大學科學教科書翻譯現況之探討－－以物理教科書為例

A Case Study of the Current Status of Physics Textbook Translation in Taiwan

大學科學教科書之中譯本是國內學生學習科學專業知識的重要來源，但其翻譯品質常受到質疑，實有必要探討其翻譯出版現況。本研究檢視國內大學常用英文物理教科書中譯本，先選擇其中四段明顯不通順之文句加以探討。接著訪問國內四家科學教科書譯本出版社之編輯，請其檢視這些有問題之譯文，並根據其編輯經驗，探討產生不理想譯文之可能原因，及編輯在其中所扮演的角色等議題。研究者亦訪談兩位出版社之經理，詢問如何選擇譯者等問題。結果顯示，出版社尋找譯者時，通常以銷售量為首要考量。採用的策略之一是尋求任教該科目之大學教授擔任譯者，期望該教授上課時採用此譯本，以提高銷售量。但如此一來，編輯較難要求教授對其譯文做大幅度的修正，翻譯品質也就容易受限。另外，為瞭解編輯對於科學譯文的修訂能力，研究者邀請兩位編輯修訂這四段明顯不通順的譯文，結果發現中文系畢業的編輯比較無法理解文意，最多只能做到讓原譯更通順；而理工科系畢業的編輯因為具備專業知識，較能更正譯文內容中的錯誤，也較易將譯文修改為符合中文習慣的用法。此結果顯示在物理教科書翻譯上，具理工專業背景的編輯較能控制翻譯品質；但編輯如為中文系畢業，較能決定譯文內容正確性的恐怕還是譯者，此現況值得翻譯學界與出版界重視。

Translated versions of science textbooks are one of the essential learning resources for college students. However, the poor quality of certain translations is often remarked upon. To study the current situation of college science textbook translation in Taiwan, four sentences considered to be problematic were first selected from frequently-used translated physics textbooks as testing samples. Interviews were then held with four editors and two managers working at four well-known publishing companies. The editors were asked to explain the possible causes of the problems based on their own editing experience and their roles in the publishing process. The results of this study show that the need to increase sales may be the key factor influencing publishers' choice of potential translators. College professors who are currently teaching the subject are most likely to be chosen, as the textbooks may likely be used for their own classes which would mean increased sales. In this case, the editors often need to limit their revisions to the translations, and serious text modifications may not be practical. To understand the editors' roles, two editors were invited to edit the selected translations. The results showed that the editor with a Chinese Literature degree was unable to fully understand the original English sentences, and therefore could not identify the mistakes in the translations. The most the editor could do was to make the sentences more readable. On the other hand, the editor with an Engineering degree was able to correct the mistakes, thereby creating smoother and more accurate Chinese translations. This result indicates that if the editor only has a literature background, the translators perhaps play the most crucial role in assuring the accuracy of the translation. It is hoped that the findings of this study can call both researchers' and science textbook publishers' attention to this issue.