翻译与文化 ——中英文化差异及对翻译的影响
Culture Culture refers to the total pattern of beliefs, customs, institutions, objects, and techniques that characterize the life of a human community. 文化是一种复杂体,它包括知识、信仰、艺术、道德、法律、风俗, 以及其余社会上习得的能力与习惯。
总结 ※1、观察与思维上的差异对翻译的影响 ※2、词义联想与文化意象对翻译的影响 ※3、宗教信仰与历史典故对翻译的影响 ※4、地域政治与社会生活对翻译的影响 总结
中英思维方式对比 中国人注重伦理(ethics), 英美人注重认知(cognition)。 中国人重整体(integrity)、偏重综合性(synthetic)思维, 英美人重个体(individuality)、偏重分析性(analytic)思维。 中国人重直觉(intuition), 英美人重实证(evidence)。 中国人重形象思维(figurative thinking),英美人重逻辑思维(logical thinking)。
李大钊《东西方文明之根本差异》 “东西方文明有根本不同之点,即东洋文化主静,西方文明主动是也。……一为自然的,一为人为的;一为安息的,一为战争的;一为消极的,一为积极的;一为依赖的,一为独立的;一为苟安的,一为实进的;一为因袭的,一为创造的;一为保守的,一为进步的;一为直觉的,一为理智的;一为空想的,一为体验的;一为艺术的,一为科学的;一为精神的,一为物质的;一为灵的,一为肉的;一为向天的,一为立地的;一为自然支配的,一为人间征服自然……”
1.观察与思维上的差异对翻译的影响 您(先)请! After you. 前事不忘,后事之师。 Past experiences, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future. (Lessons learned from the past can serve as a guide in the future.)
Bridal shower Bachelor’s party
对颜色词的理解 “红糖” brown sugar “红茶” black tea “black coffee” 浓咖啡” “黑眼睛 ” “black eyes” brown sugar black tea 浓咖啡” dark eyes 挨打后出现的黑眼圈
Nobody could be too foolish this day. 今天谁也不会太愚蠢。(WRONG) 从句法上看,它是一个双重否定结构,从思维方式上看,它是一种逆向思维。 “今天,无论你出洋相到什么程度,都不算够分。”
white elephant昂贵且无用的东西 The new naval base(海军基地) has proved to be a white elephant. A. 新的海军基地证明是一只白象。 B. 新的海军基地被证明为不堪一击。 C. 新的海军基地是庞大而坚不可摧的。 D. 新的海军基地被证明为毫无用处。 white elephant昂贵且无用的东西
in the red亏损出现赤字; in the black 盈利 红白事:误译:red and white happiness, A large number of America radio stations operate(运行) in the red. A. 大量的美国无线电台运行良好。 B. 许多美国无线电台竞争激烈。 C. 许多美国广播电台向红色国家广播。 D.大量的美国无线电台在惨淡经营。 in the red亏损出现赤字; in the black 盈利 红白事:误译:red and white happiness, 正译:weddings and funerals
2.词义联想与文化意象差异对翻译的影响 The Milky Way
Miss Johnson is the manager’s girl Friday. 忠诚能干的女助手 B.约翰生小姐是经理的“小秘”。 C.约翰生小姐星期五为经理当秘书。 D.约翰生小姐是经理的私人秘书 girl Friday. 忠诚能干的女助手(尤指女秘书) Man Friday:得力、忠诚的助手。这个说法源自小说《鲁滨逊漂流记》。
A married woman hops(蹦跳) in the hay(干草). B.结了婚的女子成熟快乐,但易衰老。 C.结婚女子焦虑不安,后悔不已。 D.寡妇门前是非多,已婚女子想偷情。 E.红杏出墙
3.宗教信仰与历史典故对翻译的影响 Mary crossed (交叉)her fingers during the race so that Tom would win. A. 玛丽比赛时交叉双手,以便汤姆能赢。 B. 玛丽退出了比赛,所以汤姆就赢了。 C. 比赛时玛丽用指头打暗号,所以汤姆赢了。 D. 比赛时玛丽为汤姆祈祷,但愿他能赢。 crossed one’s fingers 祈祷上帝保佑
My sister took her degree at Cambridge, since when we call her a blue stocking.
4.地域政治与社会生活差异对翻译的影响 中国以农立国,用语不少是农谚。 骨瘦如柴 be lean as a rake 对牛弹琴 cast pearls before swine 滚石不生苔 A rolling stone gathers no moss. 众人拾柴火焰高 Many hands make light work. 竹篮打水一场空 drawing water in a bamboo basket means drawing nothing.
英国人喜欢航海,用语不少源于航海事业 Hoist your sail when the wind is fair. Still waters run deep. In a calm sea, every man is a pilot. A small leak will sink a great ship.
Hoist your sail when the wind is fair. 好风快扬帆。 Still waters run deep. 静水流深 In a calm sea, every man is a pilot. 海面平静,人人都可当舵手。 A small leak will sink a great ship. 小洞不堵要沉大船。
No one is certain how much energy The Big Apple consumes, but the amount must be enormous. D. 谁也无法肯定纽约市消耗多少能量,但能源消耗量肯定是巨大的。
Those were days when the sun never set on the British flag nor rose on many an East End home. C.那时候,日不落的英国旗帜在西方飘扬,但没有在东方升起。 D. 那是日不落大英帝国的黄金时代,也是伦敦贫民区千家万户从不见天日的岁月。
plays ducks and drakes with one’s money. He plays ducks and drakes(公鸭母鸭)with his money. A. 他花钱扮演公鸭和母鸭。 B.他花钱玩“野鸡”——嫖娼 C.他玩公鸭母鸭进行赌博。 D.他乱花自己的钱,尽情享受。 plays ducks and drakes with one’s money. 挥霍金钱
奈达说过:“就真正成功的翻译而言,译者的双文化(bi-culture)功底甚至比双语(bilingualism)功底更重要,因为词语只有在其起作用的文化语境中才富有意义。
名作翻译练习 论读书 ——F. Bacon Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores.
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. (Studies pass into and influence manners) 读书使人充实, 讨论使人机智, 笔记使人准确。因此,不常做笔记者须记忆特强,不常讨论者须天生聪颖,不常读书者须欺世有术,始能无知而显有知。读史使人明智,读诗使人灵秀,数学使人周密,科学使人深刻,伦理使人庄重,逻辑修辞之学使人善辩:凡有所学,皆成性格。
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