研词磨句学国学与英语(1) 范仲淹名作《岳阳楼记》在中国古代文学史上的地位与影响,自不待言。凡中国学子,对“先天下之忧而忧,后天下之乐而乐”之价值观名句,无不耳熟能详,出口成诵。这样的名篇佳作,成为中学西渐时的必选之作,也就自然而然的事了。 我常喜读一点中外名篇,见到有中国古代名篇名作翻译成册的,虽囊中羞涩,不能一一购来赏读玩味,但手中总有几册,供闲暇时消遣,咂摸,有时候也是为Kill time,当然也有延缓衰老预防痴呆的意味。 手中《古文观止精选》(英汉对照 罗经国译)常翻常新,颇获教益。于中英文的长进,大有裨益。其中就选译了《岳阳楼记》,译文远在一般之上,做到了“信、达、雅”,读之如饮甘怡。今日再读,忽有新认识。对于罗经国先生的个别用字,觉得值得揣摩,改动一下,似乎更能准确生动。 如第一句“庆历四年春,滕子京谪守巴陵郡。”罗经国先生翻译为: In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Teng Zijing was exiled to Baling Prefecture to be the governor there. 查英语词典,exile是这样注释的: to send someone away from their own country, village, etc., especially for political reasons: The monarch was exiled because of the coup. If someone is living in exile, they are living in a foreign country because they cannot live in their own country, usually for political reasons. (通常出于政治原因的) 流亡他国 If someone is exiled, they are living in a foreign country because they cannot live in their own country, usually for political reasons. (通常出于政治原因而) 放逐他国 从这些英文解释当中我们可以看到,exile作动词或名词用。但没有“贬谪”的意思。 “谪”封建时代特指官吏降职,调往边外地方:~迁。~降(jiàng )。~戍。~居。贬~。并没有放逐、驱逐至境外的意思。而英语里有一个字可以表达这个意思,这个字就是relegate Relegate:to give sb a lower or less important position, rank, etc. than before使贬职;使降级;降低…的地位 to put someone or something into a lower or less important rank or position 这个意思恰好与“贬谪”的意思相等,应该说比exile更为贴切准确。 对于罗经国先生的这个翻译,我还有另外一点想法,就是to Baling Prefecture to be the governor there,在文字上显得不够简洁。中国古代文言,文字简练,言短意长,贴着这个特点,结合上面两个字的分析与区别,我把这一句改译为: In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Teng Zijing was relegated to govern Baling Prefecture. 读者诸君以为如何?是不是比原来的翻译更加准确贴切,而简洁顺畅呢?请在留言区留言讨论。 |
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