三、戒“水土不符”,习惯搭配失当, K* o0 ?- ~/ j- ~6 ~
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”。如:5 Y) r6 [8 c2 \# @: x% B' x
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。
9 O% Q2 [6 W+ {) B4 q3 h' q8 m 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》)
3 U: {8 r* z# I+ o: r 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”。然而历史告诉我们,中国古人没有用过钢笔,宋朝时用的还是毛笔,故the pen 应改为the writing-brush。! j) L/ |/ S" x' R
下面的译文就较好地照顾到了西方人的思维和理解习惯:1 h, N, g% h* A: O
美国把贸易和扯在一起,只会损害两国的经济利益。( }4 ]( v" H( _9 G1 y T
The US policy of linking trade with human rights can only bring harm to the economic interests of the two countries.
3 w# v4 a- ]1 b6 L' W6 I% b 关起门来搞建设是不成的,中国的发展离不开世界。& J" @7 z, q" ~" S
China can't develop in isolation from the rest of the world.% n$ C( @% A! z# W, H6 M
四、戒主语暗淡
8 p8 L4 K! S- j; h7 @6 \) U6 e 主语是句子的灵魂,定住译文的主语是关键的一步棋。主语定偏了,整个句子将显得松散乏力,甚至会误导读者。例如:7 z0 f! h0 Q8 Y3 [4 i
如果这个问题不解决,势必影响两国的利益。
3 o: {# c k3 Y6 O; L/ _ Failure to settle this issue is bound to impair the relations between the two countries seriously.
8 c3 c; ?" P: x, p) ` s2 S9 A If the problem is not solved, it is sure to affect the interests between the two countries.2 X, f. p6 `6 O7 s `3 X
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。又如:
! @) Y8 B0 c8 F9 O" G$ B. c 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。8 |1 Q, U9 f4 E- `- K) U
On the Hawaiian sandy beach, the coconut palms are whirling, the congenialsea breeze is blowing, and a young lady is lying in the white plastic chair resting to restore energy., |6 u i: N9 @) L, C$ ?2 T8 R& [
因为是轻松读本,又是描述性的文字,使用三个主语the coconut palms、the congenial sea breeze、a young lady仍是可取的。 |