第一篇:商务英语的语篇特点与翻译
Outline
1.Introduction
1.1 The difinition of busisses English
1.2 Purpose of the thesis
1.3 The practicability and importance of business English
2.Literature review2.1 Review about features of business English language 2.2 Review about structure of business English contexts 2.3 Review about the translation techniques in business English
3.Features of Business English Language
3.1 Features of vocabulary
3.1.1 Specific and narrowed meaning
3.1.2 Employing technical terms
3.1.3 Applying abbreviation
3.1.4 Coining new words and expressions
3.1.5 Using politeness and formal language3.2 Features of sentence
3.2.1 Complicated sentence structure
3.2.2 Adopting passive voice3.2.3 Direct and clear meaning 3.2.4 Limited tense and metaphors
4.Features and Techniques used in Business English Translation
4.1 The feature of business English Translation4.2 The techniques of business English translation
5.Conclusions
第二篇:试论商务英语语篇及其翻译
摘要:随着经济全球化时代的到来和我国加入WTO正式成为世界贸易组织的一员,商务英语翻译在我国经济生活中的地位与作用越来越重要。而我国商务英语翻译的理论研究目前还远远滞后于其实践的发展,加之一般翻译理论又并不完全适合商务英语翻译。因此,对商务英语翻译理论进行研究是非常必要的。鉴于此,本文参考国内外的现代翻译理论,对商务英语的翻译原则与方法进行了相关研究。本文探讨了适用于商务英语翻译的多种译论,包括语篇翻译理论和功能派译论。其中功能派译论包括交际翻译理论,功能对等理论,文本类型理论。另外,本文还介绍了商务英语中和翻译有关的概念,包括商务英语的定义、分类、内容及语言特点、功能。在结合这两方面分析的基础上,以语篇翻译提出的理论为框架,对商务英语语篇从宏观决策层和微观操作层两个层面进行分析。本文运用实例分析的方法,通过描述和比较成对的商务英语翻译语料,力求发现翻译活动是如何在真正的国际商务活动的背景下进行的。具体的分析过程分两步:第一,从抽选的译文的功能出发,与原文相比较,从而再现翻译商务文本的过程,并看出译者如何在此过程里体现原文本的意图,从而归纳出商务文本翻译的标准;第二,对比分析了大量商务翻译实例,考察了在以功能原则为导向下,翻译的具体操作方法。本文的结论是:1.从功能转换的角度提出了新的商务英语翻译标准。指示功能的转换:以译语读者为中心,实现充分转换;信息功能的转换:信息完整,术语准确,格式规范;酬应功能的转换:约定俗成,礼貌得体。在微观的翻译操作方面,对具体的词、句翻译方法进行了总结。
关键词:商务英语,翻译,翻译标准,翻译方法
第三篇:商务英语特点及翻译方法
商务英语特点及翻译方法
200720202081 植物科学技术学院 姚翰光
1.引言:
在我们熟知的生活英语、学术英语之外,商务英语是现代外资企业中最重要的交流工具。从客观上看商务英语比较直白、要求严谨准确,趣味性不强。但是工作类语言和工作是相辅相成的,所有人都需要工作或面临着工作,因此它成为了生存语言和发展语言,对谁都不可或缺。国外把标准化的商务英语作为选择非英语为母语国家员工的标准,成为进入国际化企业的通途。由此可见,解决这个问题就需要实行商务英语的“专业化”。
2、商务英语语言特点
2.1 专业性
商务英语涉及商务理论和商务实践等方面,其语言具有极强的专业性。商务英语的词汇都是缩略词汇,其中包含大量专业术语,具有商务含义的普通词或复合词,以及缩略词等。如forex:(foreign exchange)外汇,workfare(work welfare)工作福利制等等。不具有一定的专业知识是根本无法了解这些专业的商务英语词汇的内涵的。
2.2 使用书面语
商务文体措辞严谨精确、正式和不带个人感情色彩。为此,商务英语常用拉丁语派生词取代同义的一般英语词汇,这就是常说的书卷词(literary words),即所谓的“大词”。(1)冷僻用词代替日常用词。例:Everything concurred to jackup the price in the international market.(用concur 代替come together)。(2)使用古词语。商务文体中,古词语时而再现,以体现其庄重严肃的文体风格。经常使用的古词语多为一些复合副词,例:hereby(by this);wherea(t at/to which place)。
2.3 新词的使用
随着新产品、新工艺和新概念不断涌现,科学的进步和工商业的发展,必然反映在构成语言的最小的、最基本的独立运用单位词汇上,随之而来的就是新的商务术语的增加。例:cyber-payment 电子支付;hi-tech industry 高技术产业。
3、商务英语的文体风格
3.1 广告文体是实用文体中表现出“实用”特征非常明显的文体,其风格之一是语言词汇标新立异。例:Doteconomy 这个词由dot 和economy 构成,用来描述网络经济,既简洁又形象。
3.2 信函文体语句凝练精干,力求表达有效。语句凝练精干和表达有效是指选词简明、语法正确、使用得体。而同一词语在不同的语域里有不同的文体效果。例:We are in apposition to offer you50 long tons of Tins Foil Sheets(.我们能向贵方报50 英吨锡箔纸),“offer”译为“开盘”、“报盘”,有商务英语的语言特点而不同于其文学意义。
3.3 法律文体风格信息独特,具有稳定性和确凿性,是语言功能文体中正式的书面语。例:This CONTRACT is made by and betweenthe Buyers and the Sellers;whereby the Buyers agree to buy andthe Sellers agree to sell the under mentioned goods on the terms andconditions stated below:(兹经买卖双方同意,由买方购进,卖方售出下列货物,并按下列条款签订合同:)
4、商务英语翻译方法
4.1.1 单词分译
单词分译是指把原文中的一个单词拆译成一个小句或者句子。采用单词分译主要有两个目的:一是为了句法上的需要。由于一些单词在搭配、词义等方面的特点,直译会使句子生硬晦涩,而把某个单词分译却能使句子通顺,且不损伤原意。二是为了修饰上的需要,如加强语气,突出重点等。英语中的名词、动词、形容词和副词等都可分译。例1:We recognize that China's long-term modernization programunderstandablyand necessarily emphasizes economic growth.我们认识到,中国的长期现代化计划以发展经济为重点,这是可以理解的,也是必要的。
4.1.2短语分译
短语分译是指把原文中的一个短语分译成一个句子。名词短语、分词短语、介词短语等有时都可以分译成句。例1:These cheerful little trams,dating back to 1873,chug andsway up the towering hills with bells ringing and people hanging fromevery opening.这些令人欢快的小缆车建于1873 年,嘎嚓嘎嚓摇摆爬上高耸的山峦。车上铃儿叮当作响,每个窗口都是人。(介词短语分译)。例2:The military is forbidden to kill the vessel,a relatively easytask.军方被禁止击毁这艘潜艇,虽然要击毁它并不怎么费事。(名词短语分译)
4.2 顺序译法
有些英语语句叙述的一连串动作按发生的时间先后安排,或按逻辑关系安排,与汉语的表达方式比较一致,可按原文顺序译出。例:In international buying and selling of goods,there are a numberof risks,which,if they occur,will involve traders in financial losses.分析:按意群的关系,该句可以拆分为四部分:In internationalbuying and selling of goods/ there are a number of risks/ if they occur/which will involve traders in financial losses.原文各句的逻辑关系,表达次序与汉语基本一致,因此可以按原文译出。参考译文:(在)国际贸易货物的买卖(中)存在着各种各样的风险,这些风险的发生将会给(有关的)商人们带来经济损失。
4.3 逆序译法来
“逆序译法”又称“倒臵译法”,主要指句子的前后倒臵问题。有些英语语句的表达次序与汉语习惯不同,甚至语序完全相反,这是因为汉语在叙述动作时一般按照动作发生的先后顺序排列,而英语在叙述动作时,更多的是使用各种语法手段将动作的先后顺序打乱。这就要求我们必须从原文的后面译起,逆着原文的顺序翻译。例:Unless you are prepared to eat in silence you have to talk aboutsomething-something,that is,other than the business deal whichyou are continually chewing over in your mind.分析:该句可以拆分为四部分:Unless you are prepared to eat in silence/you have to talkabout something/-something,that is,other than the business deal/which you are continually chewing over in your mind(.这句英语长句的叙述层次与汉语逻辑相反,所以宜用逆译法。参考译文:吃饭时你必须随便谈些与生意无关的事情,否则你只能埋头吃饭。你什么都可以谈,但就是不能谈你脑子里一直在反复琢磨的生意。
语序调整是保证句子通顺的关键所在。翻译过程中大多需要将原句拆分成多个较短的句子,并且要通过多个短句表达出原句的修饰关系和意思,所以语序的调整是翻译中极其重要的一个环节,直接关系到意思是否完整,句子是否通顺。
5、结束语
综上所述,文体特色,语言特点等诸多因素影响着商务英语的翻译。因此,在翻译过程中,译者除了要打好扎实的英语语言基础,接受严格的语言训练外,还要根据商务英语的个性特点和规律,认真学习相关的国际商务知识,熟悉国际商务活动中各个环节的通常做法及表达用语,并大量阅读中外商务报刊杂志,了解当今时代的经济发展动态及各国经济交往中的文化差异。
第四篇:商务英语的特点及翻译技巧
XX财经大学 自 学 考 试 毕 业 论 文 题 目 商务英语的特点及翻译技巧 专 业 商务英语 学生姓名 论文编号 指导教师 2011 下 上/下 2 江西财经大学自学考试毕业论文指导登记表一 姓名 乐笑丽 专业 英语本科 编号 论文攒些成绩百分制 论文题目商务英语的特点及翻译技巧 开题报告选题研究的意义及主要内容 自20世纪第二次世界大战以后英语成为最强势的语言。同时由于经济全球化的迅速发展商务英语得到长足的发展。商务英语具有自己的语言特点 要真正掌握商务英语及其翻译 不仅需要精通英语语言知识 还必须熟悉商务专业知识 在商务英语翻译中必须遵循一定的翻译原则 采用一些翻译策略引言在我国加入WTO以后 国际商务活动日益频繁。这些商务活动的许多领域 如技术引进、对外贸易、招商引资、对外劳务承包与合同、国际金融、涉外保险、国际旅游、海外投资、国际运输等 所使用的英语统称为商务英语。商务英语已成为世界经济活动中必不可少的语言交际工具。尤其是BEC 剑桥商务英语证书 在中国的普及 使越来越多的人对商务英语及其翻译产生兴趣。本文主要就商务英语的特点和翻译技巧进行论述。如商务英语的专业性、内容缜密性等如商务英语翻译的一词多义、词类转译、词义引伸、词量增减等技巧。指导教师意见 开题报告符合本科论文要求同意开题。指导教师签名 3 商务英语的特点及翻译技巧 摘要 商务英语具有自己的语言特点 要真正掌握商务英语及其翻译 不仅需要精通英语语言知识 还必须熟悉商务专业知识 在商务英语翻译中必须遵循一定的翻译原则 采用一些翻译策略引言在我国加入WTO以后 国际商务活动日益频繁。这些商务活动的许多领域 如技术引进、对外贸易、招商引资、对外劳务承包与合同、国际金融、涉外保险、国际旅游、海外投资、国际运输等 所使用的英语统称为商务英语。商务英语已成为世界经济活动中必不可少的语言交际工具。尤其是BEC 剑桥商务英语证书 在中国的普及 使越来越多的人对商务英语及其翻译产生兴趣。关键词商务英语翻译理论 应用 技巧 原则 Abstract Business English has its own language characteristics To really master business English and translation not only need to master English language knowledge you must be familiar with business professional knowledge In business English translation must follow the certain translation principles using some translation strategy introduction: in China entered the WTO international business activities increasingly frequent.The business activities of many areas such as the introduction of technology foreign trade investment promotion foreign labor contract and contract the international finance foreign insurance international tourism overseas investment international transportation using the English collectively referred to as business English.Business English has become the economic activity of the essential language communication tools.Especially BEC Cambridge business English certificate in Chinas popularization make more and more people interested in business English and translation.Key words: Business English
Translation Theory Application Skills principle 4 目录
一、商务英语的概念...........1
二、商务英语的文化意识.............2
三、商务英语语言特点................3 一专业性.............3 二书卷词语的使用............4 三新词的使
用................5 四商务英语内容缜密、周到 复杂、意思完整.......6
四、商务英语翻译技巧...............7 一一词多义...........7 二词类转
译...........8 三词义引伸..........9 四词量增
减..........10
五、总结...............11 参考文献 致谢辞 5
一、商务英语的概念 商务英语是主要用于国际贸易和营销等商务活动中的一种特殊的英语语体。商务英语是专门用途英语的一个分支与普通英语相比没有本质上的区别但是商务英语具有特定的“商务特色”。它在词法、句法、语体等方面都有自身的特点而且常常会涉及到许多不同的业务范畴。商务英语涉及到营销、经济学、金融学、会计学和管理学等许多边缘领域同时它好涉及到对外贸易、技术引进招商投资、尚武谈判、国际支出和结算等业务范畴。作为专门用途英语的商务英语具有与普通英语不同的特点在使用上有其显著特色主要表现在文体、语言和文化意识方面。
二、商务英语的文化意识 在西方由于种族渊源自然环境宗教信仰经济发展程度等因素的不同构成了各不相同的文化体系 从而人们的观念传统思维方式价值取向以及语言表达等也大相径庭。在一种文化中被看成是自信和有专业能力的行为在另一种文化有可能被视为傲慢或对对方缺乏兴趣的表现。在一种文化中被看作是柔弱的东西如自我批评修正自己的观点或从多种视角来看问题等在跨文化交际中有可能是实现共同交际目的的最重要的前提之一。在商界因为公司主管们不熟悉客户所在国的风俗习惯和文化传统而蒙受损失的事屡屡发生。因此商务英语的学习者必须意识到许多文化差异的存在及其对商业和个人生活的影响避免出现“文化冲突”
三、商务英语语言特点 一专业性 商务英语在词汇使用上的最大特点是对专业词汇的精确运用 其中包含大 6 量专业词汇、具商务含义的普通词或复合词 以及缩略词等涉及商务理论和商务实践等方面其语言具有极强的专业性。如B/Lbill of lading提单Exp.Imp.Inc export-import incorporated进出口公司forexforeign exchange外汇workfarework welfare 工作福利制 blue chip绩优股a firm offer实盘等等。不具有一定的专业知识是根本无法了解这些专业的商务英语词汇的内涵的。二书卷词语的使用 商务文体措辞严谨精确、正式和不带个人感情色彩。为此商务英语常用拉丁语派生词取代同义的一般英语词汇这就是常说的书卷用词literary words或learnedwords即所谓的“大词”。1冷僻用词代替日常用词 Everything concurred to jack up theprice in the international market.用
concur代替come together 2大量使用古词语 商务文体中古词语时而再现以体现其庄重严肃的文体风格。经常使用的古词语多为一些复合副词 如 hereby by this whereatat/to which place。三新词的使用 随着新产品、新工艺和新概念不断涌现科学的进步和工商业的发展必然反映在构成语言的最小的、最基本的独立运用单位词汇上随之而来的就是新的商务术语的增加。如cyber-payment 电子支付emoney/cash 电子货币/现金 hi-techindustry 高技术产业。四商务英语内容缜密、周到 复杂、意思完整 由于涉及到双方或几方面的利益 商务合同、文件或一个条约所给的定义、条款和内容必须精确。为了做到准确无误不产生任何差异 用英语拟订、书写这些文件、合同时 除用词恰当外 还经常使用许多从句、短语用来修饰或限定其内容因此句子结构错综复杂。例如: Inspection: It is mutually agreedthat the certificate of quality and quantity or weight issued by themanufacturer shall be part of the documents for payment underrelevant 7 L/C.商品检验: 双方同意以制造厂出具的品质及数量或重量证明书作为有关信用证项目下付款的单据之一。句子中the certificate of quality and quantity or weight issued by themanufacturer shall be part of the documents for payment underrelevant L/C是主语从句 it是形式主语 It is mutually agreed用的是被动语态 意思相当于Both Parties agree 但前者比后者要正式
四、商务英语翻译技巧 一一词多义 同一个词由于语境不同其词义可千差万别。试看下面几个例子1They cannot obtain credit at all in the trade他们生意信誉已荡然无存。2They have opened the covering credit with the Bank of ChinaLondon他们已从伦敦中国银行开立了有关信用证。以上两个句子c red i t词义都有所区别。二词类转译 词类转译是国际商务翻译中常见的译词技巧。常见的有名词与动词 介词与动词的互相转译。1名词与动词的互相转译如Before the payment of these tariffsthe imported goods wi l l bein the custody of the customs交关税前进口货物由海关保管。由于语法限制只有用名词形式但译成汉语
时”payment“译作”交”。2 介词与动词的互相转译在许多场合下介词转译成动词时需要依据上下文进行引申具体地进行翻译。如We should advise you to get in touch with them for your requirements建议你方与他们取得联系洽购所需商品。三词义引伸 在商务英语翻译中有时会遇到某些词在词典上难以找到贴切具体上下文词义如生搬硬套译文往往语意不清甚至导致误解。在这种情况下需要根据上下文和逻辑关系从该词固有基本含义出发进一步加以引伸。例如The 8 arrivals do not conform to the sample如果将arriva】这个词的词义直接放入译文显然不能正确表达原文的意义所以需要进一步的引申。四词量增减 在商务英语翻译实践中词量增减也是很重要的一个翻译技巧。翻译过程中要根据原文上下文意思、逻辑关系以及译文语言句法特点和表达习惯在翻译时有时增加原文字面没有出现但实际内容已包含词或者减去原文虽有但译文语言表达用不着词。1增词根据具体上下文可增加动词、形容词 名词或别词类但在什么时候增加什么样词才能恰到好处而不超出一定界限则需要在长期的翻译过程中实践和积累。如AI】cash bonus shal】be subject to income tax所有现金红利均须缴纳所得税。根据汉语行文习惯增加动词2减词减词译法可以使译文言简意赅改变翻译中逐字翻译作造成的累赘、拖沓或不符合行文习惯甚至产生歧义的现象。如On condition that you sign this receipt 1 wil】pay the money你在收据上签字我就付款。
五、总结 要做好商务英语翻译需要具备深厚的专业知识对国际贸易的相关术语要有较全面的了解。同时还要掌握商务英语翻译的基本原则和技巧。只有将这两方面的技能有效结合才能在商务英语翻译中感到得心应手 为了真正掌握商务英语 我们必须在打好英语语言基础的前提下 加强商务知识的学习两者相辅相成 才能促进商务英语水平的不断提高。同时 在商务英语的翻译中 必须遵循一定的翻译原则 采用一些翻译策略。只有不断地学习最新的知识 积累实践经验 扩大知识面 才能使商务英语的翻译真正达到信、达、雅的境界。9 参考文献 1罗瑜珍黄彩燕.商务英语合同汉译技巧初探J.闽西职业技术学院学报20112.2於奇:商务 英语翻译M.郑州大学出版社2005 3马会涓:论商务文本翻译标准的多元化J.中国翻译2005 4王春晖.商务英语缩略语的构成方式与翻译技巧J.重庆电子工程职业学院学报20103.5卫娜.商务英语的语言特征及其翻译技巧J.通化师范学院学报20095.6崔卫.商务英语合同的语言特色及翻译技巧J.中国商贸201012.7黄欢.商务英语翻译中的文化差异及应对策略J.中国校外教育201010.8王琰.商务英语翻译中定语从句的译法J.吉林广播电视大学学报20104.9黄以平.商务英语的用词特点及汉译技巧J.连云港职业技术学院学报综合版20061.10刘连芳王春晖.中西文化差异对商务英语翻译的影响及对策J.长沙大学学报20101.11刘艳芳.商务英语被动句的汉译J.科技信息201030.12谭美云.商务英语定语从句的理解和翻译技巧J.海外英语20117.13贾静.商务英语翻译翻译技巧与文化交流的综合体D.内蒙古大学: 内蒙古大学2010.14洪碧芬.浅谈商务英语的翻译技巧J.哈尔滨职业技术学院学报20106.15张丽丽.浅谈商务英语的语言特征及翻译J.承德民族师专学报20112.10 致谢辞 逝者如斯不舍昼夜春去秋来岁月稍纵即逝.此时回头想想这段短暂的求学路时而喜悦时而惆怅.在这个美丽的校园里原本天真幼稚的我如今已蜕变.感谢命运的安排让我有幸结识许多良师益友.是他们教我如何品位人生让我懂得如何更好的生活人生处处是驿站已是挥手作别之时在此向我的指导老师史湘琳女士帮助过我的同学一直支持着我的家人献上我最诚挚的谢意 “饮其留时思其源成吾学时念吾师”.至此论文完成之际谨向我尊敬的导师致以诚挚的谢意和崇高的敬意.非常高兴能成为你的学生在这短短的时间里聆听着您孜孜不倦的教诲感受着你严谨进取的治学精神和乐观向上的生活态度我不仅体会到知识与研究的魅力也学会了许多做人的道理.在此谨向你表示我最衷心的感谢同时祝你工作顺利身体健康
第五篇:第五章 语篇翻译
第五章 语篇翻译
(计划学时 10 课时)
本章重点:语篇翻译技巧运用,篇章整体对译文行文用字的调节和限定作用,语篇翻译动笔能力训练,课堂翻译练习讲评. 1 语篇与语篇翻译
什么是语篇?定义多样,莫衷一是。我们不妨借用 李运兴 教授的话来下一个简短而明确的定义:“所谓语篇,即在交际功能上相对完整和独立的一个语言片段。内容相对完整的文章或著作节选可称为语篇”。
那么,翻译中如何看待语篇呢? 李运兴 教授进一步指出:“重要的是,译者必须把翻译的篇章当作一个整体来看待。篇章固然是一个个段落、一个个句子组成的,但又比一个个段落、一个个句子的总合多些什么,因为篇章不是语句的机械叠加,而是一种有机的、动态的组合”,这一观点十分适合英--汉、汉 — 英翻译的实际。
翻译时,译者还必须树立“大语篇观”的思想(居祖纯),就是说,“译者翻译任何语篇时,必须有对该语篇的文化、历史、现状等有较好或者是粗浅的了解;理解正着手翻译的原文的全部,甚至局部、片段时,译者都要运用这一知识,因为所需翻译的原文涉及的有时不只是该短篇文字字面上所涉及的点滴知识,而且还会旁及使用该国文字的国家的上下数百年乃至数千年的文化积淀,以及当前的社会现状”(居祖纯)。
大量的翻译实践也告诉我们,任何翻译任务不可能只是单句的简单翻译,译者实际接触的都是大段大段成篇累牍的文章。相对单句翻译而言,难度要大得多,情况也复杂得多。因此,语篇翻译不仅是翻译中的一个重点和难点,也是我们英语专业八级考试的重要内容之一。专业八级的翻译不是翻译语句,而是翻译语篇或是从某一语篇中摘选若干段落来进行翻译,大多都提供该段落前后的上下文,离开这种上下文语境,有些句子不可能译出。同时,从翻译题材来看,大多为国内报刊杂志上的文章和一般文学作品(汉译英)以及英美报刊杂志文章和文学原著(英译汉),速度为 250-300 字(单词)/ 小时。因此,搞好语篇翻译训练不仅能让我们从现实中受益,有助于通过八级考试,还有着更为深远的意义,让我们在今后的工作中懂得如何应对真正的翻译。
那么,语篇翻译以什么作为基本翻译单位为宜呢?整篇文章?语段群?还是句子?这要视情而定。根据多年的翻译实践,郭建中 教授认为,翻译以原文自然段为基本单位比较合适。这是因为,“
一、可考虑到句与句之间的连接与呼 应;
二、可考虑句与句之间的逻辑关系以重组句子;
三、可按译文结构的特点对原文进行段落重构或改写;
四、可考虑到段与段之间的关系和衔接从而扩大到段群和整个语篇”。
任何篇章翻译都离不开上下文语境甚至“大语篇”的提示或制约,例如下面一则英语八级考试翻译全真试题:
例 1.(96 年真题)(„ The three principals and their two deputies had come from around the country for a critical meeting.Their aim was to devise a trategy that would guarantee Roald Reagan's resounding reelection to a second term in the White House.)It should have been easy.These were battle-tested veterans with long ties to Reagan and even longer ones to the Republican Party, men who understood presidential polities as well as any in the country.The backdrop of the campaign was hospitable , with lots of good news to work with : America was at peace , and the nation's economy, a key factor in any election, was rebounding vigorously after recession.Further more, the campaign itself was lavishly finaced , with plenty of money for a topflight staff , travel , and television commercials.And, most important, their candidate was Ronald Reagan, a president of tremendous personal popularity and dazzling communication skills.Reagan has succeeded more than any president since John F.Kennedy in projecting a broad vision of America---a nation of renewed military strength , individual initiative , and smaller federal government.这是一篇报刊文章,译文风格不宜太口语化,还要掌握政治用语的分寸,使译文尽量符合汉语的习惯。同时,原文中划底线语句的译文也要 根据上文语境和大语篇的提示 准确理解后才能译出来:
1)狭义语篇语境(即上下文)明确了原文中 “ it ”、“ these & men ” 的实际所指: “ guarantee Ronald Reagan's resounding reelection to a second term in the White House ” 和 “ The three principals and their two deputies ”,即 “ 谋求再次当选 ” 和 “ 三位主角与两位助理 ”。
2)广义语篇语境(社会文化语境)提示了原文中 “ campaign ”、“ staff ”、“ travel ”、“ television commercials ” 等词的实际内涵为 “ 总统竞选 ”、“ 竞选班子 ”、“ 全国巡回演说 ”、“ 电视宣传 ”,这都是美国政治和社会生活特定的产物,必须准确到位。
3)对照原文,下面译文粗体部分字句译得十分老到,符合汉语政治用语的习惯,与原文语气十分吻合,与整个篇章的风格融为一体:
谋求再次当选 理应轻而易举。这都是些 跟随里根多年身经百战的 政坛宿将,与共和党的渊源更为深远,他们 比国内任何一个人都 深谙总统政治。竞选 的背景也十分有利,大有文章可做的 好消息 比比皆是 :美国 正值太平盛世,作为竞选关键因素的国内经济,在长期衰退后 正强劲反弹。还有,竞选经费也 十分充裕,足够 雇用一流的竞选班子 和 支付 全国巡回演说与电视宣传 的一切费用。而更为重要的是,他们的候选人是里根,一位 名声显赫 而又 长于交际 的 现任 总统,自约翰 ·F· 肯尼迪以来,还没有哪一位美国总统能像里根一样,为美国描绘出那样广阔的国家前景:美国将 重振军事雄风,倡导个人首创精神 以及 精简 联邦政府。
例 2.(Kurt Frosheiser watched the invasion of Iraq on TV, looking, according to his sister, more serious than she had ever seen him.He had an option to get out of serving , but he left home on April 16th for basic training at Fort Knox , Kentucky.)InJune, the family drove down to seehim on Family Day, and Chris(注: Frosheiser's father)was stunned by the transformation : His son stood at perfect attention on Pershing Field for forty-five minutes in his dress uniform.It was the same in August, when they attended graduation: Private Frosheiser, marching, singing with his classmates, “Pick up your wounded, pick up your dead.” Chris found the words chilling, but the music, the sharpness of the formation, the bearing of his son, filled him with pride.六月,全家在“家庭节”那天驾车去看他,克莱司被他儿子的 转变 完全惊呆了:他儿子 一身戎装,肃然而立,在操场上一站就是 45 分钟。而八月出席他儿子的毕业典礼时,情景依旧: 列兵 Frosheiser,正与同班同学列队行进,阔步高歌 :(抬走伤员,搬开尸体)。尽管这歌词令克莱司不寒而栗,但那 军乐,那 齐整的方阵,以及他儿子的 军人风度,却让他自豪不已。
括号内粗体部分的字句无疑为后面的译文给予了提示和限定。
具体就段落组合而言,英、汉之间的确存在着很大差异。例如,汉语段落以“气”(语气)为先,逐一展开,语句组合灵活,不拘形态,行文布局往往依“气”而行,“气”终则句止,段中各小句多呈竹节型平行铺开,“形”散而“神”聚。而 英语则是一种语法关系配合制约严谨、形态标记鲜明、语义逻辑关系外显的语言,它以“形”统“义”,行文布局“形”到则“意”到,“形”不全则“意”不明,段落展开必须逻辑层次分明、语法关系严谨,因而它必须具备一套远比汉语完整精细得多的语法手段和规则。翻译时若不明这一点,一味照搬汉语的方式在英语中行文布局,将会使译文章法大乱,溃不成文!
这方面先看下面 一段早几年英语八级考试中的汉语原文:
例 1 .近代的上海,十里洋场,// 自开埠(读“布”)以来,固然有许多辛酸的不平等的血泪史,固然有许多污泥浊水,这里被成为是“冒险家的乐园”,// 这里有鸦片,有荡妇,有赌棍,// 使人纸醉金迷,乃至使人堕落。// 可是,上海这座现代大城市却更有它的另一面,// 它有活力、它聪慧、革新、进取,// 它敢于担风险,有竞争意识及机制(?!),// 这种城市意识(?!)或风格,使人奋发,跟上时代,走向进步。
全段由两个长句构成,每一个长句都是一“逗”到底,形式松散,看不出任何语法形态标记,却包含着复杂的逻辑关系和语义层次(见标记处),再加上里面有些词义不好把握,因而,这段文字成为历年八级考试中最难的一道考题。要将这一段汉语译成英文,必须打破汉语的布局,按英语的习惯,用严谨缜密的语法手段,或拆开来译(译文 1),或按英语的逻辑排列重新组合(译文 2):
(1)Shanghai in modern times was a metropolis infested with adventurers.// After the port city opened to foreigners, it undeniably witnessed a history of blood and tears, bitterness and inequality.// There was also, undoubtedly, filth and mire.// It was known as the “Parasise of Adventuers”.// There were opium-takers, harlots and gamesters.// All these induced people to wallow in luxury and even degeneracy.// There was , however, another fecet to modern Shanghai.// It was vigorous, intelligent, creative and enterprising.// Not afraid of running risks, it had the awareness and mechanism of competition.// The city , with an awareness of competition and a style of its own, inspired its people to catch up with the times and make progress.(2 拆 10,以单句为主,意义简明)
但若排除应试因素,仔细斟酌,译文还可这样展开:
(2)(试译,仅供参考)Shanghai in modern times was a metropolis crowded with foreign adventurers.// After the port city opened up , it witnessed a history of blood and tears filled with bitterness, inequality, filth and mire, well-known as the “Parasise of Adventuers” for its rampant opium, harlots and gamesters, which induced people to indulge in luxury and even degeneracy.//There was, however, another facet to modern Shanghai noted for its vigor, intelligence, creations and enterprise with a spirit ready for running risks, which formed an awareness of its own and the mechanism of competition.//The city, with this awareness or style, inspired its people to keep up with the times and make progress.(释义:近代的上海曾是一个十里洋场。// 自开埠以来,历经了充满辛酸、充满污秽和不平等的血泪史,以充斥着鸦片、荡妇、赌棍的“冒险家乐园”而着称,使人纸醉金迷,乃至堕落。// 但上海又以其活力、聪慧、革新、进取,敢于担风险而展示出它的另一面,形成其特有的竞争意识和机制。// 带着这种城市意识或风格,这座城市使人奋发,使人跟上时代,使人走向进步。)(2 化 4,“合”“分”有序,结构较合理)
英汉对照,汉语隐含的语义逻辑关系在译文中尽显无疑(译文加底线部分,还请注意译文 2 斜体部分用词上的不同),清楚地表明了汉、英语段落在行文布局上的差异。
例 2 .(03 年全真题)得病以前,我受父母宠爱,在家中 横行霸道。一旦隔离,拘禁在 花园山坡上一幢小房子里,我顿感到 打入冷宫,十分郁 郁不得志 起来。一个春天的傍晚,园中百花怒放,父母在园中设宴,一时宾客云集,笑语四溢。我在山坡的小屋里,悄悄地 掀起 窗帘,窥见园中 大千世界,一片繁华。自己的哥姐、堂表兄弟,也穿插其间,个个喜气洋洋。一瞬间,一阵 被人摈弃、为世所遗的悲愤 兜上心头,禁不住痛哭起来。
这是一段叙事散文,行文如流水,颇具童趣,但字里行间却隐含一定的语义逻辑关系,翻译须用英语相应的语法手段将其充分表露出来(注意加底线部分),不然译文会章法大乱。同时,还要从语篇整体上把握全文的语气和风格,敢于打破汉语字面的约束,既不“过”也不“不及”,掌握分寸,真正译出原文的神采来:
参考译文(1): Spoiled rottern by my parents, I had been behaving like a real tyrant in the family before I fell sick.I felt like being thrown into a cold palace the minute when segregated and confined into in a small house on the hillside in our garden.I was depressed and frustrated.On a spring evening when all the flowers were blooming, my parents gave a banquet in the gardenand in no time, the garden was crowded with guests and the air was floated with laughter.Unnoticed by others, I lifted the curtain and peeped from my small room at the hustling kaleidoscope down in the garden.My older brothers and sisters, as well as my cousins, were shuttling joyfully back and forth among the guests.I was overwhelmed by a bitter sense of being abandoned and forgotten by people and just couldn.t help but cried my eyes out.(2)Before I fell ill, I could have my way at home , since my parents doted on me a lot.Once I was isolated and confined in a chamber on the hillside of the garden, I suddenly felt I was neglected and became very depressed.One a spring evening, my parents held a banquet in the garden, where all sorts of flowers were in full bloom.For a time, guests gathered there , chatting and laughing.Quietly lifting the curtain of the chamber, I caught a glimpse of the hustling and exciting scene in the garden.I saw my brothers, sisters and cousins were all there, full of joy.All of a sudden, I was caught by the feeling of being abandoned.With grief and indignation welling up inside me , I couldn't help crying bitterly.)措辞讲究分寸,没有望文生义(粗斜体)
2)语义逻辑层次清楚,主次分明(底线处)
两种译文,孰仁孰智,各有道理。
再看英译汉。一般而言,英语八级考试中的英语原文结构都不太复杂,但要真正理解词义,用准确地道的译文表达出原文的实际意义,则需结合整个篇章仔细琢磨推敲。有趣的是,相对汉译英而言,有些英译汉的文章,其难点并不在理解,而在其“意会”之后却难以“言传”,例如:
例 3 .(02 年 全 真题)Winners do not dedicate their lives to a concept of what they imagine they should be , rather, they are themselves and as such do not use their energy putting on a performance , maintaining pretence and manipulating(操纵)others.They are awere that there is a difference between being loved and acting loving , between being stupid and acting stupid , between being knowledgeable and acting knowledgeable.Winners do not need to hide behind a mask.Winners are not afraid to do their own thinking and to use their own knowledge.They can separate facts from opinions and don't pretend to have all the answers.They listen to others, evaluate what they say, but come to their own conclusions.Although winners can admire and respect other people, they are not totally defined , demolished , bound , or awed by them.Winners do not play”helpless” , nor do they play the blaming game , the assure responsibility for their own lives.这段文字尽管意思都懂,但要把斜体部分的字句真正用贴切地汉语表达出来,可能要费点工夫。当然,考场上短短的 30 分钟“短兵相接”时,下面的译文可算是相当不错:
(1)让 自己成为想象中的那种人,这不是成功者一生所追寻的目标,相反,他们活得自由自在。因此,他们不会耗费精力在人前演戏,也不会装腔作势,更不会操纵他人。他们明白真心关爱与虚情假意、真傻与装傻、真才实学与佯装有才学之间的区别,他们不需要带假面具。
成功者不怕独立思考,也不怕运用自己的知识。他们能把事实与观点区分开来,也不装做无所不知。他们倾听别人的意见,评价别人的观点,但却有自己的结论。尽管他们也崇拜他人,但决不为别人所限制、所束缚、所吓倒。
成功者不会现出无助的样子,也不会怨天尤人。相反,他们对自己的生活负责。
已经很不错了,也较通顺达意,但若时间充裕,排除应试因素,译文还可仔细斟酌,进一步润色:
(2)[ 试译,仅供参考 ] :赢家(成功者)不会刻意追求那种想象中的自我良好形象,相反,他们会 保持真我的本色。正因为此,他们不愿在 人前做秀 与 装腔作势,也不想摆布别人。他们明了 真爱与虚情、真傻与装傻、真学问与假学问 之间的区别,他们 无需面具掩藏真我。
赢家(成功者)勇于独立思考,也 敢于展示才华。他们能区分 客观事实 与 主观意愿 的不同,从不 装做通晓一切。他们 听取别人意见,能权衡 6 斟酌,然而却有自己的结论。尽管他们也崇拜他人,但决不 受其左右、为之倾倒而丧失自我。
赢家(成功者)不会 摆出 无助的样子,也决不会 怨天尤人。相反,他们 对自己的生活尽职尽责。
例 4.The most sensible people to be met with in society are men of business and of the world , who argue from what they see and know, instead of spinning cobwet distinctions of what things ought to be.Women have often more of what is called good sense than men.They have fewer pretensions;are less implicated in theories, and judge of objects more from their immediate and involuntary impression on the mind, and, therefore, more truly and naturally.They cannot reason wrong, for they do not reason at all.They do not think or speak by rule, and they have in general more eloquence and wit as well as sense, on that account.By their wit, sense, and eloquence together, they generally contrive to govern their husbands.Their style, when they write to their friends, is better than that of most authors.Uneducated people have most exuberance of invention.商人和 见过世面的人 是我们在社会上见到的最 通达事理的人。他们讨论问题时从自己的所见所闻出发,而不 纠缠于事物的是非曲直。和男人相比,女人通常有更好的所谓直觉。她们很少自命不凡;她们也不大 深究 理论,她们判断事物更多地是从头脑中 下意识的第一印象 出发,因此她们的判断也就更真实和自然。她们不可能有推理错误,因为她们根本就不推理。她们思考或讲话时也不遵循什么规则; 正因为如此,她们一般更善辩,更机智,直觉更好。集机智、善辩与出色的直觉于一身,她们通常都有办法 支配 自己的丈夫。在给朋友的书信中,她们的文笔会令大多数作家自愧不如。没读过多少书的人往往点子最多。
上述译文斜体部分的字句都是结合整个段落从字里行间推敲出来的。可见,选词用字既受整体语篇的启发,又受整体语篇的约束,特别是作者的语气不易表达,要做到准确、贴切、不失分寸的确不太容易。Class-work 1
(2006 年八级考试汉译英试题)中华民族自古以来从不把人看作高于一切,在哲学文艺方面的表现都反映出人在自然界中与万物占着一个比例较为恰当的地位,而非绝对统治万物的主宰。因此我们的苦闷,基本上比西方人为少为小,因为苦闷的强弱原是随欲望与野心的大小而转移的。农业社会的人比工业社会的人享受差得多,因此欲望也小得多,况中国古代素来以不滞于物、不为物役为最主要的人生哲学。并非我们没有守财奴,但比起莫利哀与巴尔扎克笔下的守财奴与野心家,就小巫见大巫了。中华民族多数是性情中正平和、淡泊、朴实,比西方人容易满足。(翻译划线部分)
讨论稿 1.(仅供参考!): From the ancient times(Since time immemorial)the Chinese people have never viewed the human beings as superior in the world, which is completely reflected in what they've done in their philosophy and art, showing that a human being has the status quite appropriately in proportion to other things on earth, rather than an absolute ruler in the world.Therefore, what we've suffered is much less and smaller compared with the westerners, for the depressions vary with the different desires and the ambitions the people have.People in the agricultural society have much less enjoyment than those in the industrial society, thus their desire much less.What's more, in ancient China , Chinese people always took the concept//notion of “Never addict oneself as a slave to material wealth” mainly as their philosophy in life.[ 语言通俗、结构连贯 ]
讨论稿 2.The Chinese nation has never believed in human supremacy.And the nation finds full expression in the philosophy, literature and art that human coexist with other species in nature with a proportionally proper rather than an absolutely dominant position.Therefore we generally suffer less depression than Westerners, as the degree of the suffering varies with that of our desire and ambition.People in the agricultural society have much less enjoyment than those in the industrial society, and hence less desire.Moreover, the main Chinese ancient philosophy of life is always to be free from the encumbrance or enslavement of the outside world.Certainly there are among us misers(守财奴)and careerists(野心家)depicted(描述)by Moliere and Balzac.In comparison with Westerners, the Chinese people, easier to be satisfied, are mostly unbiased(无偏见), peaceful, unworldly and guileless(厚道).(邵志洪译)[ 用词更讲究 ] . 2 语篇翻译常见问题及其对策. 2 . 1 斤斤于字比句次,措辞生硬
主要表现为摆不脱原文字面的束缚,跟着原文亦步亦趋,斤斤于分寸不失。一句一句看,似乎与原文相差无几,但就是读来别扭生硬,“翻译腔”十足,其 结果往往是有字无篇,使作者的本义和原文意脉大打折扣 :
例 1.Solitude is an excellent laboratory in which to observe the exten t to which manners and habits are conditioned by others.My table manners are atrocious(丑恶)----in this respect I've slipped back hundreds of years in fact, I have no manners whatsoever.If I feel like 8 it , I eat with my fingers , or out of a can , or standing up---in other words, whichever is easiest.(1)孤独是一个很好的实验室,在其中观察礼貌和习惯受别人制约所达到的程度。我的 餐桌举止十分恶劣 ——这方面我已倒退了数百年;事实上我没有任何规矩,如果我觉得喜欢,我就 用手指吃,或 用罐头吃,或站着吃——换句话说,看那种吃法最容易。(打不破字面的束缚,语气生硬)
(2)孤独 是一块极好的试金石,利于观察一个人的举止和习惯在多大程度上受人制约。我的吃相实在不雅,这方面 一下 就倒退了几百年,实在是一点规矩也没有。只要觉得合适,我可用手抓着吃,直接拿着罐头吃,或是站着吃: 反正怎么省事就怎么吃。(深究字里行间内涵,语气较自然)
例 2 . Now that we have begun exploring in earnest, we are getting glimpses of how huge the questions are, and how far being answered.It is not so bad being ignorant if you are totally ignorant;the hard thing is knowing in some detail the reality of ignorance , the worst spots and here and there the not-so-bad spots, but no true light at the end of the tunnel nor even any tunnels that can yet be trusted.(1)既然我们已经认真开始探索,我们就已瞥见问题多么巨大、答案多么遥远。如果你完全无知,这种无知还不坏,困难的事情就是较为详尽地了解无知的现实,最坏的地方和这儿那儿不太坏的地方,但是既没有通道尽头真理的灯光,甚至还没有可以信赖的通道。
[ 明显有逻辑缺失,不合汉语事理顺序 ]
(2)我们既已认真开始了探索,那么,就已窥见冰山一角,看到问题数量之庞大、答案寻求之遥远。假若你完全无知,这还不太难办,难就难在要具体了解无知的现状——哪些是最糟糕的,那些是夹在其中又不太糟糕的——而这一切,却没有 通道尽头 灯光的正确指引,甚至连 可信赖的通道 都没有。
例 3.“ 我叫阿毛,没有应。出去一看,只见 豆 撒得一地,没有我们的阿毛了。他是不到别人家去玩的; 各处去一问,果然没有。我急了,央人出去寻,直到下半天,寻来寻去 寻到山坳里,看见刺柴上挂着他的一只小鞋。大家都说,糟了,怕是遭了狼了。再进去,他 果然 躺在草巢里,肚里的 五脏 已经 都给吃空了,手上还紧紧地捏着那只小 篮 呢。”
这是文学作品,也是八级考试的选材内容之一,典型的口头叙述,应该不难。那么,是不是可以逐字直译呢?答案是否定的,不信请看:
(1)“I called Amao but no answer.I went out to have a look, only finding that the beans scattered over the ground, but our Amao could not be found.He never went to other people's houses for playing.I went everywhere to ask, he was not there as expected.I got worried and asked some people to look for him.Not until in the afternoon, after searched everywhere , did they find a small shoe of his hanging on the bramble.Everybody said that it was too bad!He was likely to meet with a wolf!They then came in.He was indeed lying in the grass nest.His five internal organs were all eaten up.His hand still held tight that small basket!”.除了感觉有点松散之外,似乎没有其它毛病。但仔细对照一下原文打底线处的文字,不会觉得有点语气不对吗?若还看不出问题,不妨对照下面的译文斟酌一下,看是否改得有道理:
(2)[ 试译,仅供参考!] “I called Amao but no answer.I went out to look for him , only finding the beans scattered over the ground but no Amao.Although I knew that he would never play in neighbour's houses, I still went there to try but, with no surprise, failed to find him.I got worried and sent people for him.Not until that afternoon, after trying anywhere possible in the mountains , did they find a small shoe of his hanging on the bramble.When seeing this , everybody there realized that something bad must have happened-----he was killed by a wolf!They went closer and found him, as expected , lying in the wolf's den , all his innards gone , with his hand still holding tight that small basket!”.译文(2)似乎比译文(1)强一点,强就强在没有死扣原文字面和结构,将原文语篇内字里行间隐含的语气引申了出来,既合理保留了口语体的特色,逻辑层次似乎也清楚一些,措辞也更贴切一些。这些字与句的变化符合语篇情景(textual situation)尽管是口述形式,但作为小说却是让人读的,因此文法和修辞同样不容忽视。. 2 . 2 结构松散,表达过于口语化
主要表现为译文(特别是汉译英)单句成串,结构散乱,语义层次不清,行文方式过分口语化。要知道,笔译和口译毕竟不是一回事,口译好未见得就笔译好。口译要求的是快速与直接,有时零散断续的表达甚至只字片言都能在特定的场合进行现场交流,但用于笔译却不行。尤其是在汉译英方面,口语化的表达尽管简短直接,但作为书面语,会使译文显得松散零碎,读来近似 school English,特别是在篇章翻译中,毕竟还是要讲究一下文法和修辞,注意一下篇章结构,顾及一下读者的审美期待,不宜一味按口语体行事。因为,“ 英语有英语的文采;汉语有汉语的文采”,“英语的文采主要表现在盘根错节、欲罢不能的绵长句型;表现在那易如反掌、新意闪烁的词的转义”(毛荣贵),篇章或段落不是一色的简单句的罗列。当然,这又牵涉到翻译中的文体问题,牵涉到源种与译语间的文化差异。而具体到篇章翻译,就要从“大语篇”的角度来审视整个语篇,分清文体及其风格,从整体上把握住篇章的基调和语气。当然,在考场 的特殊条件下,实在译不出来时,能用口语化的简单句将原文意思罗列出来,要比乱七八糟的译文好,但说到底,这毕竟不是我们翻译追求的目标。例如:
例 1 . 有一次,在拥挤的车厢门口,我听见一位男乘客客客气气地问他前面的一位女乘客:“您下车吗?”女乘客没理他。“您下车吗?”他又问了一遍。女乘客还是没理他。他耐不住了,放大声问:“下车吗?”,那女乘客依然没反应。“你是聋子,还是哑巴?”他急了,捅了一下那女乘客,也引起了车厢里的人都往这里看。女乘客这时也急了,瞪起一双眼睛,回手给了男乘客一拳。(庄绎传,英汉翻译教程,1999 :练习3)
这明显是一篇新闻报道,文字浅显,有人把它用作八级考试模拟题,因为它既有对话又有叙述,翻译时行文用字须视情而定:对话部分可用口语体,叙述部分则须用书面体。有人不加区别,将它译为:
(1)Once at the crowded door of the bus, I heard a man passenger asked politely a woman passenger before him: “Are you getting off?” The woman made no answer.“Are you getting off?”, the man asked again, but t he woman sill didn't pay attention to him.The man couldn't be polite any longer and asked loudly, the woman still had no response.“Are you a deaf or a dumb?” He became upset and gave a push to the woman , and also it attracted the attention of other passengers.At this time, the woman also became upset , stared at the man and gave him back a fist.且不论文中措辞如何,是不是觉得有点琐碎?这就是口语体给人的印象。从整个篇章布局考虑,其实是可以这样处理的:
(2)Once at the crowded doorway in a bus, I heard a man asked politely a woman before him: “Are you getting off?”The woman had no response.He then repeated it but in vain.He got impatient and asked louder : “Getting off?”, but still no answer at all.He became irritated, shouting : “Are you a deaf or a dumb?”, and gave her a push, which drew other passengers' attention.Annoyed , the woman glared at him and hit him back(with her fist).之所以可如此行文用字是因为有语篇上下文的照应,较之译文(1)要文从字顺得多。二者相比,口语体与书面体表达效果的差异可见一斑。特别是对于严肃文体,例如下面的一段文章,翻译时更要高度注意文体的统一:
例 2 . Books possess an essence of immortality.They are by far the most lasting products of human effort.Temples and statues decay, but books survive.Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago.What was then said and thought still speaks to us vividly as ever from the printed page.The only effect of time has been sift out(筛落)the bad products, for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.(1)书的特质在于永恒,是人类经努力奋斗而产生的最长久产品。庙宇和雕塑会腐朽,但书籍却能永存。时间在伟大思想面前毫无作用,许多年前闪现在作者心头的思想至今仍栩栩如生。当年的所言所思至今仍在印刷的纸上生动地回响。时间的唯一作用就是去掉糟粕。只要是真正的精华就能在文学上永存。
这样的译文如何?应付考试已相当不错了,尽管有个别地方不太到位。但是,若行文讲究一些,整合过分口语化的地方,译文则更好:
(2)书的实质在于 世代永存,是 迄今 人类 长期努力得来的 最持久产品。庙宇会 坍塌,雕像 会腐蚀,但书籍却能永存。伟大的思想不会因岁月的流失而消泯,前人的思想 历久长新,其所言所思至今仍 跃然纸上、声声入耳。悠悠岁月 只会 去尽糟粕,真正的好书 经得起历史的淘汰和荡涤。
例 3.在中国古代史上,黄河被称为中华民族的“母亲”,她哺育了千千万万中华儿女。黄河流域是中华民族的“摇篮”,也是中华文化的发祥地。远古时代,这里曾经草木茂盛、植物繁茂,中华民族的祖先便在这块广袤的土地上劳作生息。经过数十万年原始社会后,在中国辽阔的国土上,这里最先进入农业文明,也最早进入阶级社会。勤劳勇敢的中华儿女在这里谱写了惊心动魄的历史篇章,创造了绚丽多彩的艺术文化,黄河流域至今保留着大量的文化古迹。
(1)In ancient history of China , the Yellow River was called the “mother”of the Chinese nation, who fed hundreds of millions of Chinese people.The Yellow River Valley was called the “cradle” of the Chinese nation and it is the birthplace of its civilization.In ancient times, a lot of trees, grass, and plants overgrew in this vast land, where our ancestors lived and worked.After hundreds of thousands of years of the primitive society, the Yellow River Valley first entered the agricultural civilization and also the first class society in the vast territory of China , where the diligent and brave Chinese people wrote a lot of breath-taking stories with historical events and created colorful arts in culture, with many historic relics remaining here.再琢磨一下,注意译文结构,效果可能更好:
(2)Known in ancient history of China as the “mother”of the nation, the Yellow River has given life to hundreds of millions of Chinese people.As called the “cradle” of the nation, it is also the region for Chinese civilization to start from.In ancient times, it was a vast land abundant with an exuberant plant life like trees, grass, ect., where the Chinese ancestors worked and lived.After hundreds of thousands of years of the primitive society, it became, of all places in China , the first settled agricultural region and the foothold of the class society in Chinese history, where the diligent and brave Chinese people gave a lot of breath-taking performances in history and created a variety of colorful arts and cultures.Today many cultural ashes and historic relics are still remaining in this region.另外需要强调的是,翻译还有一个语篇功能的问题,就是说,不同文本体裁具有相应不同的交际功能,这实际上就牵涉到前面讲的“大语篇”的问题,翻译时须根据不同的语篇功能做出翻译策略和方法上的不同考虑,采取相应的应对措施,这一点在后面的讨论中会逐一涉及。Class-work 2
(1)(07 年英语八级考试试题): Translate the underlined part of the following text into English: 暮色中,河湾里落满云霞,与天际的颜色混合在一起,分不清哪是流云哪是水湾。
也就在这一幅绚烂的图画旁边,在河湾之畔,一群羊正在低头觅食。它们几乎没有一个顾得上抬起头来,看一眼这美丽的黄昏。也许它们要抓紧时间,在即将回家的最后一刻再次咀嚼。这是黄河滩上的一幕。牧羊人不见了,他们不知在何处歇息。只有 这些生灵 自由自在地享受着这个黄昏。这儿水草肥美,让它们长得 肥滚滚 的。如果走近了,你会发现它们洁白的牙齿,以及那丰富而单纯的表情。
Just beside this splendid scene , a flock of sheep lowered their heads for food on the side of an inlet, all too busy to look up at this beautiful dusk.Probably they would lose no time to have another chew at the last moment before going home.This was the scene on the beachhead of the Yellow River.The shepherds were gone, resting somewhere , only to leave these living things freely enjoying this dusk.The abundant grass here made the sheep full and round.Going close, you would find their white teeth and their varied but simple looks.[ 分析见作业讲评 ](2)英译汉:
Scientific and technological advance are enabling us to comprehend the furthest reaches of the cosmos, the most basic constitutions of matter, and the miracle of life.At the same time, today, the action, and inaction, of human beings imperil not only life on the planet, but the very life of the planet.Globaliztion is making the world smaller, faster and richer.Still, 9/11 and avian flu remind us that a smaller, faster world is not necessarily a safer world.Our world is bursting with knowledge---but desperately in need of wisdom.Now, when sound bites* are getting shorter, when instant messages crowd out essays, and when individual lives grow more crazy, college graduates capable of deep reflection are what our world need.For all these reasons I believe---and I believe even more strongly today---in the unique and irreplaceable mission of universities
参考答案: Scientific and technological advance are enabling us to comprehend the furthest reaches of the cosmos(宇宙最遥远的边界), the most basic constitutions of matter(物质最基本的结构), and the miracle of life(生命的玄妙).At the same time, today, the action, and inaction, of human beings imperil(危害)not only life on the planet, but the very life of the planet.(同时,人类今天的行为,还有无所作为,不仅危害到这个星球上的生命,还危害到星球本身的生命)。
Globaliztion is making the world smaller, faster and richer.Still, 9/11 and avian flu remind us that a smaller, faster world is not necessarily a safer world.(全球化趋势让这个世界变得越来越小、越来越快、越来越富有。尽管如此,9.11 事件和禽流感却提醒我们,这个越来越小、越来越快的世界却未必越安全。)
Our world is bursting with knowledge---but desperately in need of wisdom.Now, when sound bites* are getting shorter, when instant messages crowd out essays, and when individual lives grow more crazy, college graduates capable of deep reflection are what our world need.(这个世界知识爆炸却极度缺乏智慧。今天,当电视上演讲片断越来越短,即时消息充斥各类文章,个人生活越来越疯狂的时候,会深刻反思的大学毕业生才是这个世界所需要的人)
[ * 注:“ sound bite ”指电视上候选人演讲的片段,例如: Some of the presidential candidates are more interested in sound bites than sound policies.有些竞选总统的候选人对自己在电视上演讲的片段比他们对制定好的政策更感兴趣。]
For all these reasons I believe---and I believe even more strongly today---in the unique and irreplaceable mission of universities(所有这些原因使我相信——并且今天我更加相信——这是大学独一无二且不可替代的神圣使命。)5 . 3 语篇整体与局部
根据语篇语言学,在有效构成语篇须具备的七项标准中,衔接性(cohesion)与连贯性(coherence)首当其冲,其它五项则为意向性(intentionality)、可接受性(acceptability)、语境性(situationality)、信息性(informativity)和互文性(intertexuality)。所谓 “衔接性”(又叫“形式衔接”)是指段落的各个部分的排列和连接要符合逻辑,而“连贯性”(又叫“语义连贯”)则要求各个部分的语义连接应当通顺而流畅,说得通俗一点,就是要注重文意的贯通和文脉的流畅,汉语历来也有“文脉”、“意脉”之说。“形式衔接”和“语义连贯” 要求 行文用字、谋篇布局要自然合理,流畅贯通,一切要符合语篇整体的要求。不然,哪怕单个词、句译得再好,读来也会给人以生硬牵强、文理不顺的感觉,甚至不合情理。
例 1 .(前 6.2.1 例 2)大家 都说,糟了,怕是遭了狼了!
(1)When seeing this , everybody there realized that something bad must have happened-----he was killed by a wolf!√ [ 增、改 ]
(2)Everybody said that it was too bad!He was likely to meet with a wolf!×
译(1)几乎是改写了原文,看似偏离,却合语篇整体要求;译(2)一字未改,语句对应,且行文也通顺,若单独成句应该说译得十分准确,但置于篇章整体中却显生硬,不合上下文情景(详见该例句)。可见,技巧如何使用、在什么情况下使用,一切须视情而定,离不开整体语篇的制约和调节。有时,哪怕单句译得再好,一旦进入语篇整体,也会显得不合情理:
例 2.“„”, began Clyde , who did not quite like the looks of the man before him, but was determined to present himself as agreeable as possible.(1)“ „„”,克莱德开口说。尽管他不太喜欢眼前这个人,但还是决定让自己 表现得尽量随和一些。
单独来看,译文非常准确。但特定的语境告诉我们,这样的表达却与 克莱德身份不合——他是来求这个人(the man,实际上是一个侍者领班)帮他找一份工作的,身份低微,不是“放下架子”、“随和”不“随和”的问题,上下文情景决定了这一“ agreeable ”不能这样表达,须仔细斟酌,选准词义:(2)„„。尽管他不太喜欢眼前这个 领班,但还是决定让自己 尽量迎合一下对方。
这一译文才比较符合主人公的身份,虽然字面不及译(1)精准,却更合清理,这就是语境的制约作用。再如下面一段对话:
例 3 . Ross: Rach, have you never done this(洗衣房洗衣)before? 15 Rachel: Well, not myself, but I know other people that have.Oh, you caught me , I ' m a laundry virgin.A.罗 丝:蕾,以前你 从没干过这活 ?
蕾切尔:唔,自己 没有,但我知道干过这活的其他人。哦,被你逮住了,洗衣我是第一次。× [ 未推敲上下文语境 ] B.罗 斯:蕾,你以前 从没干过这活 ?
蕾切尔:唔,自己 没有,但我知道 别人干过。哦,你说对了,我是头一回自己洗衣。?
C.罗 斯:蕾,你以前 从没洗过衣服 ?
蕾切尔:唔,自己没洗过,但知道 有人替我洗。哦,被你说中了,我是头一回自己洗衣。√ [ 推敲了语境 ] D.罗 斯:蕾,你以前 从没洗过衣服 ?
蕾切尔:唔,自己没洗过,但知道 是别人洗的。哦,被你说中了,自己洗衣,我可是大姑娘坐轿,头一回呢!?
• 尾句“ laundry ”提示,首句“ have done this ”就是“洗衣”。• 第二句“ not myself ”暗示蕾切尔是一富家女,有专人替她洗衣,所以才说“知道有别人”,重心在“ other people ”;但 4 句译文中,“ 知道干过这活的其他人 ”语气生硬,意义与上下文不符;“ 知道别人干过 ”仍不明不白;“ 知道有人替我洗 ”意义明确,“替”字暗含“别人(other people)”;“ 知道是别人洗的 ”则顺口一些。
• 在上下文提示下,“ you caught me ”不可能是“逮住”的意思,但“ 洗衣我是第一次 ”不太口语化;“ 你说对了 ”与英语“ You said it!”没有区别,明显忽略了“ caught ”的本意;“ 被你说中了 ”比较贴切。• “ laundry virgin ”不可直译(没人会说“洗衣处女”),不然莫名其妙,必须予以引申,“ 头一回自己洗衣 ”,意义、语气都比较到位。译文 D 虽充分引申,却容易引起文化误解,以为西方也有“出嫁坐轿”的习俗。
例 4 . The only solid piece of scientific truth about which I feel totally confident is that we are profoundly ignorant about nature.Indeed, I regard this as the major discovery of the past hundred years of biology.It would have amazed the brightest minds of the 18th century Enlightenment to be told by any of us how little we know and how bewildering seems the way ahead.It is this sudden confrontation with the depth and scope of 16 ignorance that represents the most significant contribution of the 20th century science to the human intellect.1)“ solid piece ”(坚实的一块)必须根据整个语篇来选定词义,不然会太生硬,不合汉语习惯;
2)“ the brightest minds ” 不能简单译为“最聪明的头脑”,这里实际指“最聪明的人”,即“十八世纪启蒙运动中最聪明的人”,译为“ 佼佼者 ”比较贴近上下文语气。
3)“ how little we know and how bewildering seems the way ahead ”:英语两个“ how ”句分列,逻辑分明,汉语则可合为一体;英语只有“未来”没有“自然界”,译文却增加后者,完全是上下文语气之使然。
4)“ sudden confrontation with the depth and scope of ignorance ”是全段难点,充分体现英、汉表达方式上的差异。英语可以说“与无知的 深度和范围 突然相遇”,汉语却无此搭配。原文之所以强调“深度”和“范围”,是说明人类对无知的了解已经深入,并且是“突然”面对,话中有话。因此,不妨换用符合汉语事理逻辑的习惯表达,在译文中重新布局。当然,如何行文则见仁见智了。
参考译文 : 科学真理中 唯一不争的事实 就是——至今我对此仍深信不疑——我们对大自然的了解还极其无知。确实,我认为这是过去几百年来生物学的重大发现。倘若十八世纪 启蒙大师中的佼佼者们 被告知,当今世界人们依旧 对自然界和未来所知甚少、充满困惑,他们一定会惊愕不已。但正是这种 对无知猛然直面、深刻全面的认识,才是 20 世纪科学对人类知识的最大贡献。
例 5.孔子很早就说:“ 四十而不惑 ”。意思是到了四十,就是肥肉一块吊到你嘴边,你饥肠辘辘馋涎欲滴,也不应该伸脖子去贪嘴了。
“四十而不惑”能否照常译为“ At forty I came to be free from doubts”,或 “At forty, one begins to understand the world” ? 这样的译文单独看没什么问题,表达了孔夫子的本意,是说人到四十对人生不再迷惑(尽管这两个译文对“惑”字的理解略有不同),字典上也是这样说的。但能用在这一场合中?看看上下文:“肥肉到嘴边也不会贪嘴”,这明明是一种“诱惑”呀!这是原作者的独特理解,不能歪曲原义。所以,在这一特定语境中,只能译为(整句译文如下):
Confucius said: “ 40 is the age when one can be safe from temptations.” According to him, when one is forty or over, he should be able to resist the temptation of a piece of juice mea t dangling before him even if he is very hungry with his mouth watering.(居祖纯,2000 : 96)
“四十而不惑”处理为 “ 40 is the age when one can be safe from temptation ”更合上下文语义。同时,“肥肉”不译成“ fat meat ”(生肉)而用“ juice meat ”(熟肉)也是语境的要求,不然不合情理。可见,同样的原文,在不同的语境条件下会有不同的意义。有时即使意义相同,翻译时也可用不同的方式处理,只要方式得当,符合语境要求,会使译文别开生面,令人耳目一新。例如:
例 6 .“ 各人自扫门前雪,休管他人瓦上霜 ”,是使世界达到和平的最佳途径。一家如此,则一家和乐。一国如此,则一国安全。全世界如此,则天下太平。
A.“ Just sweep away the snow in front of your own house, and never mind the frost on other people's roof ”, as the Chinese proverb says , may be the best way to bring about a happy and peaceful world.So long as we limit our activity within our own sphere, strictly refraining from trespassing upon others', we can surely win peace in the family, in the country as well as in the world.B.In order to secure a happy and peaceful world, we must first of all, limit our activity within our own spheres, strictly refraining from trespassing upon others'.Suppose that this role is observed in all families, countries of the world , surely there will be no trouble in them all.C.One of the best ways to make the world peaceful and happy is for every individual to keep within his own province, refraining from encroaching upon others'.If a family follows this way , that family will be free from worry;if a nation follows this way , that nation will be at ease;and if the entire world follows this way , it will find itself in perfect peace.(钱歌川,翻译的技巧 : 432,561)
译文 A 几乎直译,译文 B 却做了较大改变完全意译,译文 C 形式上则与原文 若即若离,三种译法都可取,关键看翻译目的和使用场合,只有准确地把握整体,才有独到的见仁见智。
例 6 . Anyone with eyes can take delight in a face or a flower.You need training, however, to perceive the beauty in mathematics or physics or chess, in the architecture of a tree, the design of a bird's wing , or the shiver of breath through a flute.From most of human history, the training has come from elders who taught the young how to pay attention.By paying attention, we learn to savor all sorts of patterns , from quantum mechanics to patchwork quilts.This predilection brings with it a clear evolutionary advantage , for the ability to recognize patterns helped our ancestors to select mates, find food, avoid predators.But the same advantage would apply to all species, and yet we alone compose symphonies and crossword puzzles, carve stone into statues, map time and space.凡眼见于 俏脸、鲜花,无人不觉赏心悦目。然而,要参透数学、物理或棋弈之美,欣赏树之有形、鸟之翼趣,乃至 对长笛奏出的悠悠颤音 心领神会,则必经 专门训练 方可体味。在人类大部历史上,这种训练就是学会如何观察,历来 由长者教之于幼者。通过观察,人类学会 去鉴赏天地万化之模式,从量子力学到百纳被无所不包。此痴情所至,亦使人类在进化过程中 占尽先机,能辨万化之象,有助于先人们择偶、觅食,逃避猛兽。按理,同一进化优势本应造福世间一切物种,然惟独人类能谱出交响曲、制作填字游戏、创造石雕艺术、标示时空天体。
(第十七届韩素音翻译大赛参考译文)
有时一字一句看似乎合情合理,而一旦置于语篇整体,往往会显出几分生涩与不顺:
1)开头句: 人只要有眼睛就会感受脸蛋和鲜花的美丽 // 只要有眼睛,人人都能从一张脸和一朵花中得到愉悦。
正常人皆有双眼,说这话意义不大。“翻译最难是口吻”(毛荣贵,2002),原作者的“口吻”和“语气”其实就隐含在字里行间,需要译者去体味、去发现。此译“斤斤于分寸不失”,其结果往往是有字无篇,把一篇优美的散文生生弄成了干瘪的说明文。其实只要稍做变通,原文神采便跃然纸上: “ 凡眼见于俏脸、鲜花,无人不觉赏心悦目 ”。2)第二句若照原字句翻译,译文应该是:
然而我们只有通过训练才能从数学之中、物理之中、对弈之中,以及树木的枝叶形态、飞鸟羽翼的图案和长笛颤动的气流之中感受到美的存在。
单独来看十分准确,意思一点没走样,但置于语篇整体,却显十分生硬,与整个篇章的文情意脉格格不入,把一篇优美的散文生生变成了干瘪的说明文!例 4 译文中,“鸟之翼趣”似乎有“用词失度”之嫌:无“图案”(design)之意,但从整体来看,却比“鸟翼之图案”好,它与“树之有形”形成对偶,语气连贯,浑然一体。
“徒语人以词,斤斤于分寸不失,往往是有字无篇,未必就得原文风格之真髓”(罗新璋,1995),罗 先生的这番话值得我们体味、深思!要译出原文的神采和丰韵,就必须力争做到“神形兼备”,而“神形兼备”的主要特点就是“追求‘不似之似',追求‘离形得似'”(孙迎春,2004 : 147,148),也就是说,译文看似与原文若即若离,实则得原文之真髓,比起死扣原文形式、斤斤于 字比句次的译文来,要准确地道得多。要做到“神形兼备”,译者必须对原文中“(1)联想丰富而独特的词句和某些微言妙语,(2)言语的弦外 之音,(3)整体的特殊气氛,(4)人物的特殊口吻”(ibid : 148--158)等因素予以充分考虑,从原文的字里行间去体味、去提炼,从宏观语篇上抓住原文的文情意脉,再选用恰当的译文形式准确地地道将这些实际内蕴充分展示出来。所以,在翻译中,特别是语篇翻译,一定要充分注意语篇对译文的整体调节功能,正确运用各种翻译技巧,使译文准确通顺,地道自然,切记不可惟技巧而技巧,忽视语篇的整体调节和制约作用。5 . 4 形式与内容的统一
翻译问题说到底,就是如何处理形式与内容的统一问题,这一点历来是翻译的热门话题,存在着各种不同的观点和看法。那么,具体到英、汉互译,应该如何对待这一问题呢?
大量的翻译实践告诉我们,在英、汉两种语言间求得翻译中的形式对等几乎是不可能的事,这是因为二者在语言体系、文化传统、历史条件、社会背景、生活习俗、审美方式甚至价值观等方面相差太大的缘故。奈达就曾说过,“每一种语言都有各自的特性”(Each language has its own genus),并且,“要有效进行交际必须尊重各自语言的特性”(to communicate effectively one must respect the genus of each language),因此,在翻译中“要保留内容必须改变形式”(to preserve the content of the message the form must be changed),而形式改变的大小得视不同语言间语言和文化距离的大小而定。例如,英语和德语,英语和保加利亚语,英语和印度语,各自的形式改变都有不同。英语和德语同属印欧语系,同属欧洲文化背景,形式差异就小一些;英语和保加利亚语不属同一语系,却置身于同一欧洲文化背景,形式变化相对比英、德语间要大一些;英语和印度语虽同属印欧语系,但却分属完全不同的两大文化背景(西方与东方文化),差异自然更大,形式改变也更大。若拿英语与汉语相比,二者既不属同一语系,又不属同一文化,其语言形式上的差异可想而知,翻译中大量的形式改变也就在所难免。
林语堂说,“译者所能谋达到之忠实,即比较的忠实之谓,非绝对的忠实之谓„„一百分的忠实,只是一种梦想„凡文字有声音之美、有意义之美、有传押之美、有文气文体形式之美,译者或顾其义而忘其神、或得其神而忘其体,决不能把文义文神文气文体及声音之美完全同时译出„„我们须记得翻译只是一种不得已的很有用的事业,并不是只代原文之谓;译者所能求的只是比较的非绝对的成功。”
范存忠说,“严格地说,译品最好能和原作品相等──内容相等、形式相等、格调相等,只是所用的语言不同。这就是马达忠所说的译品和原著完全一样,而读者看了译品能和看原著一样,但这是一个不可能完全实现的理想。”
刘宓庆说,“在任何一个语法层面上求得形式对应,使之既处在语言文化、文字结构形式以及行文风格的互相参照的框架之内,又具有语义等值,实在是一种难以企及的理想„„就汉英而言,就更难获得这种等值了。”“翻译中的‘忠'与‘信',也只能是相对的,绝对忠实于原文的译文也是不存在的。”
傅雷说,“两国 文字词类 的不同,句法构造 的不同,文法与习惯 的不同,修辞格律 的不同,俗语 的不同,即反映 民族思维方式 的不同,感觉深浅 的不同,观点角度 的不同,社会背景 的不同,表现方法 的不同”。“我们在翻译的时候,通常是胆子太小,迁就原文字面、原文句法的时候太多。要避免这些,第一要精读熟读原文,把原文的意义、神韵全都抓握住了,才能放大胆子。” “以甲国文字传达乙国文字所包含的那些特点,必须 像伯乐相马,要‘ 得其精而忘其粗,在其内而忘其外 '”。
既如此,那么,在英、汉翻译中,这种形式改变的幅度大小该如何把握呢?
一般而言,一要看文本体裁,二要看翻译目的,三要看具体的交际情景。例如,对于文学、时政、科技类文本和工商业文件的翻译,在不损害原义的前提下,能贴近原文形式就尽量贴近,以保存原作内容的准确和风格特点。这方面最典型的就是诗歌翻译,若不注重形式,何来“诗”与“歌”!正因为此,有人就认为诗歌根本不可译,特别是在英诗汉译或汉诗英译中,由于二者语言文化上的差异太大,要保留原文形式是不可能的事。我国的美学大 师朱光潜 先生就认为,“有些文学作品根本不可翻译,尤其是诗(说诗可翻译的人大概不懂得诗)”,而 许渊冲 先生却多年来坚持汉语诗歌和文学经典的对外翻译,取得了世人瞩目的成果,并提出了文学翻译的“三美”原则:音、形、意美。
而对于像广告、公文、证书、宣传册、等一类体裁,由于其特有的文本格式、交际功能和翻译目的,则应根据译文的习惯,用尽量贴近译文读者喜闻乐见的形式,对原文形式做适当(有时甚至是彻底)的改变,以有效发挥译文的功能、实现翻译目的。例如:
例 1 . On one of those sober(严肃)and rather melancholy(忧郁)days, in the later part of Autumn, when the shadows of morning and evening almost mingle together, and throw a gloom over the decline of the year, I passed several hours in rambling(漫步)about Westminster Abbey.There was something congenial(适意的)to the season in the mournful(悲哀)magnificence of the old pile;and, as I passed its threshold, seemed like stepping back into the regions of antiquity, and losing myself among the shades of former ages.(Washington Irving, Westminster Abbey)
时方晚秋,气象肃穆,略带忧郁,早晨的阴影和黄昏的阴影,几乎连在一起,不可分别,岁将云暮,终日昏暗,我就在这么一天,到西敏大寺去散步了几个钟头。古寺巍巍,森森然似有鬼气,和阴沉沉的季候正好调和;我跨进大门,觉得自己已经置身远古,相忘于古人的鬼影之中了。—— “ 西敏大寺 ”,夏济安译,1976,p.54 这是文学作品,形式变化不大,基本按原文句序进行,只是在行文用字上做了适当调整。
例 2 . 队长走了,老实巴交的司机都去干活了,剩下的几个全是歪毛淘气、嘎杂子琉璃球,他们 围住了她,问这问那,有捧的有骂的,有软的有硬的,有唱红脸的有唱白脸的,简直要把她给吞下去。他们的目的就是要给她一个 下马威,一下子就把她给气跑了,第二天 即便打死她也不敢 再到汽车队里来才好,汽车队是他们的天下,平时由他们说了算,队长田国富 是个大外行,不敢得罪他们,他们 落得个自由自在,热热闹闹。──《赤橙黄绿青蓝紫》,蒋子龙
With the head and the less obstreperous drivers gone, all the rest gathered round her to fire questions at her.Some were rude while others put on a show of politeness.They seemed to want to swallow her up, to deal her a head-on blow at this first encounter to make her leave in disgust and not come back.That was what they hoped for.The transportation team was theirs, and they were the ones with the say there.Not knowing the ropes , Tian did not dare to offend them.So they did whatever they liked and had a good time.── Chinese Literature,王明杰译
上述二例均属文学翻译,但形式变化的大小有所不同,例 2 做了大量省略和改写,实属无奈,是文化差异太大的缘故。译者知道,汉语的一些习语(“软的硬的”、“唱红脸的唱白脸的”等)和俚语(“歪毛淘气、嘎杂子琉璃球”)照直译出只会以辞害义,使译文读者产生理解上的困难甚至错误,为保留意义,只能做形式上的改变。
例 3 . When I'm having trouble with a story and think about giving up or when I start to feel sorry for myself and think things should be easier for me , I roll a piece of paper into that cranky old machine and type, word by painful word , just the way Mother did.What I remember then is not her failure, but her courage, the courage to go ahead.(1)每当我写文章有麻烦想放弃时,或是开始为自己觉得遗憾和认为事情对我本应容易一些时,我就往那台破旧的打字机里卷进一张纸,像母亲当年那样,打着一个又一个痛苦的字。这时,我想起的不是母亲的失败,而是她的勇气,那种一往无前的勇气。
(2)每当我因文章难写想 打退堂鼓,或是 自叹命不如人、老天不公时,我就往那台破旧的打字机里卷进一张纸,像母亲当年那样,一个字一个字吃力地打着。这时,我想起的不是母亲的失败,而是她的勇气,那种一往无前的勇气。
若按原文浅显的字面形式译出,能准确表达字里行间的深刻内涵?但这一例形式上的变化仍不太大,只是与原文字面有些出入,看下一例的变化:
例 4 . 拿有些古都来说,其建筑体现着三个层面:由宫殿府邸、皇家园林 等构成的帝王古都 ;由道观神庙、社稷祭坛 等构成的“鬼神”古都 ;由胡同、四合院及其它民居建筑构成 的老百姓古都。
Three kinds of buildings make up China 's architectural features of the ancient capital:(1)imperial palaces and official residences;(2)temples and altars;(3)compounds with houses built around a courtyard, and the lanes and other buildings lived in by ordinary people.这一例的形式变化就大一些。原文 用分号将并列的内容隔开,这是汉语的习惯,而英语则讲究条目分明,缕析入微;汉语行文对偶不怕重复,英语则最忌同义重复和辞藻堆砌。明确了这一差异,该增则增(数字序号),该减则减(原文斜体字句),一切以译文习惯和规范为准,注意了内外有别。
例 5 . 这里三千座奇峰 拔地而起,形态各异,有的似 玉柱神鞭,立地顶天 ;有的象 铜墙铁壁,巍然屹立 ;有的如 晃板垒卵,摇摇欲坠 ;有的若 盆景古董,玲珑剔透 „„ 神奇而又真实,迷离而又实在,不是艺术创造胜似艺术创造,令人叹为观止。
3000 crags rise in various shapes — pillars, columns, walls, shaky egg stacks and potted landscapes „-— conjuring up unforgettably fantastic images.这是典型的化“虚”为“实”的翻译手法,在汉、英旅游翻译中大量运用,形式变化太大,与各自文体风格上的差异有关,这样的译文可能要直观可感、简洁流畅得多,更符合英语旅游文体和读者的欣赏习惯。Classwork 3 : 1)判断:
欢迎参加中国出口商品交易会(广交会); 举世瞩目的国际贸易会;
中国对外经济贸易活动的重要场所展示; 中国改革开放和经济建设成就的窗口。
(1)Welcome to Chinese Export Commodities Fair(Guangzhou Fair);The world-felt international trade gathering;The important spot of China 's foreign trade;The window to show the achievements of the reform and open-up and economic construction.(2)Chinese Export Commodities Fair(CECF or simply called Canton Fair), which attracts worldwide attention, is a grand gathering of international trade.It is also an important spot of China 's foreign trade, where China shows the achievements of economic construction after reform and opening-up.2)翻译 : 1 . 英译汉(翻译划线部分):
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head.Now I am thirty-two„.Life, I believe, asks a continuous series adjustments to reality.The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes.The adjustment is never easy.I was bewildered and afraid.But I was lucky.My parents and teachers saw something in me---a potential to live, you might call it---which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe me in myself.That was basic.If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and become a chair rocker on the front porch for the rest of my life.When I say belief in my life I am not talking about simply the kind of self-confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone.That is part of it.But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfection, a real, positive person, that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.译 1 : 我认为,生活要求人不断地自我调整以适应现实。人越能及时地进行自我调整,他的个人世界便越有意义。调整并不容易。我曾感到茫然和害怕。但我很幸运。父母 和 老师发现了我心底的东西——一种活下去的潜力,你可以这样叫它——而我自己却没发现。他们使我想去与失明战斗到底。
我必须学会的最艰难的一课就是相信自己。这是基本条件。如做不到这一点,我早已跨掉了,只能坐在前门廊的摇椅上度过余生。相信自己并不仅指帮我独自走下不熟悉的楼梯时的那种自信,那只是一部分。我指的是大事:是坚信自己虽不完美,却是一个真正的积极的人,坚信在这芸芸众生、纷繁复杂的格局中,会有我恰当的生活位置。
译 2(试译): 我认为,生活要求人们不断地自我调整以适应现实。人越能及时调整自我,其个人世界亦越有意义。调整决非易事。对此我曾茫然、害怕过,但又十分幸运。因为,对潜藏于心底的某种东西——或曰人的生活可塑性,在我尚未察觉时,父母 和 老师们就发现了它。他们用来激励我自发地与失明顽强抗争。
我务必学会相信自己,尽管最难学,却是我的基本课程。倘若连这点都做不到,恐怕我 早就一败涂地,只能在门廊的摇椅上 了此残生了。相信自己,并非仅指帮我走下不熟的楼道时那份小小的自信,那只是它一部分。我是指更大的自信:我虽身有残疾,却是一个 堂堂正正、积极向上的人,坚信 在这大千世界、芸芸众生之中,自有我安生立命的一席之地。2)汉译英(翻译划线部分):
一年后他们就结婚了。有人向小伙子讨教,他说:“我每天上班第一件事就是帮她擦桌子,然后为她泡上一杯她喜欢的绿茶。她的胃不好,我经常备些胃药放在她桌上。一开始她不知道,时间长了就知道了”。
忍不住叫人想起 “ 浪漫 ” 一词。写情书是一种浪漫,送 99 朵玫瑰是一种浪漫。我不知道,擦桌子泡茶送药 是否也是一种浪漫。浪漫是没有定式的,或许那些实实在在的 呵护和关爱 才是真正的浪漫,它 是生命 之 火所点燃的 最绚烂的 花朵。
His words remind me of the word “ romantic”.Writing love letters is an outpouring of romantic feelings, so is offering a big bunch of 99 red roses.The expression of love follows no definite pattern.I wonder if wiping the desk and preparing tea and medicine for a person of one's heart is not one of the ways.Maybe true love lies in giving heart-felt care and whole-hearted protection.That and that alone is the reddest rose nurtured by the spring of life.(居祖纯译)
第五章练习
1.英译汉:
(1)Those who gain fame most often gain it as a result of processing a single talent or skill: singing, dancing, painting, or writing, etc.The successful performer develops a style that is marked aggressively and gains some popularity, and it is this popularity that usually convinces the performer to continue performing in the same style, since that is what the public seems to want and to enjoy.But in time, the performer becomes bored singing the same songs in the same way year after year, or the painter becomes bored painting similar scenes or portraits, or the actor is tired of playing the same character repeatedly.The demand of the public holds the artist hostage to his or her own success, fame.If the artist attempts to change his or her style of writing or dancing or singing, etc, the audience may turn away and look to confer fleeting fickle fame on another and then, in time, on another, and so on and so on.25
凡成名者,大多有一技之长,或能歌,或善舞,或长于绘画,或精于写作,都因各自演艺中 形成的强烈个性和鲜明风格而名声鹊起。然而,正是这得来的名望,使他们 常年固守着自己的本色不敢越雷池半步,因为这是公众的要求和喜爱。可随着时间的推移,歌星 若年复一年唱着同样的歌,画家若 一成不变画着同样的画,演员若 一如既往重复着同一角色,恐怕 连他自己都会厌烦。但为了保全已有的成就和名望,他只能 一味顺从这种需要而沦为公众的人质。若要 改换笔调,转变舞风,创新唱法,观众就会舍他而去,将那来去不定、乍起乍落的名望声誉 随即送与他人,如此这般转来转去,无休无止。2.汉译英:
(1)中华民族 文化 历史悠久,起源很早,内容极为丰富,是东方文明的主要组成部分,早在上古时期就已是 人类文化的一个独立典型。在物质文化方面,中国的“ 四大发明 ”曾经 改变 世界历史的 进程。在精神文明方面,“ 以人为本 ”的 人格价值 思想和“ 和为贵 ”的 和平与发展的 思想,对世界文化 解决 个人与社会、人与自然、道德与生命的 根本关系 做出了杰出的贡献。中国的学者们 一致认为,在全球化趋势日益发展的今天,文化交流 在国与 国之间的交往中 越来越重要,起着独特的作用,中国应该向全世界充分展现具有 强大凝聚力的 中华文明,同时应该利用 申办(bid for)、举办(host/sponsor)奥运会的机会 吸取和弘扬(carry forward//develop)一切人类文明的 精华。
As an important component of Oriental civilization, the Chinese culture is rich and well-established with a long history , distinguished from ancient times by its characteristics in human culture.With respect to its material culture, China 's “ four inventions ”, namely, gunpowder, printing, the compass and papermaking , have influenced the process of world history.With respect to ethical culture, the ideas of “ people come first ”(for human dignity)and “ harmony prevails over all ”// “ conciliation is invaluable ”(for the peace and development)have made great contributions to the world's culture, dealing well with the fundamental relationships between individuals and society, man and nature, and morality and life.Chinese scholars have reached a consensus that today against the backdrop of globalization, cultural exchanges are playing particularly a bigger and bigger role in international contacts.While displaying to the world its strongly cohesive culture, China should absorb and develop the essence of other cultures by taking advantage of the opportunity of hosting the Olympics.(2)没有盼头的日子是苍白不可想象的,人,得天天有点什么盼头,生活才不至于暗淡。有了盼头,会觉得太阳每天都是新的,不管是望梅止渴,还是画饼充饥,它都会激励你不停手中的桨,去追逐哪怕一星微小的火光。
土地去掉水分,就成了沙漠;人没了盼,还剩什么?小盼头支撑人的一天,大盼头支撑人的一生。
人是决不能没有盼头的。
A day without hope would be unimaginably pale.There must be something to look forward to each day to brighten one's life and keep it out of shadows.To a person cherishing hopes every morning rises a new sun.Even if it is a fantasy or an illusion, so long as it shows a ray of hope it still urges you on in pursuit of that little sparkle without letup.Deprived of moisture content, soil turns into desert.Deprived of hope, what is there left to a person? A small hope sustains a person for a day, a great one for a lifetime.Human beings cannot do without something to look forward to.27