在漢語中,“宣傳”這個詞十分常用,但譯成英文時總存在誤用的情況。漢語的“宣傳”,強調對公眾講明一件事情。英語一般用propaganda、publicity來表示。
Propaganda的意思為 ideas or statements that may be false or exaggerated and that are used in order to gain support for a political leader or party, or to influence public opinion,即指的是可能是虛假或夸張的想法或說法,以及用來為某個政治領導人或政黨獲取支持或影響民意的想法或說法,顯然是一個貶義詞。例如:
1. 這種廣告只不過是宣傳說教。
This kind of advertising is nothing but propaganda.
而publicity則有兩層意思:
一是the attention that is given to someone/something by media,是“媒體給予的關注”,即“宣傳報道”,是一個中性詞。例如:
2. 這個案件已在這個國家引起了大量的宣傳(報道)。
The case has generated enormous publicity in this country.
二是the business of attracting the attention of the public to someone/something, the things that are done to attract attention,是“引起公眾關注的事情”,即“宣傳工作”。例如:
3. 他是干宣傳(工作)的。
He works in publicity.
4. 一部新電影的露面,總是伴隨著大量的宣傳。
1) The appearance of a new film will always be accompanied with a lot of publicity. 或
2) The appearance of a new movie will always go together with a great deal of publicity.
由此可見,“宣傳部”就可以翻譯為“Department of Publicity”或“Publicity Department”。“中共中央宣傳部”的標準英文譯名則為“the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China”。對外宣傳,也就是通常所說的“外宣”可用international communication來表示,如“中共中央對外宣傳辦公室”就可譯為“the International Communication Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China”。
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