A Comparative Study of the Jerome Model and the Horace Model

楊斯博

Abstract：Jerome model and Horace model are two different translation modes， but the aim is to serve translation， this paper compares the feasibility and practicability of two translation modes in the core of two translation modes and the application in translation practice. It is suggested that different translation modes should be used in translating different texts.

Keywords：comparative study; ?Jerome Model; ?Horace Model

1.Introduction

There are so many translation theories in translation studies. The Jerome model and the Horace model are influential models among them in the history. Jerome is the pioneer of the equivalence concept， whose theory pays attention to the word-for-word equivalence in translation. Horace is considered to be the pioneer of domestication. In the Horace model， ?There is no sacred text， like Bible， but there is a privileged language， like Latin. Finally， negotiation is always inclined to the privileged language. In this paper， the author tries to compare these two models and finds out their similarities and differences.

1.1 Jerome Model

The Jerome model is a kind of model of translation. The key point of this model is faithfulness. Faithfulness is insured by good dictionaries.Thus， anyone can use a good dictionary to translate. Basically there is really no reason to train translators well. and even less of a reason to pay them well. The Bible is the typical example of Jerome model. In the Bible， the Jerome model focused on the interlinear translation--one word matched another word. the translation would be written under the word to be translated. In order to raise faithfulness to the central position， and to get rid of plenty of other factors， the Jerome model had to reduce thinking about translation to the linguistic level only. This would be done all the more simply because the text that served as the yardstick for fidelity was seen as timeless and unchangeable precisely because of its sacred nature.

1.2 Horace Model

The Horace model is in the name of the Roman poet Horace， which historically predated the Jerome model， but has been overshadowed by it for about fourteen centuries. It doesn't have the only standard. In Horace's time， it was not necessary to translate faithfully to the text， but translate to the customers of "fidus interpres" ， who was one could be trusted， who got the job done on time and to the satisfaction of both parties. To do so. Horace had to discuss between two clients and two languages， if he was an interpreter， or between a patron and two languages， if he was translator. The discussion is the central idea here militates heavily against the kind of faithfulness traditionally associated with equivalence. If the negotiations are wanted to be successfully， it is obvious that the interpreters are well advised not to translate faithfully， so as not to let the negotiations fail. In the Horace model， there is not a sacred text， but there is a privileged language---that is Latin. This thing suggests that the discussion does not take place on absolutely equal terms.

2.Cases in details

In short， the Jerome model tends to the faithfulness， but the Horace.model depends on the texts and culture. The two kinds of translation.ways have their own advantages and disadvantages. Following is the exact examples of the two models.

（1） Wet paint

Jerome Model濕油漆

Horace Model油漆未干

（2）He bent only upon profit.

Jerome Mode他只曲身于利潤之前。

Horace Model他唯利是圖。

（3）Darkness released him from his last restraints.

Jerome Mode黑暗把他從最后的束縛中解放出來。

Horace Model在黑暗中他就無所顧忌了。

（4）The bitter weather drove everyone indoors.

Jerome Mode痛苦的天氣把每個人都趕到了室內(nèi)。

Horace Model天氣惡劣，大家都只好呆在室內(nèi)。

（5）justice has long arms.

Jerome Mode正義有長胳膊。

Horace Model天網(wǎng)恢恢，疏而不漏。

（6）It is a temptation for me to answer him in that way.

Jerome Mode那樣回答他對于我是一種誘惑。

Horace Model我情不自禁地那樣回答他。

（7）They ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.

Jerome Mode他們跑得像他們的腿所能載動他們的那樣快。

Horace Model他們拼命地跑，能跑多快就跑多快。

（8）I gave my youth to the sea and I came home and gave my wife my old age.

Jerome Mode我把青春給了海洋，我回家時，給妻子的只有遲暮之年。

Horace Model我把青春獻給了海洋，等我回家見到妻子的時候，已是白發(fā)蒼蒼。

（9）He is talking delightful nonsense.

Jerome Mode他在說著讓人高興的胡話。

Horace Model他雖是胡說八道，卻也挺有意思。

（10）He came out with his political smile on his face.

Jerome Mode他走出來候，臉上帶著政治的笑容。

Horace Model他走出來的時候，臉上帶著一個政客慣有的笑容。

Through the examples above， we can summarize： when we easily catch the information by direct translation， we must notice the Jerome model. On the contrary， if we have a lot of problems in understanding the.meaning with the Jerome model， we will turn to think about the Horace model to go on the translation. No matter what we translate， we ought to check as carefully as we can so that we can make the translation better.

3.Conclusion

Although Jerome model and Horace model are two different translation modes， they have their own feasibility and practicality. It is easy to see from the study field and history of the two models， no matter which mode used in translation， there is its own value in translation practice. As long as the meaning of the original text can be faithfully conveyed ， there should not be limited in translation standards and patterns ， different text should be applied in appropriate translation mode and translation strategies， which can achieve the goal of translation.

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