英語口譯初級英語口譯

最實用的翻譯策略漢英翻譯八條“戒律”

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英語學習者一般願做英譯漢題目,怵做漢譯英題目。由於歷史和文化上的差異,漢英詞語之間存在着或顯或隱的翻譯上的陷阱,導致漢譯英(CE)遠比英譯漢(EC)易於出錯。用魯迅的話說,就是“詞典不離手,冷汗不離身。”這提醒譯者必須對這些差異心中有數,然後再調和這些差異,“擺平”這些差異。爲此,要邁好下面八道坎兒,時刻要留心這八條“戒律”——只想爲你擦亮滿天星光,以免在熟路上“迷失方向”。

最實用的翻譯策略漢英翻譯八條“戒律”
一、戒“從一而終”


漢語言簡意賅,句子靈活,往往是一個漢語詞彙對應N個英語詞彙,具體到在本句中應該採用那個意項,務必抓住精神實質,不可以不變應萬變。至於怎麼應變,這就是顯示譯者功力的地方了。

比如:都是“問題”,下面的翻譯各不相同,幾乎是打一槍換一個地方。

共同關心的問題

questions of common interest

解決問題

solve a problem

問題的關鍵

the heart of the matter

關鍵問題

a key problem

原則問題

a question/ matter of principle

懸而未決的問題

an outstanding issue

沒有什麼問題。

Without any mishap

摩托車有點問題。

Something is wrong with the motorcycle.

問題不在這裏。

That is not the point.

最近揭發出相當嚴重的貪污、受賄和官僚主義問題。

Serious cases of embezzlement, bribery, and bureaucracy have been brought to light recently.

譯者要掌握這種漢英翻譯中的“游擊戰術”,翻譯家應是不同“文化王國”邊境線上的“游擊戰略家”。

沙博裏將《水滸傳》譯爲:Outlaws of the Marsh(沼澤地上的亡命之徒)。楊憲益譯將屈原的《國殤》譯爲:For Those Fallen for Their Country,北外出版社將《儒林外史》譯爲:The Scholars。這些都是譯者吃透了原文的原意而譯出的佳作。

二、戒望文生義,機械直譯

這多半是初學者犯的毛病,他們易於被表面現象所迷惑,做出令人啼笑皆非的事情。

下文中的以色列,可不是中東的那個猶太人國家,而是以顏色來排列。文中的顏色,統統譯錯。望文生義想當然,都是直譯惹的禍。

黃牛(yellow cow——ox前誤後正,下同)與黃鸝(yellow bird ——oriole)從小青梅竹馬(green plum bamboo horse——grew up together),黃牛喜歡青稞(green seedling ——highland barley)、黃瓜( yellow melon——cucumber、紫菜(purple vegetable ——laver)、白菜( white vegetable ——Chinese cabbage),黃鸝喜歡紫薇(purple Rose ——crape myrtle)、紅木(red wood——pad auk)、紅豆杉(red fir——Chinese yew)。黑社會(black society ——sinister gang)的黑猩猩(black orangutan ——chimpanzee)用黑話(black word——argot)給他們作了紅娘(red mother——matchmaker)。二者選了個猴年馬月的黃道吉日(yellow way——lucky day),在長滿蘭花(blue flower——orchid)、紫丁香(purple clover——lilac)紫茉莉(purple jasmine ——four-o’clock)的綠洲( green continent ——oasis)上,舉行了別開生面的婚禮。雙雙當場交換了禮物,黃牛給黃鸝的禮物是藍寶石(blue gem—— sapphire)、紅寶石(red gem——ruby);黃鸝給黃牛的是白話(white word ——vernacular)《水滸》、白蘭地(white blue land ——brandy)。他們從此紅運(red fortune ——good luck)當頭,青雲直上(blue cloud ——soar higher and higher)。 (選自艾臨《每天幽它一默》)

三、戒“水土不符”,習慣搭配失當


這的確是難度係數較大的問題,它要求譯者既有較高的中文修養,又要有較高的英文造詣,一知半解的人常常在此“翻車”,甚至大家也難免有閃失。如:

寫罷,擲筆在桌上。又歌了一回,再飲數杯酒,不覺沉醉,力不勝酒,便呼酒保計算了,取些銀子算還,多的都賞了酒保。

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.(沙博裏譯《水滸傳·潯陽樓宋江吟反詩》)

目前,《水滸傳》最好的英譯本要數沙博裏先生的本子了。沙博裏出生在美國,青年時來到中國,一住就是半個多世紀。爲了譯好《水滸傳》,據說他潛心研究了山東的地方誌和舊時方言,可謂精誠所致,譯著既“達”又“雅”。然歷史告訴我們,中國古人沒有用過鋼筆,宋時用的還是毛筆,故“the pen ”應改爲“the writing-brush ”。

白洋澱的導遊牌上,“紅菱”被硬硬地翻譯成Red Ling。菱角有對應詞的,應改爲Red Water Chestnut。這裏常常有外國人蔘觀,如此翻譯,令人汗顏!

下面的幾段譯文就較好地照顧到了西方人的思維和理解習慣。

老者道:“西方卻去不得。那山離此有六十里遠,正是西方必由之路。卻有八百里火焰,周圍寸草不生,若過此山,就是銅腦蓋,鐵身軀,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 skull of bronze and a body of iron, you would melt trying to cross them.”

(詹納爾譯《西遊記·孫悟空一調芭蕉扇》)

美國把貿易和人權扯在一起,只會損害兩國的經濟利益。

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

關起門來搞建設是不成的,中國的發展離不開世界。

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

四、戒主語暗淡

主語是句子的靈魂, 定住譯文的主語的是關鍵性一步棋。主語定偏了,整個句子將顯得鬆散乏力,甚至誤導讀者。

如果這個問題不解決,勢必影響兩國的利益。

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

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

在上面的兩種譯文中,顯然第一種譯文主語選得好,句子流暢。

共同的利益把我們兩個偉大的國家連接在一起。

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

此句主語部分處理得頗爲幹練。

操吳戈兮披犀甲,車錯轂兮短兵接

we grasp huge shields, clad in Rhinoceros Hide;

the Chariots clash, the Daggers gashing wide.

(楊憲益譯《屈原·國殤》)

屈原一開篇就“操吳戈兮披犀甲,車錯轂兮短兵接”,顯然需要補充應有的主語。在《國殤》詩中,後面還有“身既死兮神以靈,子魂魄兮爲鬼雄”的句子,可見屈原是以“局外人”的視角來寫爲國捐軀的將士的,而非把自己混爲軍中一員。譯文中的主語應改爲“They”較妥。

廚房裏少了一條魚,主人發誓要一查到底,揪出偷魚的賊。

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

儘管漢語中似乎有“廚房”“主人”兩個主語,譯者果斷地選定了“the host”作主語。打點清晰,增強了句子的內聚力。

夏威夷的沙灘上,椰影婆娑,海風習習,一妙齡女郎正躺在白色的塑料椅上養神。

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

因爲是輕鬆讀本,又是描述性的文字,使用了三個主語“the coconut palms”“the congenial sea breeze”“a young lady”仍是可取的。

五、戒結構單調,組合生硬 “拉郎配”


由於漢英結構不同,表達方式迥異,“硬性翻譯”不僅讀起來彆扭,而且會鬧出笑話。這就譯者在翻譯時靈活使用整合的技巧,將句子整合,凸顯漢語中所隱含的層次,補充所缺失的成分。有時將簡單句譯成並列句,有時將並列句譯成主從句。

在紀念大學畢業20週年聚會時,我忽然問起原來的班主任:“我個子又不矮,怎麼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 stature, how did you arrange me at the first row?"

一個高度近視的女博士去擦鞋店擦高統靴,禿頭老闆親自蹲下來給她效勞。

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

黑體字部分,正是契合了英語的表達習慣。


六、戒“愚忠”,不諳增減之道

我們耳熟能詳的東西外國人可能會感到一頭霧水,譯者需要增加必要的說明和補充或者減譯。否則,外國人會不知所云。畢竟,漢譯英最終是給外國人看的。

例如:風水

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

例如:(美國對臺)“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.

忽聞有人在牡丹亭畔長吁短嘆。允潛步窺立,乃府中歌姬貂禪也。

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

(羅慕士譯《三國演義·王司徒巧施連環計》)

會當凌絕頂,一覽衆山小。

One day I shall climb

Clear to the summit,

See how small surrounding

Mountain tops appear as they lie below me

新西蘭人路易·艾黎譯《杜甫·望嶽》)

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

我不會眼睜睜看着你往火坑裏跳,到時候我會閉上的。

不要嫌我黑,兩眼放光輝;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(敏銳的) 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 ”爲增譯,“府中”爲減譯,實併入後句。減譯手法在“七戒語句重複”中還會提及。

七、戒語句重複

漢語多重複,以強化語氣;英語則要儘量避免重複。

先生曰:“狼負我,狼負我!”狼曰:“吾非固欲負汝。天生汝輩,固需吾輩食也。”

“ 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 devour.”

(顏惠慶譯《馬中錫·中山狼傳》)

王曰:“此鳥不飛則已,一飛沖天;不鳴則已,一鳴驚人。”

“ 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.”

(楊憲益譯《史記·滑稽列傳》

阿凡提借了財主一錠金子,還他時給了他兩錠。

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

(選自艾臨《幽默新大陸》)

以上粗體字都是爲了避免重複,下面兩句中的粗體字屬於省譯,當然也是爲了避免重複。

又鬥爭,又團結,以鬥爭的手段,達團結之目的。

Unity, struggle, unity through struggle.

中國人也好,外國人也好,死人也好,活人也好,對的就是對的,不對的就是不對的。

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.

爲了避免重複,還可將相同的漢字故意譯成不同的英文,如

在78歲高齡的人的眼裏,大多數人都顯得有點年輕。倘若美利堅對44歲以下的人抱有不信任態度的話,它必將阻止傑佛遜起草獨立宣言,阻止華盛頓領導獨立戰爭,阻止麥迪遜制訂憲法,甚至阻止哥倫布發現新大陸!

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 clog necessarily Jefferson from drafting the Declaration of Independence, obstruct Washington from leading Independent War, prevent Madison from formulating the Constitution, and even keep Columbus from discovering the New Continent!

從渲染藝術效果來講,重複並非絕對不允許的,如:

行路難,行路難。

多歧路,今安在?

長風破浪會有時,

直掛雲帆濟滄海!

Hard is the way, hard is the way.

Don’t go astray! Whither today.

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

I’ll set my cloudlike sail to cross the sea which raves.

(許淵衝譯《李白·行路難》)

八、戒另起爐竈,走失精氣神,淪爲法國作家梅納日所批評的 “不忠的美人”——即語言優美但不忠於原文。(參見2005年08月26日《濟南日報》: 艾臨文章《不忠的美人與忠實的美人——寫在〈每天幽它一默〉出版後》)嚴復在翻譯《天演論》時偶 有爲“雅”而不“信” (見陳廷佑《英文漢譯技巧》)。譯文要力求其“信”,儘可能契合漢語原來句子的氣勢、情緒和結構。

例如,元朝人王實甫寫下了《西廂記》,張雪靜改編後並作了翻譯——

掏出張生那封信,回頭環視見梳妝檯上的梳妝盒,眼睛一轉,心裏說有了,將信放了進去,合上蓋時故意壓了一角露在外面。

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.

不難看出,譯文與原文相去甚遠,互不吻合,成了“兩張皮”。

我們不希望這件事影響中美關係。

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

用China hates to比“We don’t hope”貼切。

吾十五有志於學,三十而立,四十而不惑,五十而知天命,六十而耳順,七十而從心所欲不愈矩。

At fifteen, I had my mind bent 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 mandated for mankind; at sixty, I could comply with the appointments of heaven; at seventy, I could do as my heart desired, and never swerved from the path of right.

(金沛霖譯《論語》)

你已經死在過深的怨憤裏了嗎?

死?不,不,我還活着——

請給我以火,給我以火!

Have you perished in this deep rancor and bitterness?

Death? No, no. I’m still alive.

Please give me a light, give me a light!

(歐陽楨等譯《艾青·煤的對話》)

結語一:別以爲有本詞典就可動手翻譯了,再好的詞典也不能解決所有的問題。詞典是死的,人是活的,現實生活是千百萬化的,詞典易得,翻譯家難覓。“翻譯可能是宇宙進化迄今所產生的最複雜類型的事情。”這成了翻譯界的一句名言。翻譯不僅要求譯者有較高的英文水準,對各種句式成竹在胸,脫口而出,還要精通漢語,吃透中文的精神內涵。後者往往是被人們忽視的,相對反倒是更重要的,很多人英語寫得洋洋灑灑,漢語譯得艱澀拗口,問題多出在這裏。只有知難而進,學貫中西,才能筆筆如刀,遊刃有餘。光懂英語,或只懂漢語,都是做不好英漢翻譯工作的。

結語二:由於對翻譯歸屬的認知有分歧,導致了譯文風格上的明顯的反差。南京大學的許鈞認爲翻譯是科學,1+1=2;北京大學的許淵衝認爲翻譯是藝術,1+1〉2。爭論仍在繼續。我不想、也無力充當“二許之辯”的和事佬,不光因爲他們是名人、是大家,我只想保留自己的見解。竊以爲筆者系調和論者,在翻譯上科學性和藝術性兼而有之,就不同的體裁各有倚重。因爲在詩歌翻譯方面,我傾向是藝術,1+1〉2,賦予張力,收放有據;在論文、科技翻譯方面,我主張是科學,1+1=2,信守嚴謹,毫釐不爽。我記起傅雷1951年在《高老頭》重譯序言裏講過的話,“即使最優秀的譯文,其韻味較之原文仍不免過或不及”。可見,“度”的控制是何等的困難。基於這一理念,我對文中例句未作太多點評,僅僅以加粗的傾斜字體簡單地提醒和強調,把裁判權交給讀者。畢竟,譯作無定本,衆人即聖人,讀者纔是真正的上帝

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