英文翻譯
英文翻譯學習者一般願做英文翻譯漢題目，怕做漢譯英題目。由于曆史和文化上的差異，漢英詞文之間存在著或顯或隱的英文翻譯上的陷阱，導致漢譯英遠比英譯漢易于出錯。用魯迅的話說，就是“詞典不離手，冷汗不離身。”這提醒譯者必須對這些差異心中有數，然後再調和這些差異，“擺平”這些差異。為此，要邁好下面八道坎兒，時刻要留心這八條“戒律”——只想為妳擦亮滿天星光，以免在熟路上“迷失方向”。 一、戒“從一而終” 漢文言簡意賅，句子靈活，往往是一個漢文詞彙對應N個英文詞彙，具體到在本句中應該采用那個意項，務必抓住精神實質，不可以不變應萬變。至于怎麼應變，這就是顯示譯者功力的地方了。 比如：都是“問題”，下面的英文翻譯各不相同，幾乎是打一槍換一個地方。 共同關心的問題
questions of common interest 解決問題 solve a problem 問題的關鍵 the heart of the
matter 關鍵問題 a key problem 原則問題 a question/ matter of principle 懸而未決的問題 an
outstanding issue 沒有什麼問題 Without any mishap
摩托車有點問題。 Something is wrong with the motorcycle.
最近揭發出相當嚴重的貪汙、受賄和官僚主義問題。 Serious cases of embezzlement, bribery, and bureaucracy
have been brought to light
recently. 譯者要掌握這種漢英英文翻譯中的“遊擊戰術”，翻譯家應是不同“文化王國”邊境線上的“遊擊戰略家”。 沙博裏將《水滸傳》譯為：Outlaws
of the Marsh(沼澤地上的亡命之徒)。楊憲益譯將屈原的《國殤》譯為：For Those Fallen for Their
Country，北外出版社將《儒林外史》譯為：The
Scholars。這些都是譯者吃透了原文的原意而譯出的佳作。 二、戒望文生義，機械直譯 這多半是初學者犯的毛病，他們易于被表面現象所迷惑，做出令人啼笑皆非的事情。 黃牛（yellow
cow——ox前誤後正，下同）黃鸝（yellow bird ——oriole） 從小青梅竹馬(green plum bamboo horse——grew up
together) 黃瓜( yellow melon——cucumber) 紫菜（purple vegetable ——laver） 白菜( white
vegetable ——Chinese cabbage) 紅木(red wood——pad auk) 紅豆杉(red fir——Chinese yew)
黑社會(black society ——sinister gang)
三、戒“水土不符”，習慣搭配失當 這的確是難度系數較大的問題，它要求譯者既有較高的中文修養，又要有較高的英文造詣，一知半解的人常常在此“翻車”。如： 寫罷，擲筆在桌上。又歌了一回，再飲數杯酒，不覺沈醉，力不勝酒，便呼酒保計算了，取些銀子算還，多的都賞了酒保。 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.（沙博裏譯《水滸傳•尋陽樓宋江吟反詩》） 目前，《水滸傳》最好的英譯本要數沙博裏先生的本子了。沙博裏出生在美國，青年時來到中國，一住就是半個多世紀。為了譯好《水滸傳》，據說他潛心研究了山東的地方志和舊時方言，可謂精誠所致，譯著既“達”又“雅”。然而曆史告訴我們，中國古人沒有用過鋼筆，宋時用的還是毛筆，故the
pen 應改為the writing-brush。 白洋澱的導遊牌上，“紅菱”被硬硬地翻譯成Red Ling。菱角有對應詞的，應改為Red Water
Chestnut。這裏常常有外國人慘觀，如此英文翻譯，令人汗顏！ 下面的幾段譯文就較好地照顧到了西方人的思維和理解習慣。 老者道：“西方卻去不得。那山離此有六十裏遠，正是西方必由之路。卻有八百裏火焰，周圍寸草不生，若過此山，就是銅腦蓋，鐵身軀，也要化成汁哩。” "It's
impossible to get to the west," the old man replied, "The mountains are about
twenty miles from here. You have to cross them to get to the west, but they're
over 250 miles of flame. Not a blade of grass can grow anywhere around. Even if
you had a skull of bronze and a body of iron, you would melt trying to cross
them." （詹納爾譯《西遊記•孫悟空一調芭蕉扇》） 美國把貿易和人權扯在一起，只會損害兩國的經濟利益。 The US policy of
linking trade with human rights can only bring harm to the economic interests of
the two countries.
關起門來搞建設是不成的，中國的發展離不開世界。 China can't develop in isolation from the rest of the
world.
四、戒主文暗淡 主文是句子的靈魂，
定住譯文的主文的是關鍵的一步棋。主文定偏了，整個句子將顯得松散乏力，甚至會誤導讀者。 如果這個問題不解抉，勢必影響兩國的利益。 Failure to
settle this issue is bound impair the relations between the two countries
seriously.If the problem is not solved , it is sure to affect the interests
between the two
countries 在上面的兩種譯文中，顯然第一種譯文主文選得好，句子流暢。 共同的利益把我們兩個偉大的國家連接在一起。 What holds our
two great nations together is the cement of common
interests. 此句主文部分處理得頗為幹練。 操吳戈兮披犀甲，車錯轂兮短兵接。 We grasp huge shields, clad in
Rhinoceros Hide;the Chariots clash, the Daggers gashing
wide.（楊憲益譯《屈原•國殤》） 屈原一開篇就“操吳戈兮披犀甲，車錯轂兮短兵接”，顯然需要補充應有的主文。在《國殤》詩中，後面還有“身既死兮神以靈，子魂魄兮為鬼雄”的句子，可見屈原是以“局外人”的視角來寫為國捐軀的將士的，而非把自己混為軍中一員。譯文中的主文應改為“They”較妥。 櫥房裏少了一條魚，主人發誓要一查到底，揪出偷魚的賊。 Finding
a fish in kitchen was lost, the host swore to find out the thief who stole the
fish. 盡管漢文中似乎有“櫥房”“主人”兩個主文，英文翻譯者果斷地選定了the
host作主文。打點清晰，增強了句子的內聚力。 夏威夷的沙灘上，椰影婆娑，海風習習，一妙齡女郎正躺在白色的塑料椅上養神。 On the Hawaiian
sandy beach, the coconut palms are whirling, the congenial sea breeze is
blowing, and a young lady is lying in the white plastics chair resting to
restore energy.
因為是輕松讀本，又是描述性的文字，使用三個主文the coconut palms、the congenial sea breeze、a young
lady仍是可取的。
五、戒結構單調，組合生硬
“拉郎配” 由于漢英結構不同，表達方式迥異，“硬性英文翻譯”不僅讀起來別扭，而且會鬧出笑話。這就要求譯者在英文翻譯時靈活使用整合的技巧，將句子整合，凸顯漢文中所隱含的層次，補充所缺失的成分。有時要將間單句譯成並列句，有時將並列句譯成主從句。 在紀念大學畢業20周年聚會時，我忽然問起原來的班主任：“我個子又不矮，怎麼把我安排在了第一排呢？” At
the reunion party for 20 anniversary of graduation from university, I suddenly
asked my former teacher in charge of our class then:" Since I am not of short
stature, how did you arrange me at the first
row?" 一個高度近視的女博士去擦鞋店擦高統靴，禿頭老板親自蹲下來給她效勞。When a woman doctor who suffers a severe
myopic went to shoes-polishing shop for her buskins，the bald boss squatted down
to serve her
personally. 黑體字部分，正是契合了英文的表達習慣。 六、戒“愚忠”，不諳增減之道 我們耳熟能詳的東西外國人可能會感到一頭霧水，譯者需要增加必要的說明和補充或者減譯。否則，外國人會不知所雲。畢竟，漢譯英最終是給外國人看的。 例如：風水 fengshui——the
location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a
family. 例如：（美國對台）“三不政策” 會當淩絕頂，一覽眾山小。 One day I shall climb Clear to the
summit, See how small surrounding Mountain tops appear as they lie below me
（新西蘭人路易•艾黎譯《杜甫•望嶽》）
I can't open my eyes to watch you jumping into the fiery pit, for I will shut my
eyes at the time. 我不會眼睜睜看著妳往火坑裏跳，到時候我會閉上的。 不要嫌我黑，兩眼放光輝；不要嫌我瘦，一身好精肉。 Do not
Cold-shoulder me for my swarthy(黝黑的) face, but I have a pair of bright
piercing(敏銳的) eyes; Do not Cold-shoulder me for my slight figure, but I'm lean
and healthy. 文中the location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence
on the fortune of a family. on support for Taiwan independence, no support for
a two-China policy, and on support for Taiwan membership in international
organizations on the basis of statehood.
七、戒文句重複 漢文多重複，以強化文氣；英文則要盡量避免重複。 先生曰：“狼負我，狼負我！”狼曰：“吾非固欲負汝。天生汝輩，固需吾輩食也。” "You
are an ungrateful beast," complained the man. "Not at all," retorted the wolf,
"it is not that I'm ungrateful, but you men were created for us to devour."
（顏惠慶英文翻譯《馬中錫•中山狼傳》）
王曰：“此鳥不飛則已，一飛沖天；不鳴則已，一鳴驚人。” "The bird may not have flown yet", replied the
King,"Once it does, it will soar to the sky. I may not have cried out yet, but
once it does, it will startle
everyone." （楊憲益譯《史記•滑稽列傳》 阿凡提借了材主一錠金子，還他時給了他兩錠。 Afanty borrowed a small ingot
of gold from a moneybags, but repaid him two
ones. （選自艾臨《幽默新大六》） 又鬥爭，又團結，以鬥爭的手段，達團結之目的。 Unity, struggle, unity through
struggle.中國人也好，外國人也好，死人也好，活人也好，對的就是對的，不對的就是不對的。 What is right is right and what
is wrong is wrong, no matter what it concerns, the Chinese or foreigners, the
dead or the living.
八、戒另起爐灶，走失精氣神，淪為法國作家梅納日所批評的
“不忠的美人”——即文言優美但不忠于原文。（慘見2005年08月26日《濟南日報》：艾臨文章《不忠的美人與忠實的美人——寫在〈每天幽它一默〉出版後》）嚴複在英文翻譯《天演論》時偶
有為“雅”而不“信” （見陳廷佑《英文漢譯技巧》）。譯文要力求其“信”，盡可能契合漢文原來句子的氣勢、情緒和結構。
例如，元朝人王實甫寫下了《西廂記》，張雪靜改編後並作了英文翻譯—— 掏出張生那封信，回頭環視見梳妝台上的梳妝盒，眼睛一轉，心裏說有了，將信放了進去，合上蓋時故意壓了一角露在外面。 Rose
took out Zhang's letter, she thought, “It would be better to put it in her
make-up case, and letter find it herself.” So she put the letter in the case,
leaving a corner of it sticking out, so that it would be quickly
noticed. 不難看出，譯文與原文相去甚遠，互不吻合，成了“兩張皮”。 我們不希望這件事影響中美關系。 China hates to see
Sino-US relations damaged by this incident. 用China hates to比“We don't
hope”貼切。 吾十五有志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲不愈矩。 At fifteen, I had my mind
bent on learning truth; at thirty, my words deeds were appropriate; at forty, I
perceived truth and doubts ceased; at fifty, I understood what heaven had
mandated for mankind; at sixty, I could comply with the appointments of heaven;
at seventy, I could do as my heart desired, and never swerved from the path of
right. （金沛霖譯《論文》） 妳已經死在過深的怨憤裏了嗎？ 死？不，不，我還活著—— 請給我以火，給我以火！ Have you perished
in this deep rancor and bitterness? Death? No, no. I'm still alive.
Please give me a light, give me a light!
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