《西游记》韦利英译本的经典化: 中国文学外译经典化案例探析

针对坊间对《西游记》亚瑟· 韦利英译本的批评，本文对韦利 英译本在西方的经典化过程进行了回顾，分析了该节译本的整 体情节选译策略及保留章回，指出该译本对取经途中章回仅选 取三个故事而省略其他故事是译者有意识的选译策略。在对比 节译本与全译本的接受情况后，扼要分析了韦利译本的整体叙 事结构、各章之内的细小删节之处、译本的语言风格以及译者 借该译本服务社会议程的翻译动机，指出该译本并非“去其精 华、取其糟粕”，而是保留了原著的精华。该译本的经典化过程 可为中国文学“走出去”的策略提供启发。

In response to criticism about Arthur Waley’s translated version of Xiyouji, this article reviews the process of its canonization in the West.Through an analysis about its selection of chapters in this abridged translation, the article reveals that the selection of three stories while omitting other chapters about the pilgrimage journey to the west is a deliberate strategy adopted by the translator. By analysing its narrative structure, its minor omissions within the chapters, its language style and the translator’s motivation in serving social agenda of his times with the translation, the article argues that the translation retains the essence of the original well and that the criticism of “discarding the essence and keeping the dregs” is not justifi ed. The canonization of Arthur Waley’s translated version of Xiyouji can provide useful inspirations for Chinese literature translation in “going-abroad”.