Translation, Technology, and Technē: A Critical Reflection

翻譯、科技、與技藝：一個批判性反思

張忠安(Chang, Chung-An)

《譒》 創刊號 (2020/10) Pp. 55-74

摘要

The advent of machine translation systems has not only significantly impacted the way we go about translating but also transformed the relationship between human subjects and technological objects that perform translation. It is now easier and more cost-efficient to monitor and modify machine translation outputs than to task a translator to put out an entirely hands-on translation. However, over-reliance on machine translation, particularly in the process of translational decision-making, raises a concern that machines may soon replace tasks performed by human translators. To better address the issue, we need to rethink the nature of technology and reexamine the relationship between humans and technology. According to Heidegger, modern technology is identified with the challenging-forth of things that aim at maximum efficiency and productivity, thus leading to increasing alienation in human character. Against this reductive understanding of technology, Heidegger argues that technology can also be a mode of revealing the world. The essence of technology is technē, an artistic process in the making of a work of art. An artist or, by implication, a translator should create a work of art or translation by means of synthesis joining the workings of his/her mind and hand, with the tool(s) used in the process. Heidegger has posed a challenge to the human relationship inherent in modern technology and advocates for the potential of a coordinating collaboration between humans and their machines. Given that Heidegger has engaged with and adopted Chinese philosophical thought in his critiques of technological modernity, this essay also draws on some Chinese examples to provide a critical reflection on the potential for synthesis between humans and their machines in the age of technology.

關鍵字

human-machine relationship ； translation and technology ； technē

並列摘要

機器翻譯系統的到來，不僅對人們的翻譯活動帶來巨大衝擊，也改變了翻譯工作者與科技客體之間的關係。現在檢視及修訂機器翻譯系統產出的譯文，比完全靠人工翻譯，更為容易且成本更低。然而，過度依賴機器翻譯，尤其在決定譯文的過程中過度仰賴此系統，令人擔憂機器或許將很快取代真人譯者。我們需要重新思考科技的本質，並重新檢視人與科技的關係，才能對此問題有更好的因應之法。海德格認為現代科技被定義為一種對事物的強索，旨在獲得最大效能與產能，也因此導致人性的漸漸異化。海德格不認同此種化約式的科技觀，認為科技也可以是彰顯世界的一種模式。科技的本質是技藝（technē），一種製作藝術品時的藝術化過程。一位藝術家，或亦可指一位譯者，應透過其心、手、器的整合運用，才能創作一件藝術品或翻譯作品。海德格對人與現代科技彼此的互動關係提出挑戰，主張人與機器之間存在其協調合作的潛能。鑑於海氏於批判現代科技時參酌及採用了中國哲學思想，本文也因此徵引了一些中哲範例，對科技時代人與機器的可能整合提出一個批判性反思。

並列關鍵字

人機關係 ； 翻譯與科技 ； 技藝（technē）