感到迷惑不解。照片上的景色如此逼真明確，現實中爲何找不到呢?想到這裏，戈叔亞產生了一個大膽的想法：“'24拐'會不會根本就不在雲南境內呢?”於是他循着自己的這個大膽的設想，開始了新一輪的考察，終於在貴州省找到了與原照片一摸一樣的奇境—— “24拐”。海內外人士津津樂道了半個多世紀的滇緬公路“24拐”，其實根本就不在滇境!這一發現令戈叔亞無比驚訝，也震驚了海內外史學界。
一個在全球誤傳了半個世紀的有關滇緬公路的史話，就此得以名正而言順。雖然史學界對此感到無比的遺憾，然而歷史總歸是歷史，事實總歸是事實，容不得半點虛假。這樣“天翻地覆”的變故在史學研究中可謂屢見不鮮。在譯學界，這樣的實例其實也是不勝枚舉，有些逐步被正名了，而有些卻仍然在以訛傳訛，似乎永無直面讀者之日。
會前得到一部由西方一漢學家編寫的漢英英漢中醫辭典。粗略翻閱了一下，感到編者在編寫這部辭典時，的確花費了很大精力，幾乎可以用字斟句酌、精益求精的評語來評價其翻譯。這當然是就其翻譯態度而言的，並非對其翻譯準確性的評判。事實上，該君的翻譯在很多方面都存在着這樣或那樣值得商榷之處，有的地方的翻譯與原文幾乎有“離題萬里”之差距。正文暫且不表，單看其附錄中的一些龐雜內容，便不難洞悉其譯筆的虛無之處。在附錄中有關鍼灸穴位的翻譯中，他不但將穴位名稱按常規予以音譯，而且別出心裁地逐一加以意譯或直譯。這種翻譯有無必要，得失如何，暫且不論。單從其對穴位中文名稱的解析來看，就存在着許多臆測杜撰的成分。
比如他將“列缺”穴意譯爲Broken Sequence(即“斷裂的序列”)，將豐隆穴意譯爲Bountiful Bulge.“列缺”真的是“斷裂的序列”之意嗎?恐怕不能直接照字面釋義。在中國古代，“列缺”實際上指的是閃電之神。《淮南子》上即有這樣的記載： “雷以電爲鞭，電光照處，謂之列缺。”這樣看來，所謂的“列缺”，古人實際上指的是打雷時電光閃射之處。後來，“列缺”就逐步演變成了“電神”的稱謂。所以明人程登吉所編著的《幼學瓊林》就有“列缺乃電之神，望舒是月之御”之謂。正是因爲這個原因，“列缺”在古代還被文人墨客用以指代打雷閃電。如李白《夢遊天姥吟留別》一詩中就有“列缺霹靂，丘巒崩摧”之句。所以“列缺”應該是god of lightning，而不是什麼broken sequence.當然“豐隆”也不是什麼bountiful bulge，而是god of cloud.因爲在古代，“豐隆”指雲神，正如《幼學瓊林》所言“雲師系是豐隆，雪神乃是滕六”。
從這個簡單的例子可以看出，不熟悉中國古典文化，不瞭解諸子百家之學，是很難翻譯好中醫的。
2 垂範有度，行之有序
十五年前我在撰寫碩士論文《論中醫名詞術語英譯的標準化》時，亓興華老師建議我最好將“標準化”改爲“統一化”。當時我對亓老師的建議頗不以爲然，認爲“統一化”不如“標準化”科學。今天看來，我當年所謂的“標準化”的提法是何等的childish, 倒是亓老師的建議愈來愈彰顯其實際意義。所以自從1993年出版了《中醫翻譯導論》之後，特別是1997年出版了《中醫英語翻譯技巧》以來，我就不再輕言標準化了。
在今年上半年舉行的幾次有關中醫名詞術語英語翻譯國際標準化的國內國際會議上，與會學者對中醫有關概念翻譯的“標準化”問題進行了深入的探討。比如對“心主血脈”究竟翻譯成the heart governing the blood vessels還是the heart governs the blood vessels，論爭頗爲激烈。甚至於對究竟使用govern還是 control來翻譯“主”，也各有異見。對於這樣的論爭，從語義學研究的角度來看，有其積極的一面。但從術語翻譯的“標準化”或“統一化”的要求來看，卻未免有些捨本逐末了。
我在給有關方面的建議中提出，中醫名詞術語英語翻譯的“標準化”，應侷限於中醫理法方藥的核心概念和術語，不應涵蓋所有的中醫用語。對於中醫上的一些比較單一的概念，如陰陽、五行、氣血、經絡等，翻譯時的確應該追求用詞的完全同一。但對於一些詞組、短語和習慣用語的翻譯，卻不一定要求字詞的完全一致，其實這也是很難做到的。對這類用語的規範化應該着眼於關鍵字詞的統一，避免在無關緊要的功能詞上論爭不休。以“辨證論治”爲例，目前的基本趨勢是將 “辨”、“證”和“治”這三個字分別譯爲differentiation，syndrome和treatment.只要這三個關鍵詞的翻譯一致，其他的功能詞語，如based on, according to等等，可以不必強求同一。
下面是我向有關方面提供的一份所謂中醫名詞術語英語翻譯“標準化”方案的部分內容。妥否，請讀者諸君公鑑。
陰陽學說：陰陽(Yin and Yang);陰中之陽(Yang within Yin，其他類似術語依此類推)：對立(opposition);互根(interdependence);消長(waning and waxing);轉化(transformation)
五行學說：五行(five elements);木(Wood);火(Fire);土(Earth);金(Metal);水(Water);相生(promotion或 generation);相剋(restriction);相乘(over-restriction或subjugation);相惡(counter- restriction)。
精、氣、神等：精(essence);氣(qi或Qi);神(spirit或mind);魂(ethereal soul);魄(corporeal soul);命門(life-gate);正氣(healthy-Qi);元(原)氣(primordial-Qi);真氣(genuine-Qi);宗氣(pectoral-Qi);衛氣(defensive-Qi);營氣(nutrient-Qi);衛分(defensive-phase);氣分(Qi-phase);心氣(heart-Qi，其他臟腑之氣的翻譯依此類推);中氣(middle-Qi);氣化(Qi- transformation);津(thin fluid);液(thick fluid);津液(body fluid);汗(sweat);涎(drool);涕(snivel)。
臟腑：髒(Zang-organs);腑(Fu-organs);臟腑(Zang-Fu organs或viscera);三焦(triple energizer);奇恆之腑(extraordinary Fu-organs);骨度(bone measurement);心陰(heart-Yin，其他臟腑之陰陽依此類推);運化(transportation and transformation);生化(generation and transformation);肅降(purify and descend);水道(water passage);天癸(Tiangui);先天(innateness);納氣(reception of Qi)。
經絡(十四經名稱及穴位名稱按WHO所頒佈之標準翻譯)：經(meridian或channel);絡(collateral);正經(regular meridians或regular channels);經氣(meridian-Qi或channel-Qi);孫絡(minute collateral);浮絡(superficial collateral);穴位(acupoint)。
病因：病因(cause of disease);邪(pathogenic factor);六淫(six exogenous pathogenic factors);風(pathogenic wind);寒(pathogenic cold);暑(pathogenic summer-heat);溼(pathogenic dampness);燥(pathogenic dryness);火(pathogenic fire);內風(endogenous wind，其他內生病邪的翻譯依此類推);毒(toxin);五志(five emotions);七情(seven emotions);(有形之)痰(sputum);(無行之)痰(phlegm);飲(retained fluid)
病機：病機(pathogenesis);偏盛(relative predominance);偏衰(relative decline);虛(deficiency);實(excess);(陰陽氣血)失調(disharmony);痰迷心竅(confusion of mind by phlegm);胃熱(stomach-heat，其他類似結構用語之翻譯依此類推)
診斷：診法(diagnostic method);證(syndrome);證型(syndrome type);證候(symptoms and signs);四診合參(synthesis of the four diagnostic methods);望診(inspection);面色(complexion);望舌(inspection of tongue);舌苔(tongue coating);聞診(listening and smelling);譫語(delirium);問診(inquiry);脈診(pulse diagnosis);切脈(taking pulse);脈象(pulse condition);浮脈(floating pulse);沉脈(deep pulse);遲脈(slow pulse);數脈(rapid pulse);洪脈(surging pulse);細脈(thin pulse);虛脈(empty pulse);實脈(excess pulse);長脈(long pulse);短脈(short pulse);滑脈(slippery pulse);澀脈(unsmooth pulse);弦脈(taut pulse);緊脈(tense pulse);濡脈(soggy pulse);緩脈(moderate pulse);微脈(faint pulse)弱脈(weak pulse);散脈(scattered pulse);芤脈(hollow pulse);革脈(tympanic pulse);牢脈(firm pulse);伏脈(hidden pulse);動脈(throbbing pulse);代脈(intermittent pulse);結脈(knotted pulse);促脈(abrupt pulse);大脈(large pulse);軟脈(soft pulse);疾脈(swift pulse);怪脈(strange pulse);寸口(Cunkou);惡寒(aversion to cold，其他類似用語之翻譯依此類推);痞(mass);滿(fullness);納呆(anorexia);口苦(bitter taste in the mouth，其他類似用語之翻譯依此類推);完谷不化(undigested food in stools);裏急後重(tenesmus);五更泄(diarrhea before dawn);按診(palpation)。
辨證：八綱(eight principles);表裏(exterior and interior);寒熱(cold and heat)辨證(syndrome differentiation);八綱辨證(eight-principle syndrome differentiation);表虛證(exterior deficiency syndrome，其他類似用語之翻譯依此類推);風火證(wind-fire syndrome，其他類似用語之翻譯依此類推)
治則與治法：治則(therapeutic principle);正治(routine treatment);反治(contrary treatment);治法(therapeutic method);八法(eight therapeutic methods);汗法(diaphoretic therapy或sweating therapy);吐法(emetic therapy或vomiting therapy);下法(purgation therapy);和法(harmonizing therapy);溫法(warming therapy);清法(clearing therapy);消法(resolving therapy);補法(tonifying therapy);開竅(resuscitation therapy)。中藥方劑：中藥(Chinese materia medica或Chinese herbs);方劑(prescription或formula);四氣五味(four properties and five tastes);君(king);臣(minister);佐(assistant);使(guide)。
3 老話新說，意猶未盡
幾年前，有感於中醫用語英語翻譯百花齊放的狀況，我曾在致友人的信中提出瞭如下一些看法：
子曰：名不正則言不順，言不順則事不成。名爲實之謂，實爲名之體。言物之名，必據之以實;論物之實，必舉之以名。古今亦然。
名實之謂，約定而成俗。荀子曰：名無固宜，約之以名。約定俗成謂之宜，異於約則謂之不宜。名無固實，約之以命。約定俗成謂之實名。
由此觀之，名實之謂，實出或然之約，而非必然之性。遠觀名實，似有必然;近究其宜，實爲或然。其或然於約定之先而必然於俗成之後。一物之名，約而成俗，其名實之謂，天然一體，衆心不疑。
今觀中醫術語之英譯，當先明乎原語名實之謂，辨其形意之合，別其古今之諭，以理明意，以意正名，方無虎蒙驢皮之憂。
然中醫理奧而言簡，意深而語約，譯作今文亦不免佶屈聱牙，況譯爲西文!謫仙謂蜀道之難難於上晴天，英譯中醫雖無登天之難，亦有蜀道之險。幸有中西譯士，力劈荊棘，百年不懈，始有今日中西交通之便。
中西譯士，或因釋義懸差，或因譴詞偏嗜，或因中西文隔，所譯之語，多有百花之彩。有識之士，深以爲慮。統一譯名，刻不容緩。如何而然?五則之說，似可借鑑。
一曰簡潔：中醫用語簡潔明快，語約意深，英譯之中醫術語理當如此。冗長之譯文名曰翻譯，實乃釋義。不獨大費筆墨，且衍化橫生。
二曰自然：中西醫理迥然不同，治法涇渭兩色，然其論病用藥亦時有相類。人同此心、心同此理者，互爲對應當爲可取，且述之自然。若中醫之瘰癧，實爲西語之scrofula.
三曰不翻：不翻者，音譯也。玄奘譯佛經，力主五不翻，即梵語固有而華夏實無此物此觀念者，音譯之。中醫乃華夏古醫，其理法方藥西語闕如者，亦當音譯之。此法實合名從主人之萬國通例。陰陽、氣、太極者，即屬其類。
四曰回譯：回譯者，謂直譯之形意俱存者。英譯之中醫用語若可回譯，則閱者可見詞名義，交流之便自不待言。
五曰規定：言爲心聲，心爲人靈。人各有心，衆志難一。一事之論，不免各執一詞，屢論屢爭，難有終了。爲免爭計，久爭不結、衆論莫是者，當由公推之權威機構加以規定，頒佈施行。鍼灸經穴名稱之統一即屬此舉。
此所謂“五則”之說，實際上是我當年撰寫《中醫英語翻譯技巧》時，與子木先生等故舊共同釐定之譯則，今日重溫舊時之論，似乎仍有可供借鑑之處。竊以爲中醫術語英譯及其規範化若能以此而行，或有溪徑可循。
寫到這裏，忽然想起了錢鍾書先生與中西文化比較的一段趣聞。今節錄於此，權作本文結語：曾經有一段時間，許多學人以談論中西文化比較爲時尚。對此種清談學風，錢鍾書先生極爲厭惡。他說：“有些人連中文、西文都不懂，談得上什麼比較?戈培爾說過，有人和我談文化，我就拔出手槍來。現在要是有人和我談中西文化比較，如果我有手槍的話，我也一定要拔出來!”
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30. Treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder by traditional Chinese medicine. 2003, 1(4)
31. Experience of Professor LI Guo-Heng in treating degenerative osteoarthrosis of k nee joint. 2003, 1(4)
32. History and development of spinology. 2003, 1(4)
33. Thinking and method of traditional Chinese medicine translator in early period. 2003, 1(4)
34. Effect of Tuina on rehabilitation of physical strength for football sportswomen. 2003, 1(4)
35. Effects of language and translation on spreading of traditional Chinese medicine to the West. 2004, 2(1)
36. Characteristics of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(2)
37. Relationship between glucocorticoid receptor and deficiency-syndrome and the regulation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(3)
38. Re-discussion on the translating principles of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(3)
39. Exploring into the principles of Chinese-English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(3)
40. Program on international standardization of traditional Chinese medicine nomenclature has been started. 2005, 3(1)
41. Ways to translate linkage formation and zeugma in English for traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(1)
42. Methods of English translation for Huangdi Neijing. 2005, 3(2)
43. Ways to translate sentences with no subject in English for traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(2)
44. Pondering the standardization of basic terms in traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(2)
45. Succession and innovation of Chinese traditional surgery: a perspective on the history. 2005, 3(3)
46. Challenges and opportunities for the development of Chinese traditional surgery. 2005, 3(3)
47. On truthfulness in light of the English translation of the nomenclature of traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(3)
48. Words expressing category in Chinese-English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(3)
49. Disposal of dittograph and repeated structure in Chinese-English translation for traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(4)
50. On English translation of the nomenclature of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. 2005, 3(4)
51. Historical change of the meaning of words and its influence on the translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(5)
52. The conversion and the similarities and differences of Chinese and English punctuation in English translation for traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(5)
53. Discussion on English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(5)
54. Experience in clinical practice of doctrines in Huangdi Neijing: Part 1. 2005, 3(6)
55. On hypotaxis and parataxis in English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(6)
56. Brief discussion on English translation of the term "five elements" in traditional Chinese medicine. 2005, 3(6)
57. Methodological quality assessment of clinical trials in traditional Chinese medicine: the principles of evidence-based medicine. 2006, 4(1)
58. Experience in clinical practice of doctrines in Huangdi Neijing: Part 2. 2006, 4(1)
59. Application of primary culture technique to traditional Chinese medicine research. 2006, 4(1)
60. On methodology in English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2006, 4(1)
61. Definition criteria for subject of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2006, 4(1)
62. Pondering the problems and development of English translation for traditional Chinese medicine. 2006, 4(1)
63. Philosophical pondering upon merging traditional Chinese medicine into systemic medicine. 2006, 4(2)
64. Changeable and unchangeable factors in translation of traditional Chinese medicine: variability of context and meaning. 2006, 4(2)
65. Personal idea on English translation of traditional Chinese medicine: theory and practice. 2006, 3(3)
66. Briefly on the limitations of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2006, 4(4)
67. Principles and methods of English translation for Huangdi Neijing. 2004, 2(5)
68. Comments on some issues concerning the English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2006, 4(5)
69. Review and reflection on history of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2006, 4(5)
70. Disposal of appositive structure in English-Chinese translation for traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(5)
71. On some issues concerning the translation and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine terminology. 2006, 4(6)
72. A brief analysis of English translation of the book title of Shanghan Zabing Lun. 2006, 4(6)
73. Understanding the nature of translation through a comparison between the English version and the original Chinese of Forward to English Translation of Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine. 2007, 5(1)
74. Thinking on English translation of traditional Chinese Medicine. 2007, 5(2)
75. Acqie rement for researchers of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(4)
76. Influence of translator's knowledge on the quality of English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(4)
77. Chinese culture and English translation of traditional Chinese medicine. 2004, 2(4)
