中口考試關(guān)注:靈活應(yīng)變中口翻譯“文學(xué)味”
09年可謂是中口翻譯部分十幾年來的一個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn),因?yàn)檫@一年英譯漢和漢譯英部分的文字風(fēng)格出現(xiàn)了前所未有的重大變化,即從往年傳統(tǒng)的政治經(jīng)濟(jì)類題材轉(zhuǎn)向了相對(duì)“偏僻”的文藝小品文。09年3月的漢譯英即為一例,到了9月,索性兩篇文章全部選擇散文,英譯漢段落的主題是小說的定義,漢譯英則是一篇短小精悍的諷刺小品??忌蠛纛^疼,甚至江湖傳言“難度上升”。果真如此嗎?
筆者以為,如此風(fēng)格轉(zhuǎn)變,恰恰將翻譯部分的整體難度往下降低了!為什么?先說英譯漢,往年最流行的金融類題材,對(duì)于考生的難度在于相關(guān)專業(yè)詞匯、術(shù)語(yǔ)或概念的理解和長(zhǎng)難句,不少同學(xué)缺乏相關(guān)背景知識(shí),最終在考場(chǎng)巧婦難為無(wú)米之炊。如Keynes(凱恩斯),enact a stimulus package(制定經(jīng)濟(jì)刺激計(jì)劃),nullify job offers(削減職位),hyperpartisan(極度擁護(hù)自己所屬黨派的)等。當(dāng)這些陌生表達(dá)混在一句句兩三行的長(zhǎng)難句中,臨場(chǎng)的處理是很艱難的。而09年9月的英譯漢開篇是What is a novel?通篇的詞句難度都比金融類文章降低不少,考生不僅理解無(wú)礙,更可以發(fā)揮漢語(yǔ)的優(yōu)勢(shì)。
漢譯英部分更是如此。在分析真題之前,我們先來看下面這段話:甲乙兩人參加一個(gè)會(huì)議。與會(huì)者中有真正的名流學(xué)者。期間,一個(gè)學(xué)者與甲聊天,聊到了莎士比亞。學(xué)者問甲:“你是否對(duì)莎士比亞最感興趣?”甲說:“我更喜歡威士忌?!贝蠹腋`笑。乙看到后生氣走開。在回去的小車上,乙批評(píng)甲說:“你真笨,莎士比亞是飲料,你怎么把它當(dāng)洋酒了!”
這是幾句中學(xué)級(jí)別的漢譯英句子拼合而成一段短文,相信絕大多數(shù)考生會(huì)覺得翻譯起來相當(dāng)容易。我們先把這一段文字翻譯出來:
Two people attended a meeting. The participants included some real famous scholars. During the meeting, a scholar chatted with A and they talked about Shakespeare. The scholar asked, “Are you most interested in Shakespeare?” A said: “I prefer whiskey.” Everyone else laughed. Seeing that, B left angrily. On their way home in the car, B blamed A: “You are so foolish! Shakespeare is a soft drink. How come you take that as an imported hard liquor!”
翻譯難度其實(shí)不大??墒?,如果把以上文字略作修改,加入一些“貌似”高級(jí)的漢語(yǔ)難詞以后,就變成了09年9月漢譯英真題:
有兩個(gè)大款附庸風(fēng)雅,參加一個(gè)冷餐會(huì),與會(huì)者自然不乏真正的名流學(xué)者。席間,一個(gè)學(xué)者與其中的大款甲閑聊,話題不知怎么扯到莎士比亞身上。學(xué)者問大款甲: “先生是否對(duì)莎士比亞最感興趣?”大款甲頓了頓,隨即正色說:“相比之下,還是威士忌合我口味?!边@時(shí),大家都暗自竊笑。大款乙也看出了苗頭,悻悻然走開。在回來的小車上,大款乙教訓(xùn)大款甲說:“你真一點(diǎn)都不懂,莎士比亞是飲料,你怎么把它當(dāng)成洋酒了!”
我們把兩段漢語(yǔ)對(duì)照一下,在翻譯上真正造成困難的無(wú)非就是多加進(jìn)去的一些修飾語(yǔ)。那么,這些表達(dá)是不是很難翻呢?不!
比如,大款,譯法可以有big shot,tycoon或millionaire,其中tycoon是高中詞匯。即便都不知道,臨場(chǎng)也可以譯成rich/wealthy person。這是任何人都會(huì)的。所以,管中窺豹,對(duì)于此類試題的處理就很簡(jiǎn)單了,只要鍛煉兩種能力。一是平日的積累能力,這是必須靠同學(xué)自己堅(jiān)持的。二是臨場(chǎng)應(yīng)變能力,如果平時(shí)沒有背過,臨場(chǎng)就只能把大致意思繞出來。
再舉幾例,附庸風(fēng)雅可譯作pose as a cultured person/ lovers of culture。如果不會(huì),臨場(chǎng)只需將其中文大意表達(dá)成英語(yǔ)即可,如pretend to be a lover of art。冷餐會(huì)buffet reception,buffet party,若不知buffet即可省譯成party。名流學(xué)者distinguished/prominent scholar,至少可以寫成famous scholar。正色Adopt a stern/severe countenance,該譯法是生搬詞典,而且用詞較難,臨場(chǎng)用seriously足矣。暗自竊笑laugh in one’s sleeves當(dāng)然漂亮,不知?jiǎng)t可譯為L(zhǎng)augh secretly。同理,悻悻然sulkily,resentfully,也可以處理成angrily。如此這般,以上這篇漢譯英還何難之有?
參考譯文如下:
Two big shots attended a buffet reception, trying to pose as lovers of culture, for the participants included some real scholars of distinction. During the reception, a scholar chatted with Tycoon A and somehow the topic shifted to Shakespeare. The scholar asked, “Are you most interested in Shakespeare?” The big shot paused and announced with a severe countenance: “In comparison, whiskey is more to my taste.” Hearing that, all the listeners laughed up their sleeves. Tycoon B saw the straw in the wind and left resentfully. On their way home in the car, Tycoon B lectured Tycoon A: “How could you be so ignorant! Shakespeare is a beverage/a soft drink, and you are foolish (enough) to take that as an imported spirit/hard liquor!”
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