摘
本文通过理论回顾和实证研究探讨了汉英同传中信息选择策略的可行性和必要性。
理论部分首先介绍了Daniel
Gile的同传认知负荷模型和口译忠实性研究，指出在保证传达主要信息的前提下，必要时应省略次要信息以降低译员总负荷，从而更好地完成同传任务。随后介绍了前人在同传中冗余与重复、省略和信息选择策略方面的探索。最后探讨汉语和英语在音节、信息承载密度和语言结构上的差异，并回顾其它文献对信息选择策略的阐述，为实证研究提供了理论基础和研究方法借鉴。
实验对译员是否对次要信息进行省略，是主动省略还是被动省略，主要信息的准确性、完整性、未省略次要信息的准确性以及全文表达质量进行了量化统计和定性研究。数据显示，主动省略次要信息越多，翻译表现越好。定性研究部分通过分析实例，详细描述了完全转述策略和信息选择策略对译员表现的不同影响。
本文认为信息选择策略是重要的同传策略。面对源源不断的信息，不应舍本逐末，而应抓住主要信息，适当省略次要信息，以降低任务总负荷，提高翻译质量。
关键词：汉英同声传译 信息选择 主要信息 次要信息 省略
Abstract
This thesis explores, through theoretical and empirical studies, the workability and necessity of information selection in Chinese to English simultaneous interpretation.
The theoretical review begins with Daniel Gile’s Effort Model and fidelity studies according to which the omission of certain secondary information is necessary provided that primary information is rendered properly. This strategy can help achieve better interpreter performance by reducing his/her total load. It then reviews previous studies on redundancy and repetition, omission, and information selection in simultaneous interpretation, followed by an overview of the differences between Chinese and English in terms of syllabic and information intensity and language structure as well as other literature on information selection in simultaneous interpretation.
The thesis then provides qualitative and quantitative analyses of the omission of secondary information and its impact on the accuracy and completeness of primary information, the accuracy of the remaining secondary information, and the quality of delivery in a case study. The qualitative side of the experiment indicates a positive correlation between interpreter performance and positive omission of secondary information. The quantitative part compares the validity of two interpreting strategies, namely “saying it all” and information selection, by scrutinizing the performance of each and every interpreter involved in the study.
The thesis concludes that information selection is a useful interpreting strategy. For simultaneous interpreters who deal with overwhelming flows of information day in and day out, it is crucial that they deliver messages in order of importance: sometimes one says more with less.
Key
Words: Chinese to English interpretation; information selection;
primary information; secondary information;
omission
