軟性新聞翻譯之讀者關照

Proper Consideration of the Target Readers in Soft News Translation

自1980年代起，翻譯學者已開始關注到報章雜誌中扮演跨語言、跨文化角色的新聞翻譯活動。至今，新聞翻譯領域已有為數不少之研究，然大多集中於硬性新聞之翻譯，探討其翻譯策略、守門功能與情境因素。反觀軟性新聞翻譯，不僅相關文獻屈指可數，更缺乏深入剖析。有鑑於此，本文對軟性新聞翻譯中極為重要之「讀者關照」層面，做較全面且詳盡之分析。相較於硬性新聞，讀者在軟性新聞及其翻譯中所扮演的角色更形重要，因軟性新聞無論於主題、功能、結構與寫作風格上，無處不以讀者為首要之考量。因此，「讀者關照」能否有效展現，可說是產製軟性新聞譯文，以達最佳傳播效益的至要關鍵。本文結合功能翻譯理論、接受美學與新聞讀者屬性，為軟性新聞翻譯之讀者關照提出一系統性之理論架構。功能翻譯理論可協助譯者於實際翻譯前，確定譯文的溝通目的與相應之文本功能。此二項因素將影響譯者後續為考量讀者而採行之翻譯策略。接受美學（如「期待視野」、「美學距離」、「召喚結構」與「隱含讀者」等概念）與新聞讀者屬性則可引導譯者界定出，需於哪些層面採取合適之讀者關照策略，以順利體現文本功能與最終之溝通目的。除了就理論層面分析適切的讀者關照方式外，本文亦進行二項軟性新聞翻譯個案，藉以說明該理論分析如何運用於翻譯實例上，對譯文中體現之讀者關照做深入剖析。

Since the 1980s, translation scholars have been interested in the role of the translation of news (in newspapers and magazines) as a channel for cross-linguistic and crosscultural communication. Much research has focused on practical strategies, the gatekeeping function and contextual factors involved in hard news translation. However, inadequate attention has been given to soft news translation. Unlike hard news, soft news usually gives the first priority to its readers as regards its topics, functions, structures and styles. Hence, in order to produce suitable and desirable translated soft news texts to maximize communicative efficiency, the translator needs to cater to the reader's interests and demands. Accordingly, this paper investigates the translator's awareness of his or her readers in the translation of soft news. Drawing upon functional theories of translation, reception aesthetics and the characteristics of the news audience, this paper proposes a theoretical framework for guiding the translator toward proper consideration of his or her target readers in soft news translation. Functional theories of translation can help the translator to determine the communicative purposes and functions of the target texts before embarking on the actual task of translating. The translator's choice of translation strategies will vary with different purposes and functions. Then, the characteristics of the news audience and consequently the main concepts of reception aesthetics (e.g. the “horizon of expectations,” “aesthetic distance,” “response-inviting structures” and “implied reader”) can assist the translator in identifying which aspects of the target readers mostly need the translator's due attention. The author has conducted two case studies, which will support a theoretical analysis of the soft news translator's methods of “understanding” his or her readers.