Group Assignment - Translation of Paragraphs from “ Mapping The Mind”

Group Assignment - Translation of Paragraphs from “ Mapping The Mind”

本組作業經過數次修正，暫定版本如下：

Part I

原譯：特定區域的腦部活動會創造出特定的經驗與行為反應，而畫出大腦地圖這個挑戰，目前吸引了全球最優秀的科學家們日以繼夜的工作。本書的目的就是想把這些新訊息帶給大眾，包括原來不具背景知識，或對科學沒有興趣的人。（P-13）

原文:The challenge of mapping this world--locating the precise brain activity that creates specific experiences and behavioural responses—is currently engaging some of the finest scientists in the world. This book brings news of their discoveries in a way that will make them comprehensible even to those with no knowledge of, or specific interest in, science.（P-1）

試譯：現今繪製大腦地圖的挑戰，即找出創造特定經驗與行為反應之確切腦部活動的位置，正吸引了一些全球最優秀的科學家。本書係以一種甚至對原來不具背景知識或對科學沒有興趣的人都能理解的方式，將他們新發現的訊息提供給大眾。

【洪教授指導後修改版】
現今，一些全球最優秀的科學家們致力於繪製大腦地圖的挑戰，勘定產生特定經驗與行為反應腦部活動的確切位置。

評析：
1. locating the precise brain activity that creates specific experiences and behavioural responses原譯為特定區域的腦部活動會創造出特定的經驗與行為反應，並未將locating譯出，使得上下文不連貫，顯得這句話有點突兀。
2. is currently engaging some of the finest scientists in the world.原譯為目前吸引了全球最優秀的科學家們日以繼夜的工作。看原文並未提及科學家們日以繼夜的工作。我想譯者又過度詮釋了。3. This book brings news of their discoveries in a way that will make them comprehensible even to those with no knowledge of, or specific interest in, science.原譯為本書的目的就是想把這些新訊息帶給大眾，包括原來不具背景知識，或對科學沒有興趣的人。原譯者並未將in a way that will make them comprehensible譯出，意思表達有些模糊。

Part II

原譯:當然，在歷史上，人們一直想要達到這樣的夢想 –用藥物、尋找刺激和禪坐的方式來改變我們的意識。而現在，透過大腦地圖有可能達到上述的目的，而且沒有壞的副作用。這對於個人、社會和政治上的意義非常重大。這個新世紀我們所要面對的最大的道德倫理挑戰，就是要決定該怎麼應用這個新工具。(P-14)

原文：This is an old ambition, of course, reflected in our perpetual attempts to alter our consciousness through drugs, sensation-seeking and self-entrancement. What is new is that brain mapping may soon makes it possible without any of the usual drawbacks. The personal, social and political implications of this are awesome, and one of the most serious ethical questions we will face in the new century is deciding how this powerful new tool should be deployed.(P-2)

改譯：當然我們一直都有這樣的野心，企圖用藥物、尋求感官刺激、和自我催眠或是冥想及讓自己陷入神志昏迷的方式來改變我們的意識。不同的是，現在透過大腦地圖可能很快能達到上述的目的，而且沒有常見的缺點。這對於個人、社會和政治上的意義非常重大。這個新世紀我們所要面對的最大的道德倫理挑戰，就是要決定該怎麼應用這個新工具。

評析:Self-entrancement 翻為禪坐不適當，字尾trance的意思包括催眠狀態。冥想以及一鐘類似神志昏迷的狀態
See: http://www.answers.com/topic/trance - trance
1. A hypnotic, cataleptic, or ecstatic state.
2. Detachment from one's physical surroundings, as in contemplation or daydreaming.
3. A semiconscious state, as between sleeping and waking; a daze.tr.v., tranced, trancing, trances.To put into a trance; entrance.[Middle English traunce, from Old French transe, passage, fear, vision, from transir, to die, be numb with fear, from Latin trānsīre, to go over or across. See transient.]trancelike trance'like' adj.

Part III

原譯：比較樂觀的學者認為，假如能夠知道每一分鐘大腦零件在做什麼、它跟別的部位的互動又是什麼時，我們可能就會知道人類的本性和經驗了。也有人認為，這種化約主義的研究方式，永遠不可能解釋為什麼我們會有這種感覺、為什麼我們會這樣做，更不用說能讓我們知道意識之秘。他們認為，大腦地圖所提供的心智訊息，就好像地球儀可以告訴我們天堂和地獄一樣，是完全不可能的。(P-16)

原文：The more optimistic of today’s brain explorer believe that when , or if, all of this is brought together – when each minute brain component has been located, its function identified and its interaction with each other component made clear– the resulting description will contain all there is to know about human nature and experience. Others think this reductionist approach will never fully explain why we feel and behave as we do, let alone yield the secret of the brain’s most extraordinary product – consciousness. By their lights, a map of the brain can tell us no more about the mind than a terrestrial globe speaks of Heaven and Hell. (P-3)

試譯：在現代，比較樂觀的腦部研究學者認為，當我們能夠清楚地標示大腦的結構、列出各個構造的功能，並且找出各個部位彼此互動的情形時，那麼我們就可以更進一步了解人類的性情和經驗感受。也有人認為，這種化約主義的研究方式，永遠不可能完全地解釋為什麼我們會有這種感覺、為什麼我們會這樣做，更不用說能讓我們知道意識之秘。他們認為，單靠大腦地圖所提供的訊息就想解釋人類心智的運作，就好像指望地球儀可以告訴我們天堂和地獄一樣，是完全不可能的。

評析:minute在當形容詞的時候，指的是 immeasurably small，所以原文 《when each minute brain component has been located, its function identified and its interaction with each other component made clear…》洪蘭翻譯為《假如能夠知道每一分鐘大腦零件在做什麼 它跟別的部位的互動又是什麼時 》應為誤譯。這是本段譯文中，最重大的錯誤。
洪蘭之所以會犯這樣的錯誤應該是因為譯者本身英文程度有限..見到whenevery minute brain component... 就直接以為when every minute...一定是搭配在一起的...即使翻譯起來文意非常不通順，她仍然照著自己錯誤的理解翻譯.加上譯者並沒有確實做到查字典的功夫.所以就做出錯誤的翻譯.讀者在接觸到中文譯本時.將無法了解原文作者的本意，譯者在此犯的錯誤將成造讀者在閱讀上的困擾。

補充資料:
1.“minute”的字義
One Look Dictionary:Quick definitions (minute)
▸ adjective: infinitely or immeasurably small ("Two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm")
▸ adjective: immeasurably small

東華書局出版《英漢大辭典》：
minute(形容詞)： 微小的，異常小的，極小的。例詞：minute organisms 微生物very minute changes of temperature 溫度的細微變化

2.nature的字義東華書局出版《英漢大辭典》：
nature(名詞)：稟性、天性、性格、性情
One Look Dictionary:Quick definitions (nature)
▸ noun: the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions ("It is his nature to help others")
▸ noun: the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized ("It is the nature of fire to burn")
▸ noun: a particular type of thing ("He's interested in trains and things of that nature")
▸ noun: the natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc. ("They tried to preserve nature as they found it")
▸ noun: a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe ("The laws of nature")

3.experience的字義One Look Dictionary:Quick definitions (experience)
▸ noun: the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities ("A man of experience")
▸ noun: the content of direct observation or participation in an event ("He had a religious experience")
▸ noun: an event as apprehended ("A surprising experience")
東華書局出版《英漢大辭典》：
experience(名詞)：1.經驗、體驗、感受
2.經歷、閱歷