翻譯中的CHINGLISH

字號(hào):

嚴(yán)復(fù)的"信、達(dá)、雅"三個(gè)字精辟地概括了翻譯的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。這個(gè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)要求譯文既能忠實(shí)準(zhǔn)確地表達(dá)原意,又能通順流暢、文辭優(yōu)美、可讀性強(qiáng)。但在實(shí)踐中達(dá)到這個(gè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn),卻不是一件容易的事。
     漢英翻譯中有兩種傾向:一種是一味追求譯文流暢、文辭優(yōu)美,忽略乃至偏離了原意;另一種是過于拘泥原文字句,機(jī)械地從字面上"對(duì)號(hào)入座",譯文不順而且難懂。這兩種傾向都不符合"信、達(dá)、雅"標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。在外事翻譯中,后一種傾向更為常見。造成這一問題既有主觀原因,如怕譯文出政治差錯(cuò),認(rèn)為直譯比較保險(xiǎn),因而不敢越雷池一步;另外也有客觀的因素,政治、外交翻譯政策性強(qiáng),不僅要求內(nèi)容準(zhǔn)確、文字嚴(yán)密,而且時(shí)間性強(qiáng),給翻譯的時(shí)間有限,譯者經(jīng)常處于完成任務(wù)的匆忙之中,"該出手時(shí)就出手",難以從容地進(jìn)行推敲潤(rùn)色,因而譯文常常遷就中文,顧不得精益求精。我在四十年的翻譯工作中,在限定時(shí)間內(nèi)出手的譯文常常留下一些永久的遺憾。
     當(dāng)然,我們的翻譯工作一直在進(jìn)步、在發(fā)展,尤其是改革開放以來的20年時(shí)間里,解決了大量出現(xiàn)的新問題、新詞匯、新提法,在外交和對(duì)外宣傳工作中發(fā)揮了巨大作用。但也不容忽視我們工作中存在的問題,特別是譯文質(zhì)量方面的問題。
     提高譯文質(zhì)量需要多方面的努力,我感到今后最需要也是最難解決的問題之一,就是如何克服"中式英文",即"Chinglish"問題。
     "Chinglish"是我上面所說后一種傾向的一個(gè)表現(xiàn),它的存在導(dǎo)致某些譯文生硬晦澀,使講英語(yǔ)的讀者敬而遠(yuǎn)之,影響了對(duì)外宣傳的效果。還不能不引起我們的注意。
     對(duì)"Chinglish",我們需要做一些理論上的探討,但我認(rèn)為更主要的是如何從實(shí)踐中去求得解決。解決了這個(gè)問題,就可能使我們的譯文更完美,更接近于"信、達(dá)、雅"這個(gè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。當(dāng)然,這不是一朝一夕所能解決的,需要我們持續(xù)不懈地去努力。
     由于中國(guó)與英語(yǔ)國(guó)家的歷史背景、政治、經(jīng)濟(jì)、社會(huì)、文化以及價(jià)值觀等不同,漢譯英容易產(chǎn)生中式英文,就像英譯漢容易出現(xiàn)歐式中文一樣。因此,要求譯者不僅精通漢語(yǔ)和英語(yǔ),而且熟悉英語(yǔ)國(guó)家人們的生活背景、思維方式和語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣,時(shí)刻關(guān)注英語(yǔ)發(fā)展動(dòng)態(tài),多聽外電,多讀英文原著和原文,逐漸克服"Chinglish",使英譯文讀起來比較地道?,F(xiàn)就有關(guān)"Chinglish"幾個(gè)問題談幾點(diǎn)看法,與前輩和同行探討。
     I、產(chǎn)生Chinglish的主要原因及其表現(xiàn)形式
     一、帶有中國(guó)特色的詞匯不斷出現(xiàn)。改革開放以來,產(chǎn)生了不少新詞匯、新提法,它們都是中國(guó)特有的,在英文里沒有或一時(shí)找不到相應(yīng)的譯法,即使譯出來也需要一定的磨合的過程。譯文往往是解釋性的,解釋不了,就字對(duì)字譯出,因而容易出現(xiàn)Chinglish.例如:
     (1)"三講"(講學(xué)習(xí)、講政治、講正氣)
     初譯:emphasize the need to study, to have political awareness and to be honest and upright改譯:emphasise on three things: study, politics and integrity初譯是解釋性的,顯然沒有原文簡(jiǎn)潔。改譯簡(jiǎn)單明了,但也沒完全擺脫中式英文的味道。另外,politics一字有時(shí)含貶意。
     (2)"經(jīng)濟(jì)法制化"manage economic affairs according to law或put economic operation on a legal hasis or within a legal framework "科研成果產(chǎn)業(yè)化"apply scientific research results to industrial production "國(guó)民經(jīng)濟(jì)信息化"build an information-based national economy "社會(huì)知識(shí)化"build a knowledge-driven society "國(guó)際關(guān)系民主化"Democracy should be practised in intemational relations漢語(yǔ)中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)"化"字,有的可直譯,譬如:"經(jīng)濟(jì)全球化",現(xiàn)譯成:economic globalization.但不能一律簡(jiǎn)單譯成"ize",譬如把上句譯成:International relations should be democratized.意思就走樣了。
     上述便句均為解釋性的譯文,免不了中式英文的味道。
     二、搭配不當(dāng)。由于受到漢語(yǔ)字面的影響,翻譯中往往不是犯語(yǔ)法錯(cuò)誤而是更深層次的搭配不當(dāng)?shù)膯栴}。例如:
     (3)"我們將……在新的世紀(jì)里不斷譜寫建設(shè)有中國(guó)特色的社會(huì)主義的新篇章。" We will go on achieving fresh successes in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new century. "譜寫新篇章"在有的上下文可以譯成write a new chapter,例如:"在中泰友好交往的歷史中,譜寫了新的篇章。"可譯為:we have written a new chapter in the annals of Sino-Thai friendship.而在例句(3)中就不能這樣譯,因?yàn)閣rite a chapter與building socialism是不能搭配在一起的。
     (4)若干一般常見的搭配不當(dāng)?shù)睦洌?來信寫道"譯為the letter writes屬搭配不當(dāng),也是擬人化,應(yīng)為:the letter reads "取得成就"make achievements應(yīng)為:score或"attain achievements "革命接班人"successors to the revolution 應(yīng)為:revolutionary successors "革命事業(yè)接班人"successors to the revolutionary cause應(yīng)為:successors in the revolutionary cause有的詞句盡管搭配不當(dāng),但因長(zhǎng)期使用而被英語(yǔ)國(guó)家接受,可謂約定俗成,例如:"把中國(guó)建設(shè)成為"build China into屬Chinglish,應(yīng)譯為:turn China into.但在克林頓歡迎江主席的講話中就用了build San Francisco into a thriving cosmopolitan city.可見英語(yǔ)也在吸收外來語(yǔ),也在不斷發(fā)展。
     三、重復(fù)和累贅。漢語(yǔ)和英語(yǔ)對(duì)名詞、動(dòng)詞、形容詞和副詞的用法不同,所以對(duì)重復(fù)強(qiáng)調(diào)的用法也不一樣。漢語(yǔ)中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)重復(fù)使用名詞的現(xiàn)象,而英語(yǔ)則較多地用代詞、短語(yǔ)或省略來表達(dá)。例如:
     (5)"為了開好本次大會(huì),郵聯(lián)大會(huì)中國(guó)組委會(huì)全力以赴做了大量的準(zhǔn)備工作。中國(guó)政府和北京市政府均對(duì)本次大會(huì)的籌備給予了大力支持。很多國(guó)家政府和郵政主管部門也為中國(guó)籌備本次大會(huì)提供了有益的幫助。在此,我謹(jǐn)向所有支持本次大會(huì)籌備工作的國(guó)家、部門和朋友們表示最衷心的感謝!"初譯:The Chinese Organizing Committee of the postal Union Congress has gone all out to make preparations in order to make the Congress a success. The Central Government and the Beijing Municipal Government of China have rendered unfailing support to the preparatory work of the Congress. The Governments and competent postal departments of many countries have furnished kind assistance to China's preparatory work for the Congress. Here I'd like to express my most sincere thanks to all countries, departments and friends that have given us support to the preparatory work for the Congress.在這句話中,"大會(huì)",出現(xiàn)了五次,初譯在英文中也出現(xiàn)五次。"籌備"一詞在漢語(yǔ)中出現(xiàn)三次,在英譯文中也出現(xiàn)了三次。譯文句子非常累贅,有Chinglish的味道。
     改譯:The COC has gone all out and done a lot of preparatory work for the Postal Union Congress to make it a success. Both the Central Government and the Beijing Municipal Government of China have rendered unfailing support to its preparations. The Governments and competent postal departments of many countries have provided China with kind help in the work. Here I wish to express most sincere thanks to all the countries, departments and friends that have given us support in this regard.改譯后,"大會(huì)"和"籌備"都只出現(xiàn)過一次,句子簡(jiǎn)練一些。
     (6)"為了推動(dòng)中美關(guān)系的發(fā)展,中國(guó)需要進(jìn)一步了解美國(guó),美國(guó)也需要進(jìn)一步了解中國(guó)。"初譯:To promote the development of China-US relations, China needs to know the US better and the US also needs to know China better.改譯:To promote China-US relations, China needs to know the US better and vice versa.改后譯文避免了重復(fù),英文較順。
     (7)"依法治國(guó)……建立社會(huì)主義的法制國(guó)家"初譯:govern the country by law…and build the socialist country ruled by law累贅且費(fèi)解。
     改譯:exercise the rule of law…and turn China into a socialist country with an adequate legal system這樣避免出現(xiàn)兩個(gè)"country",層次比較清楚。
     四、過多使用修飾詞。漢語(yǔ)中經(jīng)常用很強(qiáng)的副詞修飾動(dòng)詞和形容詞,用形容詞修飾名詞,以加重語(yǔ)氣。而譯成英語(yǔ)時(shí)需要斟酌,不能一字一字地照譯,否則往往強(qiáng)調(diào)過頭,效果相反,削弱了原文的力量。例如:
     (8)"我們要繼續(xù)堅(jiān)定不移地堅(jiān)持以經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)為中心。
     我們要繼續(xù)堅(jiān)定不移地推進(jìn)改革開放。
     我們要繼續(xù)堅(jiān)定不移地保持社會(huì)穩(wěn)定。
     我們要繼續(xù)堅(jiān)定不移地貫徹執(zhí)行獨(dú)立自主的和平外交政策。" a. We will continue to unswervingly focus on economic development. We will continue to unswervingly press ahead with reform and opening-up. We will continue to unswervingly carry out the independent foreign policy of peace. b. We will steadfastly focus on economic development, resolutely press ahead with reform and opening-up, persistently maintain social stability and unswervingly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace. c. We will unswervingly focus on economic development, press ahead with reform and opening-up, maintain social stability and pursue the independent foreign policy of peace.四個(gè)"堅(jiān)定不移地"全譯成unswervingly,這樣的英譯文不僅不能加重語(yǔ)氣,反而弱化并顯得累贅。如果譯成不同的副詞也不可取,給人以副詞堆砌的感覺。只用一個(gè)副詞修飾四個(gè)動(dòng)詞應(yīng)該就可以了。
     再如:"徹底粉碎"completely smash, "smash"本意就是break completely,已經(jīng)包含了"徹底"的意思,加上completely語(yǔ)氣反而弱化。
     "完全征服"completely conquer, "conquer"不可能是partly. "極為可恥"extremely shameless,"shameless"已是級(jí)。
     "偉大的歷史性轉(zhuǎn)變"This is a great historic change.在英語(yǔ)里,historic已經(jīng)包含了great的意思。
     五、不適當(dāng)?shù)氖÷浴S袝r(shí)漢語(yǔ)簡(jiǎn)潔,但譯成英文必須補(bǔ)缺。
     (9)"農(nóng)業(yè)搞好了,農(nóng)民能自給,五億人口就穩(wěn)定了。"初譯:if agriculture is in good shape and the peasants self-supporting, then the 500million people will feel secure.改譯:If agriculture is in good shape and the peasants are self-supporting,…
     前半句主語(yǔ)和動(dòng)詞都是單數(shù),后半句主語(yǔ)是多數(shù),因而必須據(jù)此加一復(fù)數(shù)動(dòng)詞而不能省略。
     (10)"人的意志想要避免,也不可能。" It cannot be avoided even if people want to 必須加avoid it.前半句avoided是被動(dòng),而后半句avoid是主動(dòng),因而不能省略。
     六、擬人法。這種現(xiàn)象在漢語(yǔ)中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)。而在譯成英語(yǔ)時(shí),往往因受漢語(yǔ)字面影響使譯文有Chinglish的味道。
     (11)"中國(guó)社會(huì)主義建設(shè)的航船將乘風(fēng)破浪地駛向現(xiàn)代化的光輝彼岸。" a. The ship of China's socialist construction will brave the wind and waves and sail to the glorious destination of modernization."ship"沒有生命,而搞modernization的主語(yǔ)應(yīng)當(dāng)是人。
     b. China will stride forward in building socialism, like a ship braving the wind and the waves, towards the glorious destination of modernization.(b)例譯文并不理想,但克服了擬人化,比(a)略有改進(jìn)。
     (12)"世紀(jì)之交,中國(guó)外交空前活躍。" a. 不能譯成:At the turn of the century, China's diplomacy is most acitive.因?yàn)閐iplomacy 是沒有生命的,active 的主語(yǔ)應(yīng)當(dāng)是人?,F(xiàn)譯The turn of the century finds China most active on the diplomatic arena.就解決了擬人化的問題。
     (13)"創(chuàng)新是一個(gè)民族進(jìn)步的靈魂"初譯:……innovation is the soul of a nation's progress.改譯:……innovation sustains the progress of a nation. Soul是有生命的,而innovation則沒有,兩者在一起是擬人化,改譯糾正了這一點(diǎn)。
     七、沒有注意詞類轉(zhuǎn)換。漢譯英有時(shí)不能完全按照原文是什么詞類就譯成什么詞類,而需要根據(jù)情況對(duì)詞類進(jìn)行調(diào)整和轉(zhuǎn)換。
     (14)"我們之間關(guān)系的發(fā)展使我們不僅成為親密的朋友而且成為兄弟。" a. The development of our relations has made us not only close friends but also brothers. b. Our relations have so grown that they bind us not only as close friends but also as brothers.例句b吃透了原文的精神,轉(zhuǎn)換了詞類,使用了英語(yǔ)的表達(dá)方法,英語(yǔ)味道比前一例句要強(qiáng)。
     (15)"輕紡工業(yè)產(chǎn)品的花色品種增多,質(zhì)量繼續(xù)有所提高。" a. The designs and variety of light industrial and textile products have increased and their quality has continued to improve.翻譯時(shí)詞類完全按照中文,因而有Chinglish的味道。
     b. Light industry and textile products are now available in better designs and quality and in richer variety. b比a 例有明顯的改進(jìn)。
     (16)"中國(guó)的富強(qiáng)和發(fā)展不會(huì)對(duì)任何國(guó)家構(gòu)成威脅。" a. The strength, prosperity and development of China will pose no threat to any countries. b. A strong, prosperous and developed China will pose on threat to any countries.例a是字對(duì)字翻譯,例b比較自然。