【編者按】

在AI時代，很多行業都面臨著重塑甚至顛覆。那麼，就翻譯這一行業來說，新技術的誕生是否意味著人工翻譯的終結？我們還有必要學習外語嗎？相比於機器翻譯，人類翻譯又有哪些獨到之處呢？昨日（11月9日），新中國翻譯事業70年論壇暨2019中國翻譯協會年會在北京開幕，國際譯聯主席凱文·夸克（Kevin Quirk）在開幕式致辭中就這些問題作了深入探討。小百通特將其發言編譯出來，推送給大家。

國際譯聯主席凱文·夸克（Kevin Quirk）致辭。攝影：張瑞宇/中國網

中國翻譯協會是國際譯聯中的“最重量級成員”

國際譯聯（FIT）已經同世界上130多個翻譯協會建立了良好的交流和合作。我們代表了這個行業的8.5萬餘名傑出翻譯。

FIT -The International Federation of Translators – gathers together some 130 associations of translators, terminologists and interpreters from around the world, representing around 85,000 of the best professionals in our industry.

作為眾多翻譯協會的國際聯合組織，我們當中有很多大的成員單位，包括美國譯聯（ATA）、法國譯協（SFT）、英國翻譯研究會（ITI）、德國譯協（BDÜ）。

As a Federation of translators' associations, we include among our numbers some of the largest associations in the world, including ATA in the USA, SFT in France, ITI in the UK, BDÜ in Germanyand.

當然，還有中國翻譯協會（TAC）。它是所有協會成員中體量最大的組織，是名副其實的最重量級的成員。

Of course, Translators Association of China (TAC), the biggest of them all. A veritable powerhouse among translators' associations.

無論規模大小，國際譯聯的每個成員都有其獨特之處和專研領域。他們所代表的不同文化和語言也形成了國際譯聯的多元性。

Each of these associations – from the largest to the smallest – has its own special characteristics, peculiarities and areas of focus. In sum then they are, in other words, as diverse as the cultures and the languages they represent.

國際譯聯的成員協會所屬的每個會員都有一個共同點——致力於翻譯行業。即，每一位成員都是專業人士，致力於提供高品質的翻譯、術語或口譯服務。

What each of our members' members have in common, however, is a commitment to the profession. That is, every one of them – and you yourselves – are all professionals who provide high quality translations, terminology or interpreting services.

世界上所有翻譯都具備四大共性

通過近年來我在世界各地所到之處與許多筆譯、口譯工作者以及術語專家的接觸和會談，我得出以下四點關於翻譯工作者特徵的觀察或者論斷，亦或是事實。

From my travels around the world in recent years and from speaking and meeting with translators, terminologists and interpreters in a wide range of countries, I feel qualified to make the following four observations or claims, or even undeniable facts – truths about translators.

我認為，這些是世界上所有的翻譯所具備的共同特點。正是這些特徵才使得我們人類翻譯工作者能夠聯合起來。

These traits, I believe, are common to translators throughout the world and they are characteristics that I believe essentially unite us as human translators.

第一，翻譯對語言的熱愛超過了常人。

1. Translators possess an above-average love of language.

第二，翻譯使用新技術的意願要比常人更強烈（在搜尋引擎出現之前，我們自己常常就是搜尋引擎）。

2. Translators show an above-average willingness to adopt and embrace new technology(We were Baidu before Baidu even existed).

第三，翻譯擁有超過常人的智商。

3. Translators are of above-average intelligence.

第四，翻譯的美超過了常人。

4. Translators are of above-average beauty.

當然，我在這裡所說的美是指內在美。它反映了你對語言的超常熱愛，對使用新技術的更強意願，以及更高的智力水平。當我環顧會場四周，我可以說我的第四點論斷，這也是最具爭議的論斷，並沒有錯。

By beauty here, I mean, an inner beauty reflecting your above-average love of language, your above-average willingness to adapt to new technology and your above-average intelligence, but as I look around the room, I can also say that I am not wrong about my fourth (most contentious) claim either.

新中國翻譯事業70年：反映中國70年發展

我每次參加中國譯協大會的時候，精心制定的會議主題都給我留下了深刻的印象。今年的主題是“新中國翻譯事業70年”，這確實是一個非常合適的主題，能夠反映出中華人民共和國70年的發展。

Every time I have attended the TAC Conference, I have been impressed by the themes you have chosen for your conferences, and this year's theme – Translation in China – 70 Years of Development – is indeed no exception, mirroring as it does 70 years of development of the People's Republic of China.

因此，我建議大家去參觀一下“新中國翻譯事業70年掠影圖片展”。這個圖片展非常生動地展示了過去70年中國翻譯事業取得的巨大成就。

In this respect, I urge you all to take time to view the newly opened Photo Exhibition on 70 Years of Translation Work in China, as it provides a visual representation of the way in which translation work has developed in China over the years.

在我看來，中國譯協在積極促進中國翻譯事業發展方面所取得的成就值得我們致以最崇高的敬意。

In my opinion, what TAC is achieving here in terms of development of the translating profession deserves our utmost respect.

中國譯協在國際譯聯中常常發揮關鍵作用。從我最早的記憶起，中國譯協在國際譯聯的最高機構理事會中就有代表席位。

TAC has always played a key role within FIT, and for as long as I can remember, TAC has always had a representative on FIT Council, FIT's supreme body between Congresses.

我要感謝中國譯協為建立國際譯聯亞洲區域中心所給予的大力支援。這已經成為我在擔任主席期間個人非常大的心願。

I am particularly indebted to TAC for their strong support in helping develop and create a FIT Asia Regional Centre, which has been one of my personal ambitions during my presidency.

我希望亞洲區域中心的建立能填補我們在亞洲的空白。這也是繼現有的歐洲、北美和拉丁美洲區域中心之後，國際譯聯又一個重要的區域中心。

Very shortly, I hope FIT will be able to present news of the establishment of such a regional centre – to complement our existing centres in Europe, North America and Latin America.

翻譯的未來會怎樣？

我願意用剩下的時間談談那些對我們的職業來說可以稱之為威脅（的確是巨大威脅）的事物，即機器翻譯、神經機器翻譯以及人工智慧。

I would like to use the rest of my allotted time to say a few words about something that has been perceived by some as a threat – indeed, a great threat – to our profession, namely machine translation, neural machine translation and artificial intelligence.

我知道許多有志成為翻譯工作者的年輕人都十分關心的一個問題是：新技術的誕生是否意味著人工翻譯的終結？正如一些專家所高調宣稱的那樣。

I know that one pertinent question being asked by many young people who may be interested in becoming a translator or an interpreters is: Will the introduction of new technologies herald the imminent death of the human translator, as some pundits have glibly claimed?

兩年前，我主持召開過一個由歐盟委員會翻譯總幹事所安排的研討會。會議的主題就是：機器翻譯對譯者意味著什麼？

Two years ago I moderated a panel discussion arranged by the Director General of Translation in the European Commission on what machine translation will mean for translators.

作為這個研討會上唯一的翻譯從業者，我從其他與會的學者和技術專家那裡得知，五年後將不再需要人類翻譯了。

As the only practitioner – the only practising translator on the panel – I was reliably informed, in no uncertain words, by the other panelists – scholars and technologists – that within five years there would no longer be a need for human translators.

事實上，他們甚至告訴我要為那些即將完全被機器取代的翻譯工作者們找到一個新的名稱。

In fact, I was even told we would need to find a new name for the work carried out by humans as the role of translator would be taken over completely by machines.

這些權威人士還為翻譯工作者們提供了幾個名稱供選擇，例如審讀者、校訂者、譯後編輯、機器翻譯老師，甚至“清潔者”。

Several names were offered by those same pundits for the new role for humans employed in the translation process, including reviewer, reviser, post-editor, machine translation teacher and even cleaner.

我很明確地說，我不會把自己稱為“國際清潔者聯合會主席”。

I made it quite clear, however, that I had no intention of ever calling myself President of the International Federation of Cleaners.

此事已經過去了兩年，儘管技術發展的腳步很快。但萬幸的是，我們還在這裡。

Well, a couple of years have passed since then and even though the pace of technological development is very fast, we are still here, thankfully, and for a very good reason.

我想，這裡有很多炒作的成分，但我還是充滿了希望。

I think it is fair to say there is a lot of hype out there, but in my mind there is also a lot of hope.

不是希望翻譯很快消失，不是希望翻譯被機器所取代。而是希望機器翻譯能夠承擔更多的翻譯工作，同時，世界能夠對新的文化敞開懷抱。

Not hope that translators will soon disappear and be replaced completely by automated translation and interpretation for that matter. Rather, there is hope in that machine translation appears to produce more translations and at the same time to open up the world to new cultures.

此外，有明確跡象表明，只要翻譯工作者能夠提供高品質的專業語言服務，那麼對熟練人工翻譯的需求將會更大。

Furthermore, there are clear indications that there is more work out there for skilled human translators, as long as they continue to provide high-quality professional language services.

我建議大家不斷精益求精。要廣泛地閱讀，不斷地提高水平。努力讓自己做到最好！

I urge you all to excel at what you do. Read widely and improve at all times! Be the best you can at what you do!

我要在此重申，翻譯工作者們已經具有很強的適應性，他們是傑出的翻譯，在未來的許多年裡都不會被機器所取代。

I would like to reiterate here though that human translators, who we have already established are highly adaptable, are truly brilliant and will not be replaced for many, many years to come.

最後，我們要認識到人工翻譯是一項偉大的工作。

Finally, it is essential that we continue to recognise the great work human translators do.

Last year, I was honoured when TAC asked FIT to support the Han Suyin International Translation Contest, and this year I am very happy that FIT will also be involved in the award ceremony later today.

在我看來，這樣的大賽非常重要，讓我們能夠認識到我們這個領域的佼佼者。我認為，讓翻譯工作者認識到自身所從事的是一項偉大的工作也是翻譯協會的職責所在。

In my opinion, such contests are important as we recognise the best of the best in our field. And I consider recognition and acknowledgement of the brilliant work we do as human translators a highly important part of a translators' associations' work.

我願意用我作的一首詩來結束此次發言。我用這首詩來讚美來自中國譯協的翻譯工作者們。

I would like end on another self-composed – and mediocre at best –poem in praise of you – the translators and interpreters from TAC.

我要向今天的同聲傳譯工作者們表達歉意和感謝。抱歉我在發言的結尾給了你們一個難題，但我知道，你們都是優秀的翻譯，一定沒問題！

I would like to apologise and thank the brilliant interpreters in the booths! Thank you, I am sorry to throw this at you – all very last minute – but I know you –as brilliant human translators and interpreters – will manage!

致中國譯協譯者的讚美詩

Poem in praise oftranslators and interpreters from TAC

On this most momentous day

Let bells peal and flagpoles sway.

Let's raise our gazes and sing the praises

Of the people of TAC in every way.

For you are the ones who make thousands of choices

While lending your readers your very clear voices

Reflecting the cadence and the tone

Of utterances soppy or dry to the bone.

Whether it's text or speech, you do your best

Ask any one of us; it's always a test

Of your envious strengths as you work your magic

On texts highly serious or even most tragic.

Whether connecting nations

Or fostering peace,

You create understanding

You're truly outstanding!

You deserve to be praised

You deserve to be proud!

You deserve a poem to be read out loud!

翻譯整理 / 白石

編輯 / 寧靜