对严复倡导翻译的三个原则——"信、达、雅"的理解,尤其是"雅",学界理解较为分歧。文章从严复代表性译作《天演论》的吴汝纶序、自序和译例言分析入手,认为在翻译中,严复最关心的是在"信"的基础上达到"达",而翻译像《天演论》这等精理微言,用汉以前字法、句法,不仅能达到"达",而且还能行远。既符合汉以前字法、句法的文体,又能表达精理微言者,非先秦诸子文体莫属。所以,严译三难中的"雅",其确指为先秦诸子文体,至为明确,学界不应概以"文雅"模糊掉他的本意。当然,以先秦诸子文体之雅言来翻译,针对的是有"精理微言"类的著作,而严复毕生所翻译的八部作品,均属此类,也是需要说明的。
Scholars disagree about the meaning of elegance from the triple principles of translation of Yan Fu .Based on the analysis of two prefaces and one introductory remark ,one from Wu Rulun ,the others from Yan Fu himself ,we can draw a conclusion that Yan Fu cared most that expressiveness on the base of faithfulness was the most valuable among the three difficulties of translation .As for the works of sorts of Evolution and Ethics ,which were thought as subtle thoughts ,using the vocabulary and syntax before the Han dynasty should be easy to be expressive and can go far .None but the style of pre-Qin thinkers serves the purpose that the style is not only before the Han dynasty but also subtle thoughts .Hence it is clear and definite that elegance should be performed as the style of pre-Qin thinkers .On this point academia should not blurr out his original idea with elegance .Of course translation with the style of pre-Qin think-ers is direct against the works of subtle thoughts .It needs