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1 Cticism and appreciation of poetry translation ——taking A Psalm of Life as an example
诗歌翻译批评与鉴赏——以《人生礼赞》为例
朱素珍 Zhu Suzhen, 202120081561,Hunan Normal University, China
Abstract
It is not difficult to translate poetry, and large quantities of translators and writers have provided us uncountable excellent translations of poetry. Unlike poetry translation, the criticism and appreciation of poetry translation is far more complicated. Despite of the complexity of the cticism and appreciation of poetry translation, some of the translators and ctitics have devoted themselves to it, and some breakthroughs have been made. Translators like Guo Moruo, Wen Yiduo, Li Ming, etc put forward their unique and thought-provoking principles of criticism and appreciation of poetry translation. These principles play an important role in the appreciation of poetry translation. Because of the great changes with our life and society, people live in a transcultural environment which develops in high speed.Is the criticism and appreciation of poetry translation conducive to the readers' understanding of the poetry in front of the transcultural background? How can critisiam and appreciation of poetry influenced reader's understanding of poetry? These questions are the focus of this paper. The author of this paper would mainly discuss the criticism and appreciation of poetry translation based on the comparative analysis of different versions of translation of the same poetry——"""A Psalm of Life""", written by Henry Wordsworth Long Fellow. After the comparative analysis of three versions, whether the cultural factor has been considered or not can be uncovered clearly. Furthermore, in the process of cticism and appreciation, readers can also learn how to translate the poetry properly. Besides, such a method of analysis is also conducive to readers' appreciation of poetry translation in front of the transcultural background, which is inspiring and instructive.
摘要
翻译诗歌并不难，一大批译者和作家为我们提供了无数优秀的诗歌译本。与诗歌翻译不同，诗歌翻译的批评和鉴赏要复杂得多。尽管诗歌翻译的批评和鉴赏很复杂，一些译者和批评家都投入其中，并取得了一些突破。郭沫若、闻一多、李明等译者提出了自己独特的、发人深省的诗歌翻译批评与鉴赏原则。这些原则在诗歌翻译的鉴赏中起着重要的作用。由于我们的生活和社会发生了巨大的变化，人们生活在一个高速发展的跨文化环境中。诗歌翻译的批评和欣赏是否有利于读者在跨文化背景下理解诗歌？对诗歌的批评和欣赏如何影响读者对于诗歌的理解？这些问题是本文的重点。本文作者主要通过对同一首诗的不同译本的比较分析来探讨诗歌翻译的批评与鉴赏——以亨利·沃兹沃思·朗费罗所著《生命礼赞》为例，通过对三个版本比较分析，可以一目了然地看到文化因素是否被考虑进去了。此外，读者在诗歌翻译批评与鉴赏的过程中，也能学会如何正确地翻译诗歌，这样的分析方法也有利于读者在跨文化背景下欣赏诗歌翻译，具有启发性。
Key words
poetry translation; appreciation and criticism; comparative analysis
关键词
诗歌翻译; 批评与鉴赏；比较分析
1. Introduction
Varieties of human emotions and feelings can be recorded and transmitted by the form of poetry, which is an essential part of human life. For China, poetry has played a special and crucial role since the ancient times, with Tang dynasty as its Peak period of development. Due to the powerful emotional expressiveness of poetry, many poets have adopted this genre for literary creation, producing rich and colourful poetry culture. Piles of wonderful poems have appeared like mushrooms after the rain. Not only in China, universal and common for humankind, poetry was chosen by quantities of western poets including Percy Bysshe Shelley, Robert Burns, Emily Dickinson, etc.
According to Aristotle, literature should have the function of purifying people's minds (Catharsis), that is to say, to educate them. Poetry makes it possible for poets to imitate and express their feelings toward the world. When the readers are reading the poetry, they can feel the emotions of the poet, for example the happiness, the sadness, the love for the nature, etc. There are not only the positive poets, and there are also the nagative poets who expressed negative attitude towards the world. About such negative attitude, readers can criticize it. During the process of appreciation and criticism, their virtue can be promoted, so they can reach a higher level of morality. Opposed to Aristotle, in Plato’s opinion, poetry is the second removal from reality, and it is a great danger for the unity of philosophy. Moreover, the poets should be exiled, and there should be strict censorship for the publication of poetry. Different philosophers have different ideas about poetry. And different poets can create different kinds of poems with rich titles and versatile structures.
Besides, people speaking in different language and living in exotic culture are capable to write the poetry that is special to them. Such special point is stemming from the difference of language and culture. People are not unfamiliar with Sapir Wolf’s Theory of Linguistic Relativity which put forward that language decides how people think. It is such a strong and even a little decisive theory. However, it at least uncovers the relationship between language and culture. It is understandable that language is to some extent reflects how people are thinking， and the thinking can further show the influence of culture in the process of communication. For example, in China, people would say” Have you eaten?” when they meet each other occasionally. But the Chinese are not intentionally asking whether the hearer has eaten or not, and they are only expressing a kind of greeting.
Therefore, when the foreigners hearing such a sentence, they would get confused. This is a typical example showing the culture’s important role in communication. Except for the spoken communication, culture would also influence the translation of literary works, such as poetry, novel and play, etc. In the translation of poetry, a professional translator has to put the factor of culture into consideration well in order to achieve a high-quality translation effect. Actually, poetry cross-culture translation is always an inevitable issue for translation, especially today we are in a high-speed developing cross-culture Time, naturally how to appreciate the translation of poetry is of great importance.
2.The principles of poetry translation appreciation and criticism
2.1 What is poetry
First, it is necessary for us to know what is poetry. Poetry is a kind of literary style that summarizes and reflects the social life. Chinese famous writer Cao Wenxuan once said before that different from the novel, poetry expresses people’s feeling, while novelists write novels that reflect people’s experience. Poetry is the synthesis of experience rather than the experience itself. However, novel presents experience itself and leaves the feelings of experience to reader. In other words, readers need to obtain the feelings of experience by themselves after reading the novel thoroughly. But the poetry conveys the feelings directly, and readers can enjoy the wonderful feelings while reading. Here is an interesting comment about the relationship between poetry and novel: novel describes an awesome house, but poetry presents only the feelings and interjective toward the house.
Besides Cao Wenxuan, American poet Frost also has his own unique definition of poetry: Poetry is what has lost in translation. From the perspective of translation, this sentence amply points out the awkwardness and helplessness. Second, it is important to know what is poetry translation appreciation and criticism. Before that, poetry translation should be firstly taken into consideration. Poetry is a synthesis of ideational feelings, situational image, rhymical tempo and internal expression style. Translation poetry should consider these aspects. Translators should strive to transmit the rhymical sound and the spiritual aspects of poetry when they are making the translation readable and easy to be understood. (Ning Huiqin，2009：34) (Li Ming, 2010: 203)
Moreover, the translation of poetry needs the poetic talents of translator. Just as what the famous writer Lao She said:” Translators who have poetic talents should try to translate poetry in the form of poetry, and they also need to make readers not only know the contents of the book but also the way in which how such contents were conveyed." Such comments just explain that besides the expression of meaning, making the original poetry’s style characteristics reoccurring is extremely significant.(Lao She, 1984: 131)
First, it is necessary for us to know what is poetry. Poetry is a kind of literary style that summarizes and reflects the social life. Chinese famous writer Cao Wenxuan once said before that different from the novel, poetry expresses people’s feeling, while novelists write novels that reflect people’s experience. Poetry is the synthesis of experience rather than the experience itself. However, novel presents experience itself and leaves the feelings of experience to reader. In other words, readers need to obtain the feelings of experience by themselves after reading the novel thoroughly. But the poetry conveys the feelings directly, and readers can enjoy the wonderful feelings while reading. Here is an interesting comment about the relationship between poetry and novel: novel describes an awesome house, but poetry presents only the feelings and interjective toward the house.
Besides Cao Wenxuan, American poet Frost also has his own unique definition of poetry: Poetry is what has lost in translation. From the perspective of translation, this sentence amply points out the awkwardness and helplessness (Li Ming, 2010: 203). Second, it is important to know what is poetry translation appreciation and criticism. Before that, poetry translation should be firstly taken into consideration. Poetry is a synthesis of ideational feelings, situational image, rhymical tempo and internal expression style. Translation poetry should consider these aspects. Translators should strive to transmit the rhymical sound and the spiritual aspects of poetry when they are making the translation readable and easy to be understood. (Ning Huiqin，2009：34)
2.2 Principles of poetry translation
Now it is time to consider the principles of poetry translation. There is a saying that translation is difficult, especially the translation of literary works among which the poetry translation is far more difficult. This can be seen from the characteristic of poetry which resembles the peak of translation art, and the poetry translation needs to consider the beauty of meaning, sound and words. Therefore, the translation of poetry is a kind of sophisticated and integrate art. When it comes to the issue how to translate poetry, translators have their own unique opinions and perspectives. For example, Guo Moruo put forward the principle of “translating poetry with poetry”; Wen Yiduo supported the principle of “using the pen of poetry to translate poetry”.(Guo Moruo,1979:144)
Moreover, some other translators put forward that poetry translation has two principles. Principle one is that poetry translation should pay attention to avoid the commonization of language. That is to say if translators translate poetry with plain and common even inflexible words and expressions and ignore the unique characteristics of poetic language and the individual poet’s language characteristics, which would not only fail to keep the original poetry’s expressional style but also fail to convey the spiritual soul of the original poetry (Liao Siping, Zhang Yu, 2007: 53). The other principle prescribes that the poetry translation should avoid the nationalization of poetry form. For example, it would make the poetry translation neither fish nor fowl even vulgarization if we translate the foreign poetry into our Chinese neat and uniform poetry forms like a poem with five characters in a line or with seven characters in a line or even the folk song style compulsively (Liao Siping, Zhang Yu, 2007: 53-54)
Last but not least, poetry translation is a process of recreation. What does it mean? That is to say when translators are translating poetry, they not only need to maintain the original condition in which the poetry is written but also be able to be flexible appropriately. As for this point, Song Yinghao professor in Tai Wan, China once said that in the process of translation the translators need to be invisible. And he also supported the principles of “translating poetry with poetry”. Actually, after having a thorough understanding of what is poetry translation and some of the principles of poetry translation, it is not so difficult for us to understand that poetry is an organic synthesis. Poetry itself is a life body. Therefore, the translation of poetry also needs to be a “life body”, and translators have to make the vivid situations that occur in the original poetry reoccurring in the translation versions poetry.（Liao Siping, Zhang Yu, 2007: 53）
Now it is time to consider the principles of poetry translation. There is a saying that translation is difficult, especially the translation of literary works among which the poetry translation is far more difficult. This can be seen from the characteristic of poetry which resembles the peak of translation art, and the poetry translation needs to consider the beauty of meaning, sound and words. Therefore, the translation of poetry is a kind of sophisticated and integrate art. When it comes to the issue how to translate poetry, translators have their own unique opinions and perspectives. For example, Guo Moruo put forward the principle of “translating poetry with poetry”; Wen Yiduo supported the principle of “using the pen of poetry to translate poetry”.
Moreover, some other translators put forward that poetry translation has two principles. Principle one is that poetry translation should pay attention to avoid the commonization of language. That is to say if translators translate poetry with plain and common even inflexible words and expressions and ignore the unique characteristics of poetic language and the individual poet’s language characteristics, which would not only fail to keep the original poetry’s expressional style but also fail to convey the spiritual soul of the original poetry (Liao Siping, Zhang Yu, 2007: 53). The other principle prescribes that the poetry translation should avoid the nationalization of poetry form. For example, it would make the poetry translation neither fish nor fowl even vulgarization if we translate the foreign poetry into our Chinese neat and uniform poetry forms like a poem with five characters in a line or with seven characters in a line or even the folk song style compulsively (Liao Siping, Zhang Yu, 2007: 53-54)
2.3 What is poetry translation appreciation and criticism
Later, there is no doubt that we need principles to prescribe our behavior of poetry translation appreciation and criticism. Some influential translators have put forward lots of meaningful poetry translation principles. Actually, the principles of poetry translation are one of the most important criteria of poetry translation appreciation and criticism. Under the guidance of such principles the translators have the possibility to smooth the process of translation without losing the original amaze of the poetry. At the same time, these important principles can also be used to check if the translators have obeyed them or not. Thus, one of the ways in which the critics do the literary criticism occurs. By the way, translators' subjectivity can not be ignored at the same time. Because translation can be seen as a recreation process, thus the translators can make their subjectivity work in this process. Through the integrate consideration of the original poetry creation condition and the readers’ cultural background, translators are able to translate the poetry wonderfully thus making the purpose of transmitting culture and literature realized.
2.4 Principles of poetry translation appreciation and criticism
Later, there is no doubt that we need principles to prescribe our behavior of poetry translation appreciation and criticism. Some influential translators have put forward lots of meaningful poetry translation principles. Actually, the principles of poetry translation are one of the most important criteria of poetry translation appreciation and criticism. Under the guidance of such principles the translators have the possibility to smooth the process of translation without losing the original amaze of the poetry. At the same time, these important principles can also be used to check if the translators have obeyed them or not. Thus, one of the ways in which the critics do the literary criticism occurs. By the way, translator’s subjectivity can not be ignored at the same time. Because translation can be seen as a recreation process, thus the translators can make their subjectivity work in this process. Through the integrate consideration of the original poetry creation condition and the readers’ cultural background, translators are able to translate the poetry wonderfully thus making the purpose of transmitting culture and literature realized.
3. Comparative analysis of different version of translation of poetry
In this part, it is necessary to make some comparative analysis between different versions of translation so as to do the poetry translation appreciation and criticism. As we all known, translation is also a process in which the translators try to recreate and translate. Translators are the creators at the same time. Because of their different culture background, educational background, their translation experience and some other factors, different translators can create different versions of poetry. Therefore, in this process we can experience how the translators construct and create the translation based on their embodied experience and professional quality.
It is not uncommon that the same poetry may have different versions of translation. And the appreciation of translation is to analyze how the translators translate it and why they would try to translate in such a way. At the same time, translation appreciation is not just a process to appreciate it, it is also a process to learn. Translation can be seen as a bridge that relates the reader and the writer in different language background. Without translation, it is impossible to transmit the beauty and amaze of literary works to more people, not less achieving a grandeur and multi-cultural literature feast. The translators are like the builder of the bridge, and their subjective factors including attitude, spirit as well as objective factors involving building method, the natural factors and so on are a unified system that would influence how the builders construct the bridge. It is believed that there are no best versions of translation, but better one. Therefore, the unlimited nature of translation makes it possible for us to make a comparison between kinds of versions, because there is no best translation but better one.
English poetry is like an endless sea in which different kind of poets devote themselves to the poetry creation. Because of the limited writing space, I will choose one of the famous and significant English poetries and its corresponding translation versions of Chinese. Then it is necessary to analyze the different aspects of the different translation versions of the same poetry. It is a common place that the same poetry can be translated into various versions. At this time, which version is better and the reasons need to be explained.
For example, a woman went to a shop to buy clothes. And she had tried so many dresses, shirts and blouses, etc. Then she needs criteria to help her decide which one she would like to buy. The criteria can be set by different people in various ways. But the woman is unique and she cannot be replaced by others, how about the clothes? Different clothes designers have different design rules and principles, and then we have such a colorful and multi-modal clothing world. Just like this, poetry translators are the clothing designers, and the different kinds of clothes resemble the various versions of translations. Like the cloth designers, the poetry translators have the right to recreate, but only on the basis of remaining the original colors and styles of the source poetry. Or it will make the poetry translations neither fish nor fowl.
Let’s look at some examples of the poetry translation versions and try to make a comparative analysis between them. “A psalm of life” is the work of the excellent American Romanticism poet Henry Wordsworth Long Fellow. In 1839, Long Fellow published his first series of poems “Voice of the Night” in which the famous A Psalm of Life, A Psalm of Night were included. Long Fellow’s poems are elegant, plain and clear. His poems have greatly influenced American literature, and his poems were translated into more than twenty kinds of versions in different languages.
In 'A Psalm of Life', Long Fellow praises life positively, which reflects the American people’s sound in the heart, and at that time, American capitalism has entered a period of vigorous development. According to Qian Zhongshu’s research, the Chinese version of A Psalm of Life is the first western poem being translated into Chinese. It was the Dong Xun, the Ministry of Revenue in Xian Feng period of the Qing dynasty, that first translated A Psalm of Life in the form of seven words in a line. However, the translation at that time was not so good, so it even aroused the old intellectuals’ contempt for western literature. Later, thanks to the appearance of new versions of translation of A psalm of Life, it widely circulated in China (Li Ming, 2010: 206-207).
Now let us try to analyze the different translation versions of A Psalm of Life. First, let’s look at the original contents of this poem.
A Psalm of Life
Henry Wordsworth Long Fellow
Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Finds us farther than today.
Art is long, and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act—act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God’s o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labour and to wait.
This poem is short but powerful with ample contents and lucid structure, showing readers strong emotional shock. The whole poem consists of nine stanzas, and each stanza has four verse lines, therefore, thirty-six lines in all. It can be divided into four parts to discuss the life in the eye of Long Fellow. The first two stanzas mainly correct the wrong and depraved argument that “life is but an empty dream”, and tell readers that “Life is real! Life is earnest!”
From the third stanza to the sixth stanza, Long Fellow discussed the issue that how to live life and suggest people act in the living present, which is the theme of this poetry. The seventh and the eighth stanza highlights the virtue and meaning of life. At the same time, the example of great people is used to encourage readers. Only the people who act in the living present can be remembered thus leaving footprints on the sands of time. This corresponds to what has been discussed in the second paragraph: Only the body will disappear, but not the soul of people. A person’s soul would be immortal because of the glory of life.
The last stanza is the summary and sublimation of the whole poetry. Long Fellow appeals to readers that they should act in the living present and be brave to confront the challenges in life. Finally, the poet summarizes the poetry with a thought-provoking sentence: “Still achieving, still pursuing.”, which corresponds to the subject of the poetry——acting in the living present. The poetry is full of the optimistic spirit and ample passion, and the poetry expresses the poet’s enthusiasm and pursuit of life as well as the positive and hardworking life attitude, criticizing the decadent attitude of life is but an empty dream. Now let us see the Chinese versions of translations of A Psalm of Life.
译文一：
生命的礼赞
别用悲伤的语调对我呻吟，
“人生不过是梦幻一场”！
因为沉睡中的灵魂已经死去，
万物并非它们显示的模样。
生命是真实