导读
本文由e-works数字化企业网总编、CEO黄培博士原创。封面图源:Meta公司(Facebook)。
关于新兴名词术语 或热词的分类
提出新的术语 是业界巨头的商业策略
术语翻译的难点和基本要求
对Metaverse 翻译为元宇宙的商榷
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Metaverse means a virtual-reality space where users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users.(Metaverse意味着一个虚实融合和的空间,在其中用户可以与计算机产生的环境,以及其它用户交互。https://www.the-sun.com/tech/3897437/meta-meaning-facebook/)。 -
Metaverse generally refers to the concept of a highly immersive virtual world where people gather to socialize, play, and work.(Metaverse指的是高度沉浸的,人们可以聚集与此进行社交、娱乐和工作的虚拟世界。https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/meaning-of-metaverse)。 -
The metaverse is a digital reality that combines aspects of social media, online gaming, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and cryptocurrencies to allow users to interact virtually. Augmented reality overlays visual elements, sound, and other sensory input onto real-world settings to enhance the user experience. In contrast, virtual reality is entirely virtual and enhances fictional realities.(Metaverse 是一种数字现实,它结合了社交媒体、在线游戏、增强现实 (AR)、虚拟现实 (VR) 和加密货币的各个方面,允许用户进行虚拟交互。增强现实将视觉元素、声音和其他感官输入叠加到现实世界的设置中,以增强用户体验。相相比之下,虚拟现实完全是虚拟的,增强了虚构的现实。https://www.investopedia.com/metaverse-definition-5206578) -
“Metaverse” is a term to describe the concept of future iteration of the internet. It is made up of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe. It does not only refer to virtual worlds, but also inclusive of the augmented reality (AR) as well in the whole Internet ecosystem.(Metaverse是一个描述互联网未来迭代概念的术语。它由连接到感知虚拟世界的持久、共享的3D虚拟空间组成。它不仅指虚拟世界,还包括增强现实,以及整个互联网生态系统。维基百科的解释,https://allvirtualreality.com/tutorials/what-definition-meaning-metaverse.html)。
上面这篇文章综述了一些媒体提到的Metaverse应当具备的特征:
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Metaverse is the successor of Internet. In Mark Zuckerberg’s word, an “Embodied Internet
“.(Metaverse是互联网的后继者,马克.扎克伯格认为,是一个实体的互联网,Embodied这个词本身也没有标准的中文翻译。) -
Metaverse is world where businesses, communication and information tools are immersive and interoperable.(Metaverse是一个沉浸式和可互操作的商业、通信和信息工具的世界。) -
It has to cover both the interactions in the physical world and virtual world.(它必须涵盖物理世界和虚拟世界的交互。) -
In Metaverse, group of people can be in the same place virtually although physically they are located far away from each other.(在 Metaverse 中,一群人可以虚拟地在同一个地方,尽管他们在物理上彼此相距很远。) -
In Metaverse, you can teleport instantaneously to another location.(在 Metaverse 中,您可以瞬间传送到另一个位置。) -
It will be accessible across all computing platforms such as VR, AR, PC, gaming consoles, mobile devices etc.(它将可以在所有计算平台上访问,例如 VR、AR、PC、游戏机、移动设备等。) -
It has to be able to support a working model of economy. For example the virtual goods, virtual clothing, virtual spaces, experiences and many more that can generate revenue and income to the inhabitants of Metaverse.(它必须能够支持虚拟商品、虚拟服装、虚拟空间、体验等的交易,可以为Metaverse的居民创造收入。) -
Users should be able to move around their avatars and goods in the metaverse.(用户应该能够在虚拟世界中操控其数字替身和商品。) -
Metaverse shall be managed using decentralized structure. It shall be run and operated by many different players and not just by one single entity.(Metaverse应采用去中心化结构进行管理。它应该由许多不同的参与者而不是一个单一的实体来运行和运营。)
Google将Metaverse翻译为“元界”,还有一个翻译是“超元域”,我认为这两个翻译显然比“元宇宙”更准确,段海波先生提出的最佳翻译是“超界”。准确的翻译更有利于这个概念和相关技术体系的发展,而不要过多受制于市场,甚至资本力量而随波逐流。在段海波先生的文章中提到,IBM在2009年在中国提出专利申请时采用的一个Metaverse的翻译是:虚拟实境,这个翻译实际上就是台湾版的VR的翻译,说明当时IBM认为,Metaverse就是VR的延伸。
我建议数字技术领域的业界专家,应该与翻译专家一起,严肃认真地讨论清楚,确定如何翻译才能更容易理解,形成统一标准,不至于产生误导。随便造词,随便乱翻译的风气应该改改了。随着“元宇宙”火起来,工业元宇宙、元宇宙试验区、元宇宙产业链、元宇宙概念股等等衍生词正在被争先恐后地创造出来,不少人对“元宇宙”趋之若鹜。这不由得让我联想起1984年首届春晚中,马季老师那个著名的单口相声“宇宙牌香烟”。
目前,Metaverse领域能够真正举出的实例,无非是VR/AR/MR, 数字孪生,以及沉浸式游戏领域的应用。我认为如果不尽快纠正错误的翻译,又会导致大家望文生义,混为一谈,搞出一堆五花八门的“元宇宙”,其实还是VR/AR/MR应用,或者叫XR应用,只不过是换了一个新的“马甲”而已!(本文完)