最实用的翻译策略汉英翻译八条“戒律”(5)
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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
英语学习者一般愿做英译汉题目,怵做汉译英题目。由于历史和文化上的差异,汉英词语之间存在着或显或隐的翻译上的陷阱,导致汉译英(CE)远比英译汉(EC)易于出错。用鲁迅的话说,就是“词典不离手,冷汗不离身。”这提醒译者必须对这些差异心中有数,然后再调和这些差异,“摆平”这些差异。为此,要迈好下面八道坎儿,时刻要留心这八条“戒律”——只想为你擦亮满天星光,以免在熟路上“迷失方向”。

一、戒“从一而终”


汉语言简意赅,句子灵活,往往是一个汉语词汇对应N个英语词汇,具体到在本句中应该采用那个意项,务必抓住精神实质,不可以不变应万变。至于怎么应变,这就是显示译者功力的地方了。

比如:都是“问题”,下面的翻译各不相同,几乎是打一枪换一个地方。

共同关心的问题

questions of common interest

解决问题

solve a problem

问题的关键

the heart of the matter

关键问题

a key problem

原则问题

a question/ matter of principle

悬而未决的问题

an outstanding issue

没有什么问题。

Without any mishap1

摩托车有点问题。

Something is wrong with the motorcycle.

问题不在这里。

That is not the point.

最近揭发出相当严重的贪污、受贿和官僚主义问题。

Serious cases of embezzlement2, bribery3, and bureaucracy have been brought to light recently.

译者要掌握这种汉英翻译中的“游击战术”,翻译家应是不同“文化王国”边境线上的“游击战略家”。

沙博里将《水浒传》译为:Outlaws of the Marsh(沼泽地上的亡命之徒)。杨宪益译将屈原的《国殇》译为:For Those Fallen for Their Country,北外出版社将《儒林外史》译为:The Scholars。这些都是译者吃透了原文的原意而译出的佳作。

二、戒望文生义,机械直译

 

这多半是初学者犯的毛病,他们易于被表面现象所迷惑,做出令人啼笑皆非的事情。

下文中的以色列,可不是中东的那个犹太人国家,而是以颜色来排列。文中的颜色,统统译错。望文生义想当然,都是直译惹的祸。

黄牛(yellow cow——ox前误后正,下同)与黄鹂(yellow bird ——oriole)从小青梅竹马(green plum bamboo horse——grew up together),黄牛喜欢青稞(green seedling5 ——highland barley)、黄瓜( yellow melon——cucumber、紫菜(purple vegetable ——laver)、白菜( white vegetable ——Chinese cabbage),黄鹂喜欢紫薇(purple rose ——crape myrtle)、红木(red wood——pad auk)、红豆杉(red fir——Chinese yew)。黑社会(black society ——sinister gang)的黑猩猩(black orangutan ——chimpanzee)用黑话(black word——argot)给他们作了红娘(red mother——matchmaker)。二者选了个猴年马月的黄道吉日(yellow way——lucky day),在长满兰花(blue flower——orchid)、紫丁香(purple clover——lilac)紫茉莉(purple jasmine ——four-o’clock)的绿洲( green continent ——oasis)上,举行了别开生面的婚礼。双双当场交换了礼物,黄牛给黄鹂的礼物是蓝宝石(blue gem—— sapphire)、红宝石(red gem——ruby);黄鹂给黄牛的是白话(white word ——vernacular)《水浒》、白兰地(white blue land ——brandy)。他们从此红运(red fortune ——good luck)当头,青云直上(blue cloud ——soar higher and higher)。 (选自艾临《每天幽它一默》)

三、戒“水土不符”,习惯搭配失当


这的确是难度系数较大的问题,它要求译者既有较高的中文修养,又要有较高的英文造诣,一知半解的人常常在此“翻车”,甚至大家也难免有闪失。如:

写罢,掷笔在桌上。又歌了一回,再饮数杯酒,不觉沉醉,力不胜酒,便呼酒保计算了,取些银子算还,多的都赏了酒保。#p#

And tossed the pen on the table. He intoned the verses to himself, then downed a few more cups of wine. He was very dunk. Song-Jiang asked for the bill, paid, and told the waiter to keep the change.(沙博里译《水浒传·浔阳楼宋江吟反诗》)

目前,《水浒传》最好的英译本要数沙博里先生的本子了。沙博里出生在美国,青年时来到中国,一住就是半个多世纪。为了译好《水浒传》,据说他潜心研究了山东的地方志和旧时方言,可谓精诚所致,译著既“达”又“雅”。然历史告诉我们,中国古人没有用过钢笔,宋时用的还是毛笔,故“the pen ”应改为“the writing-brush ”。

白洋淀的导游牌上,“红菱”被硬硬地翻译成Red Ling。菱角有对应词的,应改为Red Water Chestnut6。这里常常有外国人参观,如此翻译,令人汗颜!

下面的几段译文就较好地照顾到了西方人的思维和理解习惯。

老者道:“西方却去不得。那山离此有六十里远,正是西方必由之路。却有八百里火焰,周围寸草不生,若过此山,就是铜脑盖,铁身躯,也要化成汁哩。”

“It’s impossible to get to the west,” the old man replied, “The mountains are about twenty miles from here. You have to cross them to get to the west, but they’re over 250 miles of flame. Not a blade of grass can grow anywhere around. Even if you had a skull7 of bronze and a body of iron, you would melt trying to cross them.”

(詹纳尔译《西游记·孙悟空一调芭蕉扇》)

美国把贸易和人权扯在一起,只会损害两国的经济利益。

The US policy of linking trade with human rights can only bring harm to the economic interests of the two countries.

关起门来搞建设是不成的,中国的发展离不开世界。

China can’t develop in isolation8 from the rest of the world.

四、戒主语暗淡

 

主语是句子的灵魂, 定住译文的主语的是关键性一步棋。主语定偏了,整个句子将显得松散乏力,甚至误导读者。

如果这个问题不解决,势必影响两国的利益。

Failure to settle this issue is bound impair9 the relations between the two countries seriously.

If the problem is not solved , it is sure to affect the interests between the two countries

在上面的两种译文中,显然第一种译文主语选得好,句子流畅。

共同的利益把我们两个伟大的国家连接在一起。

What holds our two great nations together is the cement of common interests.

此句主语部分处理得颇为干练。

操吴戈兮披犀甲,车错毂兮短兵接

we grasp huge shields, clad in Rhinoceros10 Hide;

the Chariots clash, the Daggers11 gashing12 wide.

(杨宪益译《屈原·国殇》)

屈原一开篇就“操吴戈兮披犀甲,车错毂兮短兵接”,显然需要补充应有的主语。在《国殇》诗中,后面还有“身既死兮神以灵,子魂魄兮为鬼雄”的句子,可见屈原是以“局外人”的视角来写为国捐躯的将士的,而非把自己混为军中一员。译文中的主语应改为“They”较妥。

厨房里少了一条鱼,主人发誓要一查到底,揪出偷鱼的贼。#p#

Finding a fish in kitchen was lost, the host swore find out the thief who stole the fish.

尽管汉语中似乎有“厨房”“主人”两个主语,译者果断地选定了“the host”作主语。打点清晰,增强了句子的内聚力。

夏威夷的沙滩上,椰影婆娑,海风习习,一妙龄女郎正躺在白色的塑料椅上养神。

On the Hawaiian sandy beach, the coconut13 palms are whirling, the congenial sea breeze is blowing, and a young lady is lying in the white plastics chair resting to restore energy.

因为是轻松读本,又是描述性的文字,使用了三个主语“the coconut palms”“the congenial sea breeze”“a young lady”仍是可取的。

五、戒结构单调,组合生硬 “拉郎配”


由于汉英结构不同,表达方式迥异,“硬性翻译”不仅读起来别扭,而且会闹出笑话。这就译者在翻译时灵活使用整合的技巧,将句子整合,凸显汉语中所隐含的层次,补充所缺失的成分。有时将简单句译成并列句,有时将并列句译成主从句。

在纪念大学毕业20周年聚会时,我忽然问起原来的班主任:“我个子又不矮,怎么把我安排在了第一排呢?”

At the reunion party for 20 anniversary of graduation from university, I suddenly asked my former teacher in charge of our class then:" Since I am not of short stature14, how did you arrange me at the first row?"

一个高度近视的女博士去擦鞋店擦高统靴,秃头老板亲自蹲下来给她效劳。

When woman doctor who suffers a severe myopic15 went to shoes-polishing shop for her buskins , the bald boss squatted16 down to serve her personally.

黑体字部分,正是契合了英语的表达习惯。

 


六、戒“愚忠”,不谙增减之道

我们耳熟能详的东西外国人可能会感到一头雾水,译者需要增加必要的说明和补充或者减译。否则,外国人会不知所云。毕竟,汉译英最终是给外国人看的。

 

例如:风水

fengshui——the location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family.

例如:(美国对台)“三不政策”

Washington’s “three no’s” policy toward Taiwan——on support for Taiwan independence, no support for a two-China policy, and on support for Taiwan membership in international organizations on the basis of statehood.

忽闻有人在牡丹亭畔长吁短叹。允潜步窥立,乃府中歌姬貂禅也。

In the silence he heard moans and sighs near the Peony Pavilion. Stealing over, he discovered the singing girl, Diaochan.

(罗慕士译《三国演义·王司徒巧施连环计》)

会当凌绝顶,一览众山小。

One day I shall climb

Clear to the summit,

See how small surrounding

Mountain tops appear as they lie below me

(新西兰人路易·艾黎译《杜甫·望岳》)

I can't open my eyes to watch your jumping into the fiery17 pit, for I will shut my eyes at the time.

我不会眼睁睁看着你往火坑里跳,到时候我会闭上的。

不要嫌我黑,两眼放光辉;不要嫌我瘦,一身好精肉。

Do not Cold-shoulder me for my swarthy(黝黑的) face, but I have a pair of bright piercing(敏锐的) eyes;

Do not Cold-shoulder me for my slight figure, but I’m lean and healthy.

文中“the location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family.”

“on support for Taiwan independence, no support for a two-China policy, and on support for Taiwan membership in international organizations on the basis of statehood.”“

In the silence”“One day I” “for” “but ”为增译,“府中”为减译,实并入后句。减译手法在“七戒语句重复”中还会提及。#p#

七、戒语句重复

汉语多重复,以强化语气;英语则要尽量避免重复。

先生曰:“狼负我,狼负我!”狼曰:“吾非固欲负汝。天生汝辈,固需吾辈食也。”

“ You are an ungrateful beast,” complained the man.

“Not at all,” retorted the wolf, “it is not that I’m ungrateful, but you men were created for us to devour18.”

(颜惠庆译《马中锡·中山狼传》)

王曰:“此鸟不飞则已,一飞冲天;不鸣则已,一鸣惊人。”

“ The bird may not have flown yet”, replied the King,“Once it does, it will soar to the sky. I may not have cried out yet, but once it does, it will startle everyone.”

(杨宪益译《史记·滑稽列传》

阿凡提借了财主一锭金子,还他时给了他两锭。

Afanty borrowed a small ingot of gold from a moneybags, but repaid him two ones.

(选自艾临《幽默新大陆》)

以上粗体字都是为了避免重复,下面两句中的粗体字属于省译,当然也是为了避免重复。

又斗争,又团结,以斗争的手段,达团结之目的。

Unity19, struggle, unity through struggle.

中国人也好,外国人也好,死人也好,活人也好,对的就是对的,不对的就是不对的。

What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong, no matter what it concerns, the Chinese or foreigners, the dead or the living.

为了避免重复,还可将相同的汉字故意译成不同的英文,如

在78岁高龄的人的眼里,大多数人都显得有点年轻。倘若美利坚对44岁以下的人抱有不信任态度的话,它必将阻止杰佛逊起草独立宣言,阻止华盛顿领导独立战争,阻止麦迪逊制订宪法,甚至阻止哥伦布发现新大陆!

In the eyes of a 78-year old person, most people seem to be little young. If the USA embraces mistrustful attitude to those who are under 44, it would clog20 necessarily Jefferson from drafting the Declaration of Independence, obstruct21 Washington from leading Independent War, prevent Madison from formulating22 the Constitution, and even keep Columbus from discovering the New Continent!

从渲染艺术效果来讲,重复并非绝对不允许的,如:

行路难,行路难。

多歧路,今安在?

长风破浪会有时,

直挂云帆济沧海!

Hard is the way, hard is the way.

Don’t go astray! Whither today.

A time will come to ride the wind and cleave23 the waves,

I’ll set my cloudlike sail to cross the sea which raves24.#p#

许渊冲译《李白·行路难》)

八、戒另起炉灶,走失精气神,沦为法国作家梅纳日所批评的 “不忠的美人”——即语言优美但不忠于原文。(参见2005年08月26日《济南日报》: 艾临文章《不忠的美人与忠实的美人——写在〈每天幽它一默〉出版后》)严复在翻译《天演论》时偶 有为“雅”而不“信” (见陈廷佑《英文汉译技巧》)。译文要力求其“信”,尽可能契合汉语原来句子的气势、情绪和结构。

例如,元朝人王实甫写下了《西厢记》,张雪静改编后并作了翻译——

掏出张生那封信,回头环视见梳妆台上的梳妆盒,眼睛一转,心里说有了,将信放了进去,合上盖时故意压了一角露在外面。

Rose took out Zhang’s letter, she thought, “It would be better to put it in her make-up case, and letter find it herself.” So she put the letter in the case, leaving a corner of it sticking out, so that it would be quickly noticed.

不难看出,译文与原文相去甚远,互不吻合,成了“两张皮”。

我们不希望这件事影响中美关系。

China hates to see Sino-US relations damaged by this incident.

用China hates to比“We don’t hope”贴切。

吾十五有志于学,三十而立,四十而不惑,五十而知天命,六十而耳顺,七十而从心所欲不愈矩。

At fifteen, I had my mind bent25 on learning truth; at thirty, my words deeds were appropriate; at forty, I perceived truth and doubts ceased; at fifty, I understood what heaven had mandated26 for mankind; at sixty, I could comply with the appointments of heaven; at seventy, I could do as my heart desired, and never swerved27 from the path of right.

(金沛霖译《论语》)

你已经死在过深的怨愤里了吗?

死?不,不,我还活着——

请给我以火,给我以火!

Have you perished in this deep rancor28 and bitterness?

Death? No, no. I’m still alive.

Please give me a light, give me a light!

(欧阳桢等译《艾青·煤的对话》)

结语一:别以为有本词典就可动手翻译了,再好的词典也不能解决所有的问题。词典是死的,人是活的,现实生活是千百万化的,词典易得,翻译家难觅。“翻译可能是宇宙进化迄今所产生的最复杂类型的事情。”这成了翻译界的一句名言。翻译不仅要求译者有较高的英文水准,对各种句式成竹在胸,脱口而出,还要精通汉语,吃透中文的精神内涵。后者往往是被人们忽视的,相对反倒是更重要的,很多人英语写得洋洋洒洒,汉语译得艰涩拗口,问题多出在这里。只有知难而进,学贯中西,才能笔笔如刀,游刃有余。光懂英语,或只懂汉语,都是做不好英汉翻译工作的。

结语二:由于对翻译归属的认知有分歧,导致了译文风格上的明显的反差。南京大学的许钧认为翻译是科学,1+1=2;北京大学的许渊冲认为翻译是艺术,1+1〉2。争论仍在继续。我不想、也无力充当“二许之辩”的和事佬,不光因为他们是名人、是大家,我只想保留自己的见解。窃以为笔者系调和论者,在翻译上科学性和艺术性兼而有之,就不同的体裁各有倚重。因为在诗歌翻译方面,我倾向是艺术,1+1〉2,赋予张力,收放有据;在论文、科技翻译方面,我主张是科学,1+1=2,信守严谨,毫厘不爽。我记起傅雷1951年在《高老头》重译序言里讲过的话,“即使最优秀的译文,其韵味较之原文仍不免过或不及”。可见,“度”的控制是何等的困难。基于这一理念,我对文中例句未作太多点评,仅仅以加粗的倾斜字体简单地提醒和强调,把裁判权交给读者。毕竟,译作无定本,众人即圣人,读者才是真正的上帝



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 mishap AjSyg     
n.不幸的事,不幸;灾祸
参考例句:
  • I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.不好了,你儿子在操场上出了点小意外。
  • We reached home without mishap.我们平安地回到了家。
2 embezzlement RqoxY     
n.盗用,贪污
参考例句:
  • He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
  • The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。
3 bribery Lxdz7Z     
n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿
参考例句:
  • FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
  • He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。
4 outlaws 7eb8a8faa85063e1e8425968c2a222fe     
歹徒,亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 ); 逃犯
参考例句:
  • During his year in the forest, Robin met many other outlaws. 在森林里的一年,罗宾遇见其他许多绿林大盗。
  • I didn't have to leave the country or fight outlaws. 我不必离开自己的国家,也不必与不法分子斗争。
5 seedling GZYxQ     
n.秧苗,树苗
参考例句:
  • She cut down the seedling with one chop.她一刀就把小苗砍倒了。
  • The seedling are coming up full and green.苗长得茁壮碧绿。
6 chestnut XnJy8     
n.栗树,栗子
参考例句:
  • We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
  • In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。
7 skull CETyO     
n.头骨;颅骨
参考例句:
  • The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
  • He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去,跌裂了颅骨。
8 isolation 7qMzTS     
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离
参考例句:
  • The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
  • He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后,生活比较孤寂。
9 impair Ia4x2     
v.损害,损伤;削弱,减少
参考例句:
  • Loud noise can impair your hearing.巨大的噪音有损听觉。
  • It can not impair the intellectual vigor of the young.这不能磨灭青年人思想活力。
10 rhinoceros tXxxw     
n.犀牛
参考例句:
  • The rhinoceros has one horn on its nose.犀牛鼻子上有一个角。
  • The body of the rhinoceros likes a cattle and the head likes a triangle.犀牛的形体像牛,头呈三角形。
11 daggers a5734a458d7921e71a33be8691b93cb0     
匕首,短剑( dagger的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • I will speak daggers to her, but use none. 我要用利剑一样的话刺痛她的心,但绝不是真用利剑。
  • The world lives at daggers drawn in a cold war. 世界在冷战中剑拨弩张。
12 gashing c25d13cc3cc0f3e2d9389dfc2aff1987     
v.划伤,割破( gash的现在分词 )
参考例句:
13 coconut VwCzNM     
n.椰子
参考例句:
  • The husk of this coconut is particularly strong.椰子的外壳很明显非常坚固。
  • The falling coconut gave him a terrific bang on the head.那只掉下的椰子砰地击中他的脑袋。
14 stature ruLw8     
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材
参考例句:
  • He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
  • The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。
15 myopic SFtxF     
adj.目光短浅的,缺乏远见的
参考例句:
  • The Government still has a myopic attitude to spending.政府在开支问题上仍然目光短浅。
  • Myopic views could be potentially damaging for us.目光短浅会给我们带来严重的后果。
16 squatted 45deb990f8c5186c854d710c535327b0     
v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 );非法擅自占用(土地或房屋);为获得其所有权;而占用某片公共用地。
参考例句:
  • He squatted down beside the footprints and examined them closely. 他蹲在脚印旁仔细地观察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He squatted in the grass discussing with someone. 他蹲在草地上与一个人谈话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 fiery ElEye     
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的
参考例句:
  • She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
  • His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。
18 devour hlezt     
v.吞没;贪婪地注视或谛听,贪读;使着迷
参考例句:
  • Larger fish devour the smaller ones.大鱼吃小鱼。
  • Beauty is but a flower which wrinkle will devour.美只不过是一朵,终会被皱纹所吞噬。
19 unity 4kQwT     
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调
参考例句:
  • When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结,并非一团和气。
  • We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前,我们必须加强团结。
20 clog 6qzz8     
vt.塞满,阻塞;n.[常pl.]木屐
参考例句:
  • In cotton and wool processing,short length fibers may clog sewers.在棉毛生产中,短纤维可能堵塞下水管道。
  • These streets often clog during the rush hour.这几条大街在交通高峰时间常常发生交通堵塞。
21 obstruct sRCzR     
v.阻隔,阻塞(道路、通道等);n.阻碍物,障碍物
参考例句:
  • He became still more dissatisfied with it and secretly did everything in his power to obstruct it.他对此更不满意,尽在暗里使绊子。
  • The fallen trees obstruct the road.倒下的树将路堵住了。
22 formulating 40080ab94db46e5c26ccf0e5aa91868a     
v.构想出( formulate的现在分词 );规划;确切地阐述;用公式表示
参考例句:
  • At present, the Chinese government is formulating nationwide regulations on the control of such chemicals. 目前,中国政府正在制定全国性的易制毒化学品管理条例。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
  • Because of this, the U.S. has taken further steps in formulating the \"Magellan\" programme. 为此,美国又进一步制定了“麦哲伦”计划。 来自百科语句
23 cleave iqJzf     
v.(clave;cleaved)粘着,粘住;坚持;依恋
参考例句:
  • It examines how the decision to quit gold or to cleave to it affected trade policies.论文分析了放弃或坚持金本位是如何影响贸易政策的。
  • Those who cleave to the latter view include many conservative American politicians.坚持后一种观点的大多是美国的保守派政客。
24 raves eff15904ad1ff50e1a71642704afd6f7     
n.狂欢晚会( rave的名词复数 )v.胡言乱语( rave的第三人称单数 );愤怒地说;咆哮;痴心地说
参考例句:
  • She raves about that singer. 她醉心地谈论那位歌手。 来自辞典例句
  • His new play received raves in the paper. 他的新剧本在报纸上受到赞扬。 来自辞典例句
25 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
26 mandated b1de99702d7654948b507d8fbbea9700     
adj. 委托统治的
参考例句:
  • Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
  • Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。
27 swerved 9abd504bfde466e8c735698b5b8e73b4     
v.(使)改变方向,改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯,以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
  • The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅,司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 rancor hA6zj     
n.深仇,积怨
参考例句:
  • I have no rancor against him.我对他无怨无仇。
  • Their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them.他们的积怨来自于他们之间在政治上的狗咬狗。
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