How We Teach Economics:
Choices Made in Translating Lessons
for the Young Economist,
or A
Practical Example of Translation Theory
游懿萱
Jennifer Yi-hsuan
You
國立師範大學翻譯研究所博士生
PhD Student, Graduate Institute of
Translation and Interpretation, National Taiwan Normal University.
陳宗佑
Hasting Genan Chen
游藝文化事業有限公司執行長
Chief Executive, L’Atelier Culture and
Publishing Co., Ltd.
grisgriz@gmail.com
摘要
本文作者根據其執導教科書翻譯出版計畫的實務經驗，分析經濟學（作為翻譯的實質內容及計畫之指導方針）和翻譯功能理論兩者如何共同建立翻譯計畫的戰略目標，亦即如何用經濟學教育讀者，並激勵讀者以經濟思維思考並採取行動。作者接著討論翻譯理論（如萊斯 (Reiss) 的文本類型與奈達 (Nida) 之功能對等）與經濟學理論如何協助編輯作出翻譯戰術之抉擇，包括譯註、上下文關係、句構、專有名詞等，以實現翻譯計畫之具體戰略目標，進而提升成書譯文品質。在證明了上述論題之後，本論文不僅闡明實體內容對譯者（及編輯）的幫助，更證實了翻譯理論在翻譯實務中的價值。觀諸這些因素，作者呼籲諸位譯者與學者應共同提升人類的知識，以催生更為自由與繁榮的社會。
關鍵詞：翻譯實務、經濟學、編輯於翻譯的角色、翻譯功能（目的）理論、功能對等
Abstract
Based on practical experience in directing a translation–publication
project of an introductory textbook in economics, the authors analyze how economics
(both as substantive content and guiding principle for action) and skopos
theory in translation come together to set up the strategic objectives for the
project, namely, to educate the readers with economics and to motivate them
into thinking and acting economically. The authors then discuss how their
tactical choices in translation (involving annotation, contextual
consideration, sentence structure, and even technical terms), informed by
translation theory (including Reiss’s text typology and Nida’s functional
equivalence) and detailed economic theory, materialize the strategic objectives
for the project and enhance the quality of translation in the final product.
With these two propositions positively demonstrated, the paper not only attests
that knowledge in the substantive content offers great help for the translators
(and editors) in translation, but also testifies to the tremendous value of
translation theory in actual practice of translation. Finally, the authors
appeal for the necessary participation from fellow translators and researchers
to advance human knowledge, so as to bring forth a freer and more prosperous
society.
Keywords: translation in practice, economics,
editor’s role in translation, skopos theory, functional equivalence.
