林 巍
【原文】
唐代家庭研究概述
[1] 研究唐代家庭，首先要探究的是其家庭形态与结构问题。在对大量传世文献、墓志石刻以及出土文书进行了细致考察后，我提出了“二元性”复合家庭这样一个概念。
[2] 在这家庭形态下，家人们或许共同生活，构成一个经济单元，但同居的各成员却不在一个户籍上，即所谓“同财共活”；或许不在一起生活，但各“家”却拥有同一个户口，同一个名义上的“户主”，构成一个单独的社会管理单元，即所谓“同籍别居”。
[3] 这两种情况，都表现为家庭形态与家庭功能的某种分离。我希望用这种探索，证明直接套用现代的、主要根据西方经验抽象出来的所谓直系家庭、旁系家庭等概念，是无法揭示中国古代家庭结构真相的。
（张国刚）
【点评】
就题目“唐代家庭研究概述”而言，有的译成Introduction to the Tang Family Studies、An Introduction to the Research of Tang Dynasty Family，显然误译了“概论”；而Overview of families in Tang dynasty、Overview of family survey in Tang Dynasty又未译出“研究”。比较正确的译法：An Overview of Family Studies in the Tang Dynasty。
[1] 中，“研究唐代家庭，首先要探究的是其家庭形态与结构问题”，一般译成When studying the family of the Tang Dynasty , we should first probe into the family form and structure. / The study of the Tang family should begin with the exploration of its shape and structure. / When researching into families in Tang Dynasty, the primary focus is the issue of family form and family structure.意思不错，但这里的“形态”不宜是简单的form, 而是更具规模的type, 该词的本义是something is a group of those things that have particular features in common；同时，在涉及中国古朝代时，应标明时间，如“唐朝”译为the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)，以便于英文读者有一相对时间概念。“‘二元性’复合家庭这样一个概念”，有的译成the concept of joint family “in two types”/a concept of a “duality” compound family/the concept of “dualistic” composite family等，其中“二元性”可更加准确；而状语“在对…… 进行了……后”可用Having carefully investigated… 的句式。整句不妨译为：In exploring the family of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), the first issue involved was how to define family type and structure. Having carefully investigated many historical accounts, epitaphs, stone inscriptions and unearthed documents, I put forward the concept of the “dual compound family”.
[2] 中，“家人们或许共同生活，构成一个经济单元，但同居的各成员却不在一个户籍上，即所谓“同财共活”，一般都按原文词序译成the family may live together and form a common economic unit. However, the members living together are not on the same household registration. / the family members may have lived together and constituted an economic unit, but the members of the family were not on the same household register, which is called “living together with the common money”;/ family members may live together to form an economic unit, but each member does not have the same household registration, which is called “sharing wealth and living together” 等，不免繁琐，其中应该重点突出的是might live together but be registered in different localities；而“一个名义上的‘户主’”，是nominal head of household。为了清晰表达，有的用了概述而分叙，如In this kind of family shape, there are two possible conditions… The first one is …The other one is the opposite… 也不失为一种方法，但要注意层次分明。同时，对其中的“所谓……”的表述，也不必照搬原文形式，而可作些相应变通。因而，该段可考虑译为：Within this type of family, the family, formed as an economic unit and sharing property, was composed of several members who might live together but be registered in different localities, or be registered under the same household head but lived in different localities. In the second case, it became another kind of social management unit, which was called “the family under the same nominal head of household” living in different locations.
对于[3]，较为典型的译文，如：The two cases mentioned above demonstrate some kind of separateness between the form and function of family in Tang dynasty. I wish to prove by this kind of investigation that concepts like lineal and collateral family abstracted through western experiences cannot reveal what ancient Chinese family structure was actually like. / The above two conditions represent a certain separation of family form and function. I hope to use this kind of exploration to prove that directly applying the modern so-called Linear Family and Collateral Family concepts mainly abstracted from Western experience is unable to reveal the fact about the ancient Chinese family structure. / In both cases, there demonstrates a certain separation between family form and family function. I hope this exploration can prove that directly applying these so-called modern concepts such as linear family and collateral family, which are mainly abstracted from Western experience, cannot reveal the truth about the structure of ancient Chinese families.等。其中，“都表现为……某种分离”，是一种探究、不确定的语气，故不宜用demonstrate that…, 而可用稍商榷的there seemed to be … ; 此处的“分离”，不是separate from…, 而是某事物处于一种分裂状态，即division between … “我希望用这种探索……” 这里的重点是“探索的结果（即事实），（证明……）”，至于谁做的并不重要；而“无法揭示……”是最后一句的重心，故应调整原文语序，按英文表述习惯提到句首it is unable / impossible to … 等。故此，整段不妨译为：In both cases, there seemed to be a division between family structure and family functions. As I may wish, the facts explored prove that it is impossible to reveal the true family structure in ancient China by simply applying the modern Western approach of regarding the family as the dichotomy between immediate family and collateral family.
【参考译文】
An Overview of Family Studies in the Tang Dynasty
[1] In exploring the family of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), the first issue involved was how to define family type and structure. Having carefully investigated many historical accounts, epitaphs, stone inscriptions and unearthed documents, I put forward the concept of the “dual compound family”.
[2] Within this type of family, the family, formed as an economic unit and sharing property, was composed of several members who might live together but be registered in different localities, or be registered under the same household head but lived in different localities. In the second case, it became another kind of social management unit, which was called “the family under the same nominal head of household” living in different locations.
[3] In both cases, there seemed to be a division between family structure and family functions. As I may wish, the factsexplored prove that it is impossible to reveal the true family structure in ancient China by simply applying the modern Western approach of regarding the family as the dichotomy between immediate family and collateral family.
(By Zhang Guogang)