时文翻译 I. 首先是理解原文要准确,这是翻译的基础和前提。 从理论上讲,中国人阅读中文并理解它,应当不成问题。但进入翻译过程就会有所不同,常常是字面上看懂了,却未必能够理解其深层含义。仅有皮毛理解便动手翻译,是翻译工作的大忌。从事政治翻译,对有政治含义的词句,特别是涉及到大政方针、领土、主权的问题,要多从政治方面进行深入解读并掌握好分寸
(1)“台湾前途系于祖国统一” The future of Taiwan lies in the reunification of the motherland. 原译:…lies in its reunification with the mainland. 这里主要指台湾与大陆的统一,因为香港和澳门已经回归,主要是解决台湾问题。乍看起来这个译文也是可以的,英文也比较标准。但从深层考虑,祖国统一应包括大陆、港、澳、台等,不仅仅指台湾与大陆,因此从政治角度看不妥。
“尊重台湾人民当家作主的愿望”…respect…their (指台湾人民) wish a. to be master in their own house b. to be the master of their own affairs c. to be masters of their own country d. to be among the masters of our country 怎样理解“当家作主”?译(2)文a和b台湾同祖国关系这一概念不清,采用译文c又可能会产生歧义,被台独分子利用。现译文加了among,又将 their own country改为our country,就是说,台湾人民和大陆、港、澳等人民一样,都是中国的主人。这就准确反映了原意。
(3)“全面建设小康社会” a. to build a relatively comfortable society across the country b. to build a well-off society in an all-round way “全面”一词理解为全国,译成across the country。因为对原文理解不准确,致使译文偏离了原意,“全面建设小康社会”是指惠及十几亿人口的较高水平的小康社会,使经济更发展、民主更健全、科教更进步、文化更繁荣、社会更和谐、人民生活更殷实,即经济、政治、文化全面发展的小康。“全面”译文随即改为in an all-round way。另外,翻译不仅对原文要正确理解,对译文选词也要精练准确。譬如“小康”原译为relatively comfortable,字较长, 含义较泛。根据Random House 英语词典解释,well-off 意思是 live in a satisfactory condition, with sufficient possessions for a comfortable living, 比较贴近中文原意。
(4)“外向型经济” 原译export-oriented economy 改译internationally-oriented economy 现译outward-looking economy 随着形势的发展,理解口在不断地深入,因此译文也在变化。改革开放早期的外向型经济多半是指出口,包括劳务输出。而现在不仅指出,也指吸收外资和到国外投资办厂,即“引进来”、“走出去”,所以译文也随之变动。
(5)“要把改革的力度、发展的速度和社会可承受的程度统一起来” a. to integrate the momentum of reform and the speed of development with the sustainability of the general public b. to take into full consideration the momentum of reform and the speed of development and the capacity of the general public to cope with changes c. to balance the momentum of reform and the speed of development against the resilience of the general public “统一”一词经常在文件中出现,不同的场合有不同的含义。此处只从字面上理解为integrate 或 unify是不对的,它是指在加强“改革的力度”和增进“发展的速度”的同时,必须考虑人民能否承受得了,以使三者协调前进。译文 b 和 c 理解都正确,但译文 c表达更为简练。
II.正确对待和解决中式英文Chinglish的问题。 在准确、深刻地理解了原文之后,就是准确地翻译出地道的英文。翻译中会遇到各种困难和问题,其中最常见的是Chinglish的问题。Chinglish在政治文件翻译中比较普遍地存在,即使在比较优秀的译文中也能发现它的痕迹。它始终困扰着翻译工作者,有时几乎成了难以逾越的障碍。不解决这个问题,势必会影响译文的质量和原有文献的影响力。
Chinglish的形成:一是文化和语言上的差异。 有时Chinglish是很难避免的,是两种语言上的冲突,而深层次上则是由中国和英语国家在文化和思维方式上的巨大差异所形成的。随着社会的发展,这种冲突和差异还会不断以新的形式出现。把英语中所没有而汉语中所特有的语言译成纯正的英语,还要照顾两种文化的意蕴,这个难度是相当大的。有些汉语的词句和表达方式,在英语的语库中无法找到现成的答案。在此情况下,不可能以修改原文来迁就英语。唯一的办法便是依据英语的语言规律,创造出新词或词组。此类情况现在有、过去也有。在我党历史上就曾经出现过。毛主席在与安娜路易斯特朗会见时,谈到“一切反动派都是纸老虎”,“纸老虎”曾被译为scarecrow(稻草人)。毛表示 scarecrow 没有反映出“纸老虎”的含义,认为paper tigers更贴近中文。之后,通过斯特朗的笔,paper tiger在国际上已成为纸老虎的标准译法。现在出现新词比过去更多。
(6)“‘三个代表’重要思想” the important thought of the“ Three Represents”, “Three Represents”最初不少英语读者感到费解,英语专家不赞成,电脑也不认可,因为Three形容的Represents是动词。但考虑到英文里也有do’s and don’ts,因此“Three Represents”也是符合英语的语言规律的。况且没有人能提出更好的解决办法,只能采取这个译法。the“Three Represents”已经使用了好几年,了解中国的英语读者也都知道这个字的含义了。所以十六大的翻译仍沿用这个译法。
二 是Chinglish的形成与译者的水平有直接的关系。 关于如何避免和减少中式英文,这里结合十六大报告翻译例句,谈几点看法: (一)吃透原文的精神,摆脱中文句型的束缚,重原文内涵,按照英语规律和习惯,利用加字、减字、转换词类等技巧,甚至调整全句结构,使译文通顺流畅。例如:
(7)“不辱使命、不负重托” live up to the mission assigned to them and the full trust placed on them 译文增加了 assigned to them 和 placed on them, 如不加字,则句子不完整,不好懂,“使命”和“重托”的意味就出不来。
(8)“收入分配关系尚未理顺” a. Things have yet to be straightened out in the matter of income distribution. b. Income distribution has yet to be rationalized. “关系”一词没有实质意义,因此译文b就将它减去,使句子干净利落。
(二)在工作中,有意识地记录一些疑难译例。注意英语国家的人们的表达方式及对词的运用。不论是国内外的读物、广播电视、还是谈话,都可以取其精华,为我所用。(但借用表达方式时,一定要注意其政治倾向和不同的上下文)例如: (11)“坚持党要管党、从严治党的方针” adhere to the principle that the Party exercises self-discipline and is strict with its members “管”字含义很广,包含教育、管理、监督、鼓励等。但英文里哪个动词能高度概括这几层意思?初译时曾用supervise,但这个字只有监督的意思,不够积极主动。我们可以想一想英语国家在类似情况会使用什么词,譬如:(学校)管学生。译为:to discipline students, 我们就可以借用。原文含有党必须自律的意思。 因此, 译成exercise self-discipline.
(三)做有心人,培养对语言的浓厚兴趣,不断提高译者的综合素质。对汉英两种语言掌握运用的熟练程度和对英语的语感,都可能影响译文的质量。译者应当经常对不同的译文进行对比,看看哪种译文更好,英语专家为什么这样改,以提高自己对语言的鉴赏能力。
(13)“树立全民环保意识” a. help the whole nation see the importance of environmental protection b. make everybody environmentally aware (14)“完善公开办事制度” a. improve the system of keeping the public informed of matters being handled b. improve the system of public office transparency
(15)“政务公开” a. making government affairs known to the public b. government transparency (16)“社会公示制度” a. system of keeping the public informed b. system of pre-appointment announcement
(17)“正确处理改革发展稳定的关系” a. properly handle the relationship between reform, development and stability b. balance reform, development and stability
III.尚待探讨的几个问题: 在十六大报告的翻译过程中,以及在此以前,有的同志提出某些重要政治用语的传统译法可否做一些改动,比如“自由主义”、“专政”、“民主党派”等。具体意见如下: (19)“自由主义”,在汉语中是指一种不好的思想作风,主张自由放任和无原则的和平,不讲组织纪律,奉行个人利益第一等,属贬义词。而在英语中“liberalism”主要是褒义词或是中性词,指不受清规戒律约束,思想开明,主张改革和进取。汉英意思差别很大。有的同志认为,如果我们将“自由主义”这个有贬义含义的词译成了英文的褒义词,英语国家的读者可能不好理解,甚至引起误解。
(20)“人民民主专政”一直译为 “the people’s democratic dictatorship”, 但“dictatorship”在英语中是贬义词,除有专政的意思外,主要指“独裁统治”。毛选《论人民民主专政》中谈到“我们实行人民民主专政,或曰人民民主独裁,……就是剥夺反动派的发言权,只让人民有发言权。”此处“专政”就是译为“dictatorship”,当时使用这个词有其特殊的历史条件和特定的含义,它与整个文章的中心思想是完全融合的,不可能译成其他什么词。有的同志提出,今天国际形势、政治环境和阶级关系都发生了变化,是否还要继续译成dictatorship”?将其改译为 people’s democratic rule是否更有利一些?
(21)“民主党派”,多年来一直译为 “democratic parties”,没有产生过歧义。 但如果共产党和民主党派两词连用,译为“the Communist Party and democratic parties”,可能会误解为共产党是不民主的政党;如果译为“the Communist Party and other democratic parties”,则共产党也成了民主党派了,很难办, 所以在十六大的译稿中没做改动。但后来出版的英译本中,将“民主党派” 改译为the non-Communist parties. 这个译法似乎不够贴切,它可解释为共产党以外的所有党派,而这些党派不一定都是中文本意上的民主党派,它包括的范围更广泛。有人建议译为:other political parties, 但也没有完全解决问题。
(22)“中国人民解放军”从命名到如今,一直译为 the People’s Liberation Army(PLA), 这已成为国际上通用译法,没有产生任何歧义。所以“军队”一词在报告中仍译为army, 如“军队建设”译为 army building。但在英语国家,army虽然有时也含空军,一般主要指陆军。如果凡有“军队”或“军”字均译成army,则含义不准确。今后可考虑除“解放军”和“建军”等个别已定型并通用的译法外,凡属整体意义上的“军队”或“军”(如“治军”),可译为the armed forces。
(23)“中国特色社会主义事业” the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics 改革开放初期,“中国特色”就译成 with Chinese characteristics,因为当时外界对中国还不了解,有必要解释清楚。而现在世界对中国有了更多的了解,“中国特色”是否也可以根据不同的上下文选择不同的译文, 如: Chinese style (socialism) 或 Chinese (socialism). 再如:“走中国特色的精兵之路”take China’s own road of building fewer but better troops。
汉译英时主语的转换方法: 1。补充: 坚持国内扩大需求的方针,根据形势需要实施相应的宏观经济政策 We must stick to the policy of stimulating domestic demand and implement corresponding macroeconomic policies in light of actual needs.
2.对应 correspondence 报告中以名词作为主语 (a)全党同志要牢牢把握这个根本要求,不断增强贯彻“三个代表”重要思想的自觉性和坚定性。(施事主语句) All party members must be keenly aware of this basic requirement and become more conscious and determined in implementing this important thought. (b)工农差别、城乡差别和地区差别扩大的趋势逐步扭转。(受事主语句) The trend of widening differences between industry and agriculture, between urban and rural areas and between regions will be reversed step by step
(C)民族精神是一个民族赖以生存和发展的 精神支撑。(判断句) National spirit is the moral kingpin on which a nation relies for survival and development. 2、报告以动词或动词短语(非主谓结构或词组)作主语。
(a)发展文化产业是市场经济条件下繁荣社会主义文化、满足人民群众精神文化需求的重要途径。 Developing the cultural industry is an important avenue to enriching socialist culture in the market economy and to meeting the spiritual and cultural needs of the people.
(b)实现祖国的完全统一,是海内外中华儿女的共同心愿。 To achieve complete reunification of the motherland is a common aspiration of all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation both at home and abroad. (c)实施西部大开发战略,关系全国发展的大局,关系民族团结和边疆稳定。 The implementation of the strategy for the development of the western region bears on the overall situation of national development, the ethnic unity and stability in border areas.
(三)转换(shift ) 1、推导主语转移。 (a)香港和澳门回归祖国,丰富了“一国两制” 的理论和实践。 The return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland has enriched the concept of one country, two systems' in both theory and practice.
(b)世界上的各种文明、不同的社会制度和发展道路应彼此尊重,在竞争比较中取长补短,在求同存异中共同发展。 Countries having different civilizations and social systems and taking different roads to development should respect one another and draw upon one another‘s strong points through competition and comparison and should develop side by side by seeking common ground while shelving differences.
2、反逆式主语转移。 (a)优化军队的编成和结构,调整和完善政策制度。 The formation and structure of the army must be optimized and the related policies and systems should be adjusted and improved. (b)祖国统一大业取得新进展。 Fresh progress has been made in the great cause of national reunification.
3、句型转换式主语转移。 (a)在全社会形成祟尚科学、鼓励创新、反对迷信和伪科学的良好氛围。(非主谓句) It is essential to create an atmosphere in society at large favorable for respecting and promoting science, encouraging innovation and opposing superstition and pseudo-science.
(b)国家实行促进就业的长期战略和政策(主谓句) It is a long-term strategy and policy of the state to expand employment (c)离开发展,坚持党的先进性、发挥社会主义制度的优越性和实现民富国强都无从谈起。(复合主语句:述宾短语作主语) Without development, it would be impossible to maintain the progressiveness of the Party, give play to the superiority of the socialist system and make the people rich and the country strong.
(d)农村富余劳动力向非农产业和城镇转移,是工业化和现代化的必然趋势。(复合主语句:主谓短语作主语) It is an inevitable trend of industrialization and modernization for surplus rural labor to move to non-agricultural industries and to cities and towns.
贯彻落实科学发展观,必须大力实施科教兴国战略、人才强国战略和可持续发展战略,加快社会事业发展;着力解决与人民群众切身利益相关的突出问题,维护社会稳定,努力构建社会主义和谐社会。 We must adopt a scientific outlook on development and implement the strategy of reinvigorating our country through science, education and trained personnel and the strategy of sustainable development to accelerate the development of social undertakings. We will strive to solve outstanding problems vital to the immediate interests of the people, safeguard social stability and build a harmonious socialist society.
晋太元中,武陵人捕鱼为业;缘溪行,忘路之远近。忽逢桃花林。夹岸数百步,中无杂树,芳草鲜美,落英缤纷,渔人甚异之。复前行,欲穷其林。 林尽水源,便得一山。山有小口,仿佛若有光,便舍船从口入。初极狭,才通人。复行数十步,豁然开朗。土地平旷,屋舍俨然,有良田、美池、桑竹之属,阡陌交通,鸡犬相闻。其中往来种作,男女衣着,悉如外人;黄发垂髫,并怡然自乐。
During the Tai-Yuan period of the Chin Dynasty, a fisherman from Wuling, forgetting how far he had advanced in following a creek, suddenly came to a forest of peach blossoms. For several hundred paces there was no other kind of trees on either bank of the creek. The delightful-smelling grass was beautiful and fresh, and the falling blossoms were scattered in confusion. The fisher-man was seized with wonder. He went on further, intending to go through the wood, but where the wood ended at the source of the creek he found a hill with a small opening somewhat lighted.
Then the fisherman left his boat and walked through the mouth of the opening. It was rather narrow at first, barely enough for the passage of one person; but after a few more score steps it widens into an open track. A wide plain was brought into view, dotted with houses in distinct order and full of good fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry, and bamboo. It was checkered with highways and paths between the fields; cock-crow and dog-bark in one village were heard in another. The people plying to and fro and working on the farm were all men and women, dressed like the outsiders. Both the grey-haired people and the children with hanging-hair tresses all appeared happy and well-contented.
“The Story of Peach Blossom Spring"(By Nida 奈达) During the Tai-Yuan period of the Chin Dynasty, a fisherman from Wuling had forgotten how far he had gone in following a stream. Suddenly he came to a large orchard of peach trees in blossom, and for quite a distance there was no other kind of tree on either bank of the stream. The sweet-smelling grass was fresh and beautiful, and the fallen blossoms carpeted the ground. The fisherman was filled with wonder. He went on, intent on going through the wooded area. But when he had passed on through, he came to the spring that fed the stream, and by it was a hill with a small, dim opening.
The fisherman then left his boat and walked on into the opening The fisherman then left his boat and walked on into the opening. At first it was rather narrow, barely enough for one person to pass. But in less than a hundred steps, the passageway widened. Then he saw a wide plain, dotted with houses, arranged in order. There were good fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboo groves. The area was crisscrossed with highways and paths between the fields, and from one village to another one could hear the friendly crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs. The people moved to and fro as they worked on the farms. All the men and women were dressed in strange garments, like some foreigners. Both the grey-haired people and the children wore their hair tresses, and everyone appeared happy and content.
Peach Blossom Spring (By Wang Rongpei 汪榕培) In the years of Taiyuan during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu in the Jin Dynasty, there lived in Wuling a man who made his living as a fisherman. Sailing up a stream one day, he forgot how far he had traveled when all at once he saw a grove of peach blossoms stretching hundreds of paces on both banks of the stream. There were no other kinds of trees but verdant grass in full splendor and angry flowers in profusion. Enticed by the sight, the fisherman sailed on to have a complete view of the grove.
The grove stretched as far as the source of the stream, where the fisherman found a hill with an opening that seemed to be lit within. He left his boat and entered the opening. At first the opening was very narrow, barely allowing him to pass, but as he went on some dozens of paces, a wide view suddenly opened before him. There was an expansive plain scattered with orderly houses, lush fields, beautiful ponds and clumps of mulberry and bamboo trees. Footpaths crisscrossed the fields, where the crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs were heard within distance. The men and women working in the fields were attired in the same manners as the people living outside; both old and young enjoyed a happy life.
“The Story of Peach Blossom Spring"(The unknown) In the year of Taiyuan of the Jin Dynasty, there lived a man in Wuling jun who earned his living by fishing. One day, he rowed his boat along a stream, unaware of how far he had gone when all of a sudden, he found himself in the midst of a wood full of peach blossoms. The wood extended several hundred footsteps along both banks of the stream. There were no trees of other kinds. The lush grass was fresh and beautiful and peach petals fell in riotous profusion. The fisherman was so curious that he rowed on, in hopes of discovering where the trees ended.
At the end of the wood was the fountainhead of the stream At the end of the wood was the fountainhead of the stream. The fisherman beheld a hill, with a small opening from which issued a glimmer of light. He stepped ashore to explore the crevice. His first steps took him into a passage that accommodated only the width of one person. After he progressed about scores of paces, it suddenly widened into an open field. The land was flat and spacious. There were houses arranged in good order with fertile fields, beautiful ponds, bamboo groves, mulberry trees and paths crisscrossing the fields in all directions. The crowing of cocks and the barking of dogs were within everyone's earshot. In the fields the villagers were busy with farm work. Men and women were dressed like people outside. They all, old and young, appeared happy.