|
摘要:旅游资料的汉译英,一向不如人意。1990年,老专家段连成,沈苏儒提出矫正性策略:解释性翻译,即允许在保留原文信息前提下,对译文进行加工,使之成为流畅的英语。时至今日,关于旅游资料的中翻英研究在理论和实践两个层面仍有许多欠缺。理论上,虽然解释性翻译已成共识,实际上硬译死译一仍其旧。更为可悲的是,大多数研究者给出译例时,暴露了其英语文字生硬,幼稚,词汇选择极为有限,句式单调贫乏,篇章粘连性差,使其立论说服力大打折扣。笔者提供六段译例,选自为某电视台所译一电视片解说词,和读者共同探讨如何操作解释性翻译。
Fallacies in Tourist Literature Translation
A tremendous increase in tourist literature, though of deplorable quality, has been recorded since China’s implementation of the reform and open door policy in the late 1970.To address the most flagrant wrongs, Mr Duan lian chen and Mr Shen Su ru co-advocated ,in 1990,the reader-response strategy of interpretative translation in favor of a freer handling of the Chinese originals.. Yet word for word stilted translation is still the order of the day By paying a lip service to the brilliant idea of interpretative translation. most of the “politically correct” researchers,however, demonstrate rather undesirable credentials in writing in ludicrously ineffectual English prose, thus substantially offsetting their sincerity and efficacy in the advocacy of interpretative translation. As remedy, the author of this paper presents a version of TV script done in the spirit of interpretative translation for critical appraisal
所谓旅游资料的翻译,主要是指旅游城市,旅游热点历史沿革及景物名胜的汉译外介绍,国内统称对外宣传品。国内学界一般认为语体应界于广告英语和文学创作。关于广告英语的操作,香港广告界大师黄霑称之为‘创造性演绎。(creative interpretation )”(1)(1998/p55)而文学创作,则非生动,畅达,富于创意和感染力的文字莫属。否则,不易达到吸引游客,激发他们参观景点的兴趣,增长他们对中国历史文化的了解。
翻译界近年来对旅游资料的翻译屡有评述。1990年12月北京召开了首次中译英研讨会。本次会议最重要的成果就是形成了共识(解释性翻译),即在对外宣传中,从宣传效果着想,可以在无损基本愿意的范围之内,对原文进行加工,删节,改写乃至大部改写,使之成为流畅的英文。上述主张由翻译界老前辈段连成,沈苏儒共同提出(2)(1992/p19)。除去段,沈二位先生,艾泊斯坦,沙博理及王弄笙,程镇球诸位专家就对外宣传中存在的种种弊端给予了痛责,用段先生的概括,甲种病状:白字连篇,语法错误,用字不当。乙型病状拼读语法无误,但不得体,外国人不知所云。以段,沈二位先生的地位,资历,学历,能在长期高度政治化的对外宣传中提出如此开明的主张(均援引奈达E.Nida的等效说为依据,并对严复的信达雅做了现代语用学的解释),其用心良苦,出言之重,令人动容。
自90年会议后,翻译界对解释性翻译基本上给予了肯定。王大伟的《现代汉英翻译技巧》第二章第二节专门讨论了解释性翻译,即对译文进行必要加工使之成为流畅的英文的原则性主张(3)(1999/p266)。新近刚刚付梓的《翻译变体研究》(4)(2000/p26 )(就书面形式而言,全译为正,任何部分或节译均视为变体)总结了现时翻译界常用的12种变译手段或策略,即摘译,编译,缩译,改译,阐译,参译,综述,述评,译评,译写等。变体研究是具有开创意义的工作,它把国内翻译界习焉不察的一个惊人的事实揭示在我们眼前:其实我们自觉不自觉,每个人都在进行大量的变译,而我们多数人始终如一地坚持用全译的标准(如信达雅,其理论基础不外是前语言学的训话,考据,)规范,判断翻译实践。在应用层次,92年结集的《中译英技巧文集》一书刊登了闵大勇的《旅游翻译初探》,蒲元明的《谈谈旅游资料英译的几个问题》。96年《中国翻译》刊登了刘惠梅,杨寿康的《从文化角度看旅游资料翻译》(5(1996/p10),通观上述种种论述,文献,可以看出解释性翻译的主张俨然已成为对外宣传的共识。然而,正如香港陈善伟先生所批评的(6)(1989/p145),国内一向理论与实际脱节,新主张固然能大行其道,旧式的硬译,死译,在信达雅的虎皮大旗下人多势众,浩浩荡荡,一仍其旧。10年过去了,对外宣传的脏乱差并没有重大改观,汗牛充吨的对外宣传资料仍然有伤大雅,洋像百出,不忍卒读。
更可笑的是,口头上服膺解释性翻译主张的研究者,在《中国翻译》上及《论文集》中提供的译例恰恰暴露了这种翻译卫生顽症具有多么深层的历史和现实根源。他们的例句基本上是一些勉强过关,对号入座式的,无明显病句,错别字的翻译造句练习。这些译例在词汇选择的有限,句式的单调贫乏,文字的生硬,幼稚及篇章粘连性等方面,无可救药。18世纪一位法国诗人的针贬非常准确:
Rules for good verse they first with pain indite Then show us what is bad,by what they write.
苦心教人写好诗,理论编了一大套
自己写诗却憋脚,只能做反面教材
试举几例:(译例供给人:闵大勇,詹允昭,王义芳,蒲元明,刘惠梅,杨寿康)
林边有一个洞,叫白龙洞,传说白蛇传的白娘子曾在此修炼。
Near the forest is the White Dragon Cave which is said to be the very place where lady white ,the legendary heroine of the story of the white Snake, cultivated herself according to Buddhist doctrine.
这就是宜丰境内的曹洞宗创始人良价和尚的墓塔,这里的墓塔林和嵩山少林寺的墓塔林相比,别具一格
This stupa in Yifeng county is for Monk Liangjia,the founder of Caodong sect.The forest of stupas here is quite different in style from that in Shaolin temple on the Songshan Mountain..
阡沒纵横,鸡犬相闻,风和日丽,鸟语花香的新天地
A new land crisscrossed with fields,bright sunshine,gentle breeze,cocks crowing ,dogs barking,birds singing and flowers blooming.
水映山容,使山容益添秀媚,山青水秀,使水更显柔情。。只言游舫浑如画,身在画中原不知。
The hills overshadow the lake, and the lake reflects the hills .They are in perfect harmony, and more beautiful than a picture.
杭州因有美丽的西湖而成为著名于世的风景旅游城市。北宋词人柳永在望海潮一词中写道:“东南形胜,三吴都会,钱塘自古繁华。。。。”
Hello ,friends, the west lake ,like a beautiful oriental girl, is glad to meet you, happy to see you in china after a long and most probably tiresome journey flying over the mountains and the seas. as everybody in China knows :”in heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suchou and Hanchou: The west lake is a holiday paradise in the eyes of the Chinese people, the pride of the oriental civilization.
俗话说,他山之石,可以攻玉。笔者专门收集了一组美国人写的所谓旅游材料,有比较而后可以鉴别,从善而择自有依旁。
1.美国最大的啤酒企业,蓝带的母厂Anheuser Busch brewery
You are invited on a truly fascinating journey-bringing together the past, present and future. Join us on an Anheuser Busch brewery Tour .and discover the special ingredients that contribute to our success,quality,tradition and innovation.
2.该企业创办的10 大主题公园
It is easy to see why travellers looking for variety on their vacations choose to visit the Anheuser-Busch family of theme parks.You can come face-to-face with nature as you’ve never seen it before ..untamed and unbelievable. Experience the world’s most thrilling adventure rides.. sample the delectable tastes of the world. .shop to your heart’s content. And in 94,we have an unsurpassed lineup of new attractions that will truly dazzle and amaze visitors of all ages……10 different parks..10 wonderful adventures…one single purpose to provide you with memories that will last a lifetime. From the suncoast of Florida to the shores of Califonia ,the AB theme Parks make it easy, make it fun, make it affordable and make it memorable.
3.一景点植物园介绍
Step back to a time of graceful splendor,charm and romance at Cypress Gardens.the breathtaking gardens grow more beautiful each passing year…bursting with over 8000 plant varieties from 75 countries.
4.一仿古景点
All aboard for a European vacation ..right in Virginia! Busch Gardens Williamsburg is your passport to experience the charm,romance,adventure and excitement of the 17th century Europe .Visit nine authentically recreated hamlets,filled with the sights,sounds and smells of days gone by.Drift back to another time..of courageous knights and fabulous winged monsters ,land of the Dragons.
解释性翻译的提出,表面上放松了对信的要求,但对达提出了非常苛刻的要求,这本来就是自由与责任辩证关系的题中应有之义。说得直白一点,成熟,合格的外语写作能力和高度敏感的双语比较文化意识,是从事解释性翻译的入门资格。后者意味着多少年在双语文化典籍中浸染,素心烂读累积渐次砌高的知识储备,而前者正是外语院校培养目标的最最薄弱环节。陆谷孙先生以主编英汉大词典名震中外(香港董桥先生有专文绍介),且听陆老的感慨“学生在大学习作四年,大多不能迥脱蹊径之外,工而入逸者更是寥寥“(7)(1998/p1-3)以陆老长期执教中国一流大学外语院系(复旦)的资历,上述概语应不会对什么人有失公允。宋人苏撤曾云:“文不可以教而能”。当然,词法,句法,常用修辞手法也可以照本宣科,再用一本讲一致,强调,连贯的写作手册逼使学生照猫画虎一番。这一切,充其量不过是正剧开场前的过门。写作就其本质而言,必定是人生苦乐的升华,独抒性灵的创造,章法,技巧的皮相之下,是一个长期痛苦,具有终极关怀的养成过程。西人语“文如其人”中国先哲云:“修辞立其诚”“无独立之人格,高超之审美,强烈之表达欲,创作快感以及大大异于平均水平的词汇量“,要想写好一种文字更不要说是一种其间(和母语)横亘着无数文化语言差异的外语,几乎是在痴人说梦,缘木求鱼。其实,中国历史上从事解释性翻译,始作佣者就不是什么俗流之辈。严复,林琴南,辜鸿鸣,林语堂,不仅学贯中西,且锦心绣手,对比他们,无知者还能如此无畏吗?
以笔者有限的阅读经验,国内正式授衔的英语教授成千上万,但我个人读过心仪的美文者不过区区几人,王佐良,巫宁坤,葛传椝,吴中贤,许孟雄,陆谷孙。。。我以为国内中译英(旅游材料)短期内没有多少合适的人才。如果实在要做,根据思果的说法,可以参考英美译界的经验“弄个人把外文译成英文,再由一位英文作家拿去重写。所以时常译者的名字书上没有印出。我以前曾替译者打抱不平,现在知道实情也没有话说了。这种重写可想而知是大刀阔斧,把原文撇开。”(8)(2000/p125)
诚如思果先生所言,异质文化交流中的译入译出,由于文化之间的巨大差异,先天地决定了绝大多数译者的比较优势,从而也注定了其策略选择。霍克斯David.Hawkes译红楼梦,不屑请教任何中国学者,他的国文修养太深了,他才敢于说:”translating everything”‘同理,付雷译巴尔扎克“可能有看错的地方,法国的汉学家可以一一指出,可是那种译文,他们任何一位也休想译出。”由于先天的比较优势(“汉语在我们的血里”),文化传统的浸染,加上个人的敏慧,勤奋,近一个世纪以来,译坛(外译中)涌现了一大批成就不遑原作的译林名家,如付雷,朱生豪,查良铮,飞白,叶君健,。。。但在中译外方面,除了已故的辜鸿鸣,林语堂,诗歌(唐诗译英译法)唯有许渊冲先生殊可相颉一抗。许先生的三美说(意,形,音),换了别人,又是一例“英雄欺人之语”,但有了先生的锦心绣手,精心经营,却也别有洞天,气象万千。像Heaven has made us talent,/We’re not made in vain天生我材必有用 from hill to hill/no bird in flight/,from path to path,/no man insight千山鸟飞绝,万径人踪灭. A maiden of the Yangs ,to womanhood just grown? In inner chambers bred ,to the world unknown.杨家有女初长成,养在深闺人未识 In lotus curtain she spent the night blessed.芙蓉帐暖度春宵
这些字字玑珠,美妙流畅的诗句令人过耳难忘,稍有英语基础者也能脱口而出。而时下绝大多数汉诗外译者基本上没有脱出100年前辜洪鸣对Giles的批评“积字成句,积句成篇”。不过是改头换面,或掩饰的更为巧妙的翻译造句练习!后世评南北朝的谢灵运,谓之“有句无篇”。依此标准,译坛(中译外)叹滚滚英俊谁在?文学典籍以外,应用性很强的材料,诸如旅游材料,对译者要求可相应放低,但门褴也低不到那里。原因是这些材料必须“直达顾客心里,直达顾客的荷包里”(黄霑)两个直达,一是语用价值,一是商业价值,非有成熟,合格,生动,流畅的英语文字不能胜任,非有不拘成规,匠心独运的创作精神难以担当。笔者几年前曾受托帮某电视台翻译一旅游片,以下提供六个段落供诸同好评析。为方便阅读,我特意采用下述编排方式,即左框为电视台的原文,中框为我的解释性译文,右框则是由英文回译的中文版。我对原文的全部敬意仅止体现在抽取或保留其信息成分,英文表达则只考虑可读性和交际的有效性,除此,把英文乃至中文都写得优美,绵丽些,也是我的心愿。是否成功,有待方家教正。
青海西宁电视片译例举要A. 西宁,古称湟中、西平、鄯州、青唐城,距今已有二千一百多年历史。它扼青藏高原的东方门户,自古享有“西海锁钥”之称,在中国西北地区堪称交通军事重镇,是历史上西羌、吐谷浑、吐蕃、蒙古等少数民族地方政权与中原王朝争夺的古战场。 东关清真大寺
A. 东关清真大寺,位于西宁市东大街,是我国西北地区最有影响的四大清真寺之一,历史六百多年。通常,有三千余名伊斯兰教徒在这里顶礼膜拜。
A 15 minutes' stroll from Dashizi brings one to Dongguan Grand Mosque ,which is situated on the Mid-east avenue .One of the most famous “Fours”in the Northwest,this 600-year old Mecca for Chinese Muslims has been a model of survival against high odds,bearing testimony to the select muslims' firmness in faith and steadfastness in purpose. Every Friday,at the Muessein's call to prayer from the minaret,thousands upon thousands of Allah's faithfuls gather here to have their souls cleansed and their piety tempered again.
B.
从大十字向东,沿东大街漫步十五分钟后你就来到了东关清真大寺。作为中国西北地区四大名寺,它不啻是中国伊斯兰心目中的麦加。这座始建于六百年前的清真圣地,历经世代风云而巍然挺立,是西宁数万穆民信坚志诚活生生的见证。每逢周五的“主麻日”,大寺的宣礼塔上传来阿訇高亢、激扬的宣礼声,成千上万的安拉的信众齐聚一堂,匐匍在地,对高居冥冥之上的真主顶礼膜拜,清心明志。 虎台
A. 南凉国王挥师出征前检阅军队的点将台。史载,一度十分强大的南凉国曾在此陈兵十万,雄视中原。
Early in the 4th century AD,a frontier tribal confe- deration joint hands to add one more political sparkle to the barren highland skyline,with Ledu as capital and Nanlian to be addressed to. This huge earthy mound,rising from a vast elevated terrace used to be the royal rostrum. Standing on "Tiger Rostrum”the king proudly reviewed his impetuous cavalrymen,in full battle procession ready to embark on an expedition of pillage and plunder .History has it that Nanlian was once reckoned to be one of the most hated foes eyeing covetously the riches of the middle kingdom frm the roof of the world. 公元四世纪,高原荒凉的天际线上闪烁着一簇耀眼的政治火花,它象征着西北边塞以一个马上民族建国立业的短暂而又轰轰烈烈的尝试。这个政权就是南凉,定都乐都,南凉则是它正式的通信地址。
站在这个四十三英尺高的点将台上,南凉王一定非常的踌躇满志,检阅着台下军旗猎猎,全副武装的膘悍的骑兵纵队,他们行将踏上攻城掠地的危险的征程。史载,居高临下从世界屋脊上觊觎中原财富的南凉部落曾经是神州大地最难对付的敌人。
在一千二百多万年前的远古地质时代,西宁盆地曾经是一个巨大的古盐湖。那时,千里盐滩壮阔无边,石膏象沙糖、象雪花、象鱼磷、象纤维,呈现出一幅千姿百态、晶莹瑰丽的图画。后来,地质变迁,苍海桑田。就在这个过程中,西宁盆地建构了种类繁多、迭彩纷呈、量大质优、取之不尽的自然资源。
In prehistoric eons,Xining Basin is described by geologists as a colossal salt lake. Its sheer size and variety would astound modern residents of today. Eventually some cosmic forces were at work Large expanse of waters began to dry up and shrink. The land emerged-a land endowed with fertile soils that made farming possible,a land rich in flora and fauna in incredible abundance ,a land synonymous with mineral deposits underneath waiting the touch of a human hand.
史前时代,西宁在地质学家的笔下,还是一个巨大的古盐湖,天造草昧,人功未施,后来,在某些宇宙力量的作用之下,大片的湖面退却干涸了,使陆地得以呈现-肥田使农业成为可能,沃野为生物多样性提供着演进的契机,与此同时,地下还孕藏着巨量的矿物资源,等待人类拓展的足音。
青海湖
青海湖,距西宁二百公里,是我国最大的内陆咸水湖。它海拔3196米,面积4635平方公里。湖内盛产湟鱼,肉质鲜嫩,味美可口,畅销省内外各地。在湖西面积不足一平方公里的鸟岛上,每年有十万多只各种珍奇的鸟类生栖繁衍。这个生机勃勃的鸟的世界被誉为稀世奇观和“鸟的王国”。
Over 300000 people visit Qinghai lake,the largest saline inland lake in China (4635sq.km),200 kilometers west of Xining .A good reason for touring the lake is birding as the most famous provincial wildlife sanctuary,Bird Island,lies inlaid like a pearl in the middle of the lake. Every April and Autumn,this small isle tells the exciting story of waves of migratory birds and waterfowls,gulls,cormorants,wild gooses,swans, black-necked cranes from south China and south Asia,who take refuge here, breed their young and then gone are with the winds,Bird lovers journey here to have a taste of the scenes before the changes of 20th century alter irrevocably much of the timeless beauty and tranquility of these places. They want to experience ways of life that endure through time barely touched by the modern world.
每年约有三十万中外游客驱车前往约距西宁200公里的中国最大的咸水湖(4635平方公里)----青海湖一饱游兴。 畅游青海湖最重要的理由是观鸟。这是因为本省最大的野生动物保护区----鸟岛恰好位于湖的中心位置。每年初春至立秋时节,这不足一平方公里的小岛,象一位羞涩的少女,在向游客娓娓低语,讲着一个亘古如新的故事,故事的主角就是来自华南或南亚的10万多只候鸟,白头鸥、黑颈鹤,还有神奇的白天鹅,它们在这里短暂栖息,匆匆繁衍,而后又一次遵循造物主为他们所设定的遗传程序随风而去。
不独是为了这群有着十分别致生活史的候鸟们。在工业文明的烟囱冒出的烟尘染黑这片湛兰得令人心跳的碧空之前,在工厂上班的钟声彻底打破这儿洪荒远古般的宁静之前,他们领先一步赶到这里,因为他们不想再一次经历“俱往已逝者如斯夫”的抱憾。
_ 参考文献
1,,翻译与人生,周兆祥箸,中国对外翻译出版公司,1998年8月55
.2,中译英技巧文集,中国翻译编辑部编,中国对外翻译出版公司,1992年,19页
3.现代汉英翻译技巧,王大伟编箸,世界图书出版公司,1999年7月,266页
4.翻译变体研究,黄忠廉箸,中国对外翻译出版公司,2000年1月
5.中国翻译,96年5期10页
6.翻译工作手册,刘靖之主编,商务印书馆,1989年,145页
7, 英语写作纵横谈,毛贵荣主编,上海外语教育出版社,1998年2月,序言
8,.万象,辽宁教育出版社主办,2000年第二卷第六期,125页
Xining found its place on the map as early as 121 BC when the ambitious Han emperors first garrisoned here in expansionist adventures westward. Its importance has always been appreciated as one of the major caravan gateways for trade between East and West as well as the sole eastern entrance into the Qinghai-Tibetan Highland It is not hard to imagine that since ancient times, this land had been ferociously ravaged by wars between a host of aboriginal tribes and ethnic groups who battled for supremacy among themselves and with the royal infantry from the middle kingdom. The first military fortress established here was called“xipingting”(Western Peace Pavilion) then altered into shanzhou until this nomenclature game came full circles to its starting point“xining which means“Western Peace” B.直到相当晚近--即公元前121年,西宁才在中央王国的版图上找到一个坐标。当时,雄心勃勃的汉朝皇帝东讨西征,拓边的大军在这湟水之滨建立了一个边塞驿站,史称“西平亭”。作为古代东西方商旅通道之一,青藏高原的东方门户,西宁自古享有“西海锁钥”的美称。历史上,西羌、吐谷浑、吐蕃、蒙古等一系列马上民族在这里战火频仍,同时和来自中原的帝国步兵们兵争不已。这个古代交通军事重镇先后几易其名:“湟中”、“鄯州”“青塘城”。这种命名游戏最后终于回复到最初的起点“西宁”即“西方的宁静”。
经过解放后四十四年的建设和十四年的改革开放,西宁已发展成为一座美丽繁荣的中心城市,是青藏高原上初具规模的现代工业城。这里,政治稳定,经济繁荣,市场活跃,文化鼎盛,环境优美,城市基础设施齐备,综合服务功能健全。对周围广大地区具有强大的辐射力和凝聚力,带动着青藏高原东部快速发展,建立起了一个开放型的西宁经济区。
Since the founding of PRC and the implementation of the Party's reform and open door policy in the late 1970s,the rigor of the old walled garrison has been replaced by the aroma of a thriving city of today.The perpetual tide of change has created a modern Highland life characterized by a robust economy a stable community a brisk marketplace as well as an uplifting culture.
自从PRC建国(1949)特别是七十年代末改革开放以来,这个峻严窳败的古代军事重镇就为现代都市的馨香繁盛所取而代之。持续不断的变革浪潮,塑造着一种全新的现代高原生活,其经济活力充沛,社区安全稳定,市场繁荣活跃,文化鼎盛向上。
|
|
|