我一直以為大學(xué)校長是高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚、指導(dǎo)學(xué)術(shù)與教育大方向的決策人,而不是管饅頭稀飯的保姆,但這也暫且不提。這一類型的教育者的用心,毋庸置疑,當(dāng)然是善意的。問題是,我們論“事”的時候,用心如何根本不重要,重要的是實際的后果,而教育的后果何其嚴(yán)重!在這種過度呵護(hù)的幼稚教育下成長的大學(xué)生,遇事時,除了“淚眼汪汪”之外又能做些什么呢?
Now I have always considered university presidents to be visionary policymakers who set the course of academic research and education rather than mere nannies in charge of feeding steamed bread and porridge to infants. But let's put this aside for the moment. There is no doubt, of course, that this type of educator has very good intentions. The problem is, when we pass judgment on something, what matters is not intentions but the actual consequences. And how serious the consequences of education are! Brought up in an educational system that pampers them like babies, what can you expect university students to do except shed tears when faced with an actual hardship or problem.
翻譯評析:
1)一直以為:這里譯成have always considered比have always thought更確切。think的過去時thought常隱含看法、觀點的轉(zhuǎn)變。
2)高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚:即“有眼光、有遠(yuǎn)見”(visionary)。
3)指導(dǎo)學(xué)術(shù)與教育大方向:即“為學(xué)術(shù)研究和教育制定方向”set the course/determine the direction of academic research and education.
4)決策人:即“政策制定者”(policymakers)。
5)而不是:rather than.
6) 管饅頭稀飯:即“負(fù)責(zé)給幼兒喂饅頭和稀飯”(in charge of feeding steamed bread and porridge to infants)。這里把“饅頭”譯成西方人早餐吃的toast(烤面包片)也可以。
7)這也暫且不提:意思是“讓我們暫且把這一點放在一邊”(let's put this aside for the moment)。
8)用心……是善意的:這里按“有良好的用心”譯成has very good intentions,因為這里用have句型比用be句型要順。
9)毋庸置疑,當(dāng)然……:“毋庸置疑”即“毫無疑問”(There is no doubt)。這個成分在原文中是插入語,英文there be句型不宜作插入語,得拿它起句。
10)論“事”:即“對某事進(jìn)行評價”(pass judgment on something)。
11) 用心如何:就是“用心”(intentions)。
12)根本不重要,重要的是:換句話說就是“重要的是……而不是……”(what matters is not……but……)?!爸匾氖恰北緛硪部梢宰g成the important thing is,可是由于前面已有The problem is,這里再用the important thing is顯得重復(fù),不如說what matters is.
13)何其嚴(yán)重:文言,等于“多么嚴(yán)重”(How serious……)。
14)過度呵護(hù):pampering, coddling, excessively caring.
15)幼稚教育:“幼稚”是臺灣用語,大陸說“幼兒”。這里實際指“幼兒教育體制”(infantile educational system)。
16)在……成長的:這里與其把“成長”譯成主動的grew up,不如譯成被動的brought up (培養(yǎng)起來)。整句話可以譯為Brought up under this kind of excessively caring, infantile educational system;靈活一些,也可以說brought up in an educational system that pampers them like babies.
17)遇事時:即“當(dāng)面臨實際困難或問題時”(when faced with an actual hardship or problem)。
18)“眼淚汪汪”:shed tears 或whimper and cry.原文在本段節(jié)錄之前提到兩個女大學(xué)生遇到困難只會“眼淚汪汪”,所以這里加了引號。
19)又能做些什么呢?:這里的含義是“你又能指望他們做些什么呢?”(what can you expect……?)
Now I have always considered university presidents to be visionary policymakers who set the course of academic research and education rather than mere nannies in charge of feeding steamed bread and porridge to infants. But let's put this aside for the moment. There is no doubt, of course, that this type of educator has very good intentions. The problem is, when we pass judgment on something, what matters is not intentions but the actual consequences. And how serious the consequences of education are! Brought up in an educational system that pampers them like babies, what can you expect university students to do except shed tears when faced with an actual hardship or problem.
翻譯評析:
1)一直以為:這里譯成have always considered比have always thought更確切。think的過去時thought常隱含看法、觀點的轉(zhuǎn)變。
2)高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚:即“有眼光、有遠(yuǎn)見”(visionary)。
3)指導(dǎo)學(xué)術(shù)與教育大方向:即“為學(xué)術(shù)研究和教育制定方向”set the course/determine the direction of academic research and education.
4)決策人:即“政策制定者”(policymakers)。
5)而不是:rather than.
6) 管饅頭稀飯:即“負(fù)責(zé)給幼兒喂饅頭和稀飯”(in charge of feeding steamed bread and porridge to infants)。這里把“饅頭”譯成西方人早餐吃的toast(烤面包片)也可以。
7)這也暫且不提:意思是“讓我們暫且把這一點放在一邊”(let's put this aside for the moment)。
8)用心……是善意的:這里按“有良好的用心”譯成has very good intentions,因為這里用have句型比用be句型要順。
9)毋庸置疑,當(dāng)然……:“毋庸置疑”即“毫無疑問”(There is no doubt)。這個成分在原文中是插入語,英文there be句型不宜作插入語,得拿它起句。
10)論“事”:即“對某事進(jìn)行評價”(pass judgment on something)。
11) 用心如何:就是“用心”(intentions)。
12)根本不重要,重要的是:換句話說就是“重要的是……而不是……”(what matters is not……but……)?!爸匾氖恰北緛硪部梢宰g成the important thing is,可是由于前面已有The problem is,這里再用the important thing is顯得重復(fù),不如說what matters is.
13)何其嚴(yán)重:文言,等于“多么嚴(yán)重”(How serious……)。
14)過度呵護(hù):pampering, coddling, excessively caring.
15)幼稚教育:“幼稚”是臺灣用語,大陸說“幼兒”。這里實際指“幼兒教育體制”(infantile educational system)。
16)在……成長的:這里與其把“成長”譯成主動的grew up,不如譯成被動的brought up (培養(yǎng)起來)。整句話可以譯為Brought up under this kind of excessively caring, infantile educational system;靈活一些,也可以說brought up in an educational system that pampers them like babies.
17)遇事時:即“當(dāng)面臨實際困難或問題時”(when faced with an actual hardship or problem)。
18)“眼淚汪汪”:shed tears 或whimper and cry.原文在本段節(jié)錄之前提到兩個女大學(xué)生遇到困難只會“眼淚汪汪”,所以這里加了引號。
19)又能做些什么呢?:這里的含義是“你又能指望他們做些什么呢?”(what can you expect……?)