第三講　再談文化與翻譯

本講將進一步談論文化與翻譯的問題，主要探討影響漢譯英的文化因素。把漢語譯成英語，不僅中國人會犯錯誤，即使母語是英語的外國譯者也同樣會犯錯誤。光是想把地道的漢語譯成地道的英語，傳遞原文的含義不走樣，就很不容易。中國人犯錯誤主要是由英語表達能力不足所造成的，而外國人犯錯誤主要也是因為表達問題，這種表達往往是由文化因素造成的，是由他們對漢語的錯誤理解或對中國文化的不理解所造成的。

以前聽說外國人出洋相，把“伯樂”譯成了“Uncle Happy”，把“此人好生面善”譯成“This guy really has a good face”。

中國人在漢譯英時所出的“洋相”，有些是因為缺乏某方面的知識，但這也反映了譯者的責任心不強。他為什么不能去查一查呢？例如，把“勃泥國”譯成“Boni”，這就不對了（其實文萊國古稱“勃泥國”，所以正確譯法應當是Brunei）。把“達摩”譯成“Damo”也會讓外國人看了覺得莫名其妙（達摩是“菩提達摩”的簡稱，是從梵文變化而來的英文詞，是不能用漢語拼音來代替的，正確寫法是Bodhidharma）。

把余秋雨的《尋覓中華》翻譯成英文的是個外國人。說實在的，翻譯余秋雨的作品也真難為他了，如果沒有一定的中國文化底蘊，翻譯起來肯定比較棘手。制約他翻譯的正是文化因素。這個外國譯者是“初生牛犢不怕虎”，找了個中國人當助手，對有些問題還沒有弄明白，就開始翻譯了。順便說一句，這個人標新立異，翻譯時把中文的人名和地名全都用了標有四聲的漢語拼音，顛覆了約定俗成的翻譯原則，這是不可取的。下面這些資料是我有幸在替他“看看”的過程中積累的。

一、對漢語的習慣用法不熟悉

例1　他已經度過了自己所劃定的“而立”之年，確立了自己的人生觀念和行為方向。

原譯：He had already been through his own, self-imposed establishment period, verily erecting his own sense of life and behavioral direction.

點評：這顯然是由不懂“而立”的意思引起的錯誤。建議用解釋性的翻譯：He was already over thirty, an age he called“er li”，and had established his own sense of life and behavioral direction.最后出版的（Quest for Chinese Culture[以下簡稱Quest]，p.47）文字中只在an age he called“er li”前后各加了一個括號。

例2（他）幾經轉折，當了敦煌莫高窟的家。

原譯：After a few twists and turns, he became a member of the Dūnhuáng Mògāo caves family.

點評：譯者之所以犯這樣的錯，是因為不懂“當家”的意思。“當家”就是“成了家長”，這里應該譯為“became the master of Mogao caves, managing the affairs there”。出版時是按修改的譯文，不過caves的“c”改成了大寫。（Quset, p.133）

例3　莫高窟以佛教文化為主，怎么會讓一個道士來當家？

原譯：The Mògāo caves chiefly are concerned with Buddhism, so how could a Daoist be allowed in the family？

點評：這也是對“當家”不理解所進行的意譯，不過沒能譯出本意。建議修改為“……how is it that a Daoist could be allowed to manage the affairs there？”。

出版時的譯文：The Mogao Caves are chiefly relating to Buddhism, so how is it that a Daoist could be allowed to manage the affairs there.（Quset, p.133）例4　究竟誰是第一功臣？

原譯：Who is ultimately in charge？

點評：這是對“功臣”一詞不理解。譯者以為功臣是真正的掌權者，其實不然。比較合適的譯文是：Who is the greatest hero？或者Who is the number one hero？出版時用了前者。（Quset, p.178）

例5　徐光啟的第十六代孫是個軍人，他有一個外孫女叫倪桂珍，便是名震中國現代史的宋氏三姐妹的母親。

原譯：The 16th generation descendant of Xú Guāngqǐwas a soldier who had a niece named Ní Guìzhēn who was the mother of the movers and shakers of modern Chinese history, the three Sòng sisters.

點評：譯者不懂中國的家族關系，“外孫女”并不是niece，而是granddaughter，正確的表達應該是whose granddaughter或者whose daughter's daughter。

出版時的譯文：The 16th generation descendant of Xú Guāngqǐwas a soldier who had a granddaughter（named Ní Guìzhēn）who was the mother of three influential figures of modern Chinese history, the three Sòng sisters.（Quset, p.192）

只可惜這里的“宋”應該譯為Soong而不是Sòng，盡管這是加了四聲的song。

例6　于是，又是蔣孝琬，連夜挑燈研讀那幾個經卷。

原譯：Shortly after, it was yet again Jiǎng Xiàowǎn who hung up a lamp and studied those scrolls through the night.

點評：“挑燈”不一定要把燈掛起來，它的第一個意思是把燈芯挑亮一些。建議用by the lamp through the night。

出版時的譯文：Shortly after, it was yet again Jiǎng Xiàowǎn who studied those scrolls by the lamp through the night.（Quset, p.63）

例7　這便是大器之成，這便是大匠之門。

原譯：The system succeeds, and a door opens for a future master.

點評：這是他不懂原文意思造成的錯誤。為了照顧他的原譯，建議譯文為“This is a great vessel that takes time to shape；and this is a door that opens for a future master.”。出版的文字中采納了這個建議。（Quset, p.63）

例8　對于平日的尋常氣象、山水風景，他們也有可能淡淡地瞭上兩眼，卻還分不出太多的心情。

原譯：Concerning common, everyday weather and landscapes, they couldn't possibly look upon them coolly, without having some distinct emotions well up.

點評：原文“也有可能淡淡地瞭上兩眼”，應該改成“could have cast a glance indifferently”。這在出版時已經改正。（Quset, p.20）

二、對中國的地名不熟悉

例1　但是，就在惡性沖突之后，西方列強在上海發現了一個信奉天主教的家族聚匯地，叫徐家匯。

原譯：However, when the vicious confrontations abated, the allied nations discovered the meeting place of an extended Catholic family called Xú Jiāhuì.

點評：原譯中把“徐家匯”譯成了Xú Jiāhuì，因為他不知道中國地名的譯法。

出版時的譯文：However, when the vicious confrontations abated, the allied nations discovered the meeting place of an extended Catholic family called Xújiāhuì.（Quset, p.191）

例2　洛陽到函谷關也不近，再往西就要到潼關了，已是今天的陜西地界。

原譯：HángǔPass is still a good distance from Luòyáng.Yet further west rests Tóng Pass, which approaches the exit of Shǎnxī.

點評：這里特別值得一提的是，單個字的地名應當依據中國的翻譯習慣，譯為Tongguan Pass。可是這個譯者硬把“潼關”譯成他所認為的Tóng Pass。在出版時仍然沒有修改。這個問題我們在今后還要專門講，在此就不多說了。

另外，“which approaches the exit of Shǎnxī”是明顯的錯譯，應該是“which belongs to what is now Shanxi”，不過他在最后出版的譯文中刪除了“已是今天的陜西地界”幾個字。（Quset, p.52）

例3　現在，可以到關外的大漠荒煙中，去隱居終老了。

原譯：Now he could go beyond the gates and into the shifting sands, living out his days as a recluse.

點評：其實這里的“關外”指的是函谷關外；“大漠荒煙”則應指戈壁大沙漠，所以建議改為“Now he could go beyond the gates of HángǔPass and into the shifting sands of the Gebi Desert, living out his days as a recluse.”。出版時按建議改了過來。這里的HángǔPass和Gebi Desert是翻譯中的“必要添加”。（Quset, p.52）

例4　他也到過泰山東北邊的齊國，只是走得不太遠。

原譯：He also went to the northeast side of Mount Tài, Qí State, though it wasn't very far.

點評：這顯然是錯譯。可以譯為“He also went to the State of Qi to the northwest of Mount Tai, only he did not go very far.”。

出版時的譯文：He also went to Qi State on the west side of Mount Tai, only that he did not go very far.（Quset, p.55）但“東北邊”被譯成了“west side”。

例5　這就像大鵬和鴻雁相遇，一時間巨翅翻舞，山川共仰。但在它們分別之后，鴻雁不斷地為這次相遇高鳴低吟，而大鵬則已經悠游于南溟北海，無牽無礙。差異如此之大，但它們都是長空偉翼、九天驕影。

原譯：This is like the meeting of a Péng and a swan, their great wings fluttering for a time amid intertwining mountains and rivers.But after they part, the swan constantly moans and cries over this meeting, whereas the Péng has already traveled the southern rivers and northern seas-free from responsibilities.Despite such great differences, they will always be hyperboreans.

點評：“大鵬”是大鳥，其中“鴻雁”，余秋雨是想說“鴻鵠”吧？它是大雁和鵝的統稱，也泛指大鳥。其中“南溟”的譯文也不對。莊子《逍遙游》中稱：“南溟者，天池也。”因此，southern rivers不是一個恰當的翻譯。出版時的文字中在Péng的后面加了個括號，中間有個roc；在over mountains and rivers后面加了arousing great awe（表示山川共仰）；后面的南溟也改成了Tianchi in the south。（Quset, p.97）

例6　中國哪里美女最多？我沒有做過認真比較。但是，那次去貴州省雷江縣的西江苗寨，實在被一種擁擠的美麗鎮住了。那天正好是這里的“吃新節”，夏收剛剛結束，新米已經上灶，大家遠遠近近走在一起慶祝好年成。長廊上擺著一長溜看不到頭的矮桌，村民們坐在兩邊吃吃喝喝，長廊外面的廣場上已經載歌載舞。

原譯（粗體是譯文不當之處）：Where can one find the most beautiful women in China？I've never seriously investigated the question, but on my trip to LéiJiāng Township's Xījiāng Miáozhài in Gùizhōu Province I was deeply moved by a kind of“crowded”beauty.On that very day it was the local Chīxīn Festival.With the summer harvest complete and fresh rice already on the stove, everyone from near and far came together to celebrate a successful year.They put a short table in the pavilion that meandered off into the distance on which the villagers sat on both sides eating and drinking along, and in the square outside the pavilion there was even singing and dancing.

點評：這段譯文中有七個建議修改的問題：

（1）the most beautiful women沒有譯出“美女最多”的含義，建議用biggest number of；

（2）西江苗寨中的“苗寨”不是地名，所以不能譯為Miáozhài，建議用Miao Village；

（3）“被……給鎮住了”不是was deeply moved；

（4）“好年成”不是a successful year，建議用a year of good harvest；

（5）“長廊”不是pavilion，建議用corridor；

（6）They put a short table……一句系錯譯，建議改成In the long corridor was a seemingly endless line of short tables；

（7）there was even singing and dancing建議改成singing and dancing hadstarted already。

出版時的譯文：In what location can one find the highest concentration of beautiful women in China？I've never seriously investigated the question, but on my trip to LeiJiang County's Miao Village in Guizhou Province I was stopped in my tracks by a“crowded”beauty……on that very day it was the local Chixin Festival.With the summer harvest completed and fresh rice already on the stove, everyone from near and far came together to celebrate a good harvest.In the long corridor was a seemingly endless line of short tables, on both sides of which the villagers sat eating and drinking, and in the square outside the corridor singing and dancing had already commenced.（Quset, p.20）

遺憾的是，作為地名的“雷江”的翻譯，應該譯為Leijiang才對。

三、對中國歷史、歷史人物、典故缺乏了解

例1　魯國的君主魯昭公為他提供了車馬仆役。

原譯：The sovereign of Lu State, Lu Shao, provided horse-drive carts and servants.

點評：其實“公”只是一個諸侯，按照中國的習慣，“魯昭公”應該是Prince Zhao of the State of Lǔ。同一篇中還有“老子曾經西出函谷關，太史譫也曾經西出函谷關去找秦獻公”被譯為“Lao Zi had previously gone west out of Hangu Pass, as did Tai Shidan when looking for king Qin Xing.”“太史譫”和“秦獻公”都譯錯了，應為“Taishi Dan”和“Prince Xian of the State of Qin”。

例2　他已經感受到生命終點的臨近，正急忙從兩千多年前的諸子百家中選取兩家……

原譯：When he felt the end of his life nearing, he went through the works in ZhūzǐBǎi Jiāworks spanning two thousand years of history……

點評：譯者把諸子百家當成了一本書（使用了斜體）。這當然是文化知識問題，后半句應譯為“He selected two from the works of the numerous schools of thinkers of the late Zhou Dynasty more than two thousand years ago.”這段文字在出版的時候已被刪除。

例3　中國十九世紀后期出現的“買辦”群體。

原譯：the late-19th century Chinese international traders。

點評：“買辦”不是“international traders”而是“comprador”。這個問題經指出后改了。（Quset, p.138）

例4　先秦不少古籍都有這種情況。

原譯：This kind of situation exists with many ancient books of the early Qín era.

點評：“先秦”應該是“pre-Qin era”，它不是秦朝的早期，而是秦朝之前的那段歷史時期。由于出版時這個句子被刪去，這個理解性的錯誤也就不復存在了。

例5　因為“君子”這個概念的主要創立者從一開始就把“二律背反”輸入其間，使君子立即變得深刻。

原譯：This is because from the start, the creator of the gentleman concept added these polar opposites together, molding them into something profound.

點評：“二律背反”是“antimony”，建議改成“introduced the idea of‘antinomy’into the gentleman concept”。

出版時的譯文：This is because from the start, the main creators of the gentleman concept had introduced the idea of“antinomy”，molding them into something profound.（Quset, p.62）

例6　記得是《公孟》篇里的一段對話吧，儒者公孟子對墨子說，行善就行善吧，何必忙于宣傳？

原譯：I vaguely remember that it was a section in Gōngmèng, the Confucian Gōng Mèngzǐsaid to Mòzǐ：if you just want to be charitable, why bother proselytizing？

點評：公孟子是一個人，所以應譯為Gongmengzi；“Why bother proselytizing？”中的“proselytize”是美國俚語（American Slang），有“勸誘”之意，用在這里恐不合適。“何必忙于宣傳？”應譯為“Why bother making it known？”這個意見沒有被采納。Proselytize有兩個意思：①to induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.②to induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine；to convert（a person）from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.這里的“宣傳”是“張揚”的意思，并不是像“傳道、傳教”或者“讓人改變信仰”的意思。這是由錯誤的理解導致的錯誤用詞。

四、對中國文化的內涵等方面很不了解

例1　北方有人侮辱我，我想請你幫忙，去殺了他。酬勞是二百兩黃金。

原譯：There's a northerner who insulted me.I need your help assassinating him.I'll pay you 200 pieces of gold.

點評：這里主要是譯者對“兩”不熟悉，實際上“兩”應譯為“tael”。

出版時的譯文：There's a northerner who insulted me.I need your help assassinating him.I'll pay you 200 tael in gold.（Quset, p.73）

例2　其實這是一種戰備物資，貯存時間長了，本應銷毀……

原譯：In reality they were a kind of a long shelf-life item we'd stock up on in wartime.For that reason they should have been discontinued after the war.

點評：這是明顯的理解問題。建議修改為“It was in fact a foodstuff stored for war, and should have been destroyed when its date of quality had expired.”。出版時，“foodstuff”被改為“wartime ration”，其余地方均未改動。（Quset, p.3）

例3　反而，后來因為衛國的一個名人牽涉到某個政治事件，孔子曾經與他有交往，因此也受到懷疑并被監視。

原譯：It turns out that an acquaintance of Confucius was just involved in a political incident, which then shed a bad light on Confucius when he arrived.

點評：其實孔子不是到了那里的時候受到懷疑。建議修改為“Later on, Confucius was under suspicion and surveillance because he had an acquaintance who was involved in a political event.”。

出版時的譯文：Later, Confucius was under suspicion and placed under surveillance, because an acquaintance of his was involved in a political scandal.（Quset, p.58）

例4　這就是墨子對于他的“非攻”理念的著名實踐，同樣的事情還有過很多。原來，這個長途跋涉者只為一個目的在奔忙：阻止戰爭，捍衛和平。

原譯：This was Mòzǐ's famous implementation of the“no-harm principle”.Similar examples abound.From the start, this long-distance journeyman had only one reason to hurry along—to stop war from happening and to keep the peace.

點評：“非攻”可譯為“concept of‘condemnation of offensive war’”。“非”應該是“反對”“批評”的意思，維基百科上將“非攻”譯為“condemnation of offensive”。我們能否譯為“non-aggression”？

出版時的譯文：This was Mòzǐ's famous implementation of the“non-aggression principle”.Similar examples abound.From the start, this long-distance traveler had only one reason to hurry along—to stop war from happening and to keep the peace.（Quset, p.75）

例5　這些人一聽到墨子的指令都能“赴湯蹈火，死不旋踵”。

原譯：those who at the sound of Mòzǐ's orders could“douse and trample out fires without fear of death”.

點評：“赴湯蹈火”多譯為“willing to go through fire and water”，“死不旋踵”是否譯成“would rather die than turn back……”更好一些？

出版時的譯文：Those who would at the sound of his orders be willing to go through fire and water and would rather die than turn back.（Quset, p.77）

五、對漢語的描述分寸把握有不少問題

例1　恰恰在王道士發現藏經洞的當天，列強決定聯合出兵。

原譯：It was on the same precise day that Wáng the Daoist discovered the sutra cave that the Allies started their attack.

點評：譯文沒有反映“聯合”的意思，建議改為“The Allies decided to join hands in an attack”。出版的譯文如上所改。（Quset, p.136）

例2　剛剛道別，他又要急急地與奇異的山水相融，并在那些山水間頻頻地馬背拱手，招呼新的好兄弟了。他老是想尋仙問道，很難把友情作為穩定的目標……于是，又一番充滿詩意的告別，云水依依，帆影渺渺。

原譯：Just after parting ways, he was again itching to intermingle with nature, and in that nature clasp his hands atop his horse, greeting his new, good brothers.He was always asking philosophic questions, so it was hard for him to see friendship as a stable goal……

點評：有幾處翻譯不到位，如“奇異的山水”應譯為“grotesque landscape”；再如“尋仙問道”并非“asking philosophic questions”，而是“seeking to meet immortals and recluse”；“云水依依，帆影渺渺”譯得沒有靈氣，建議譯為“lingering clouds and hardly visible sails”。

出版時的譯文：He would request that his newly made friends go with him to see a Taoist recluse……Afterwards, they'd have another round of poetic goodbyes with lingering clouds and hardly visible sails.（Quset, p.96）

例3　我心中的唐詩，是一種整體存在。存在于羌笛孤城里，存在于黃河白云間，存在于空山新雨后，存在于潯陽秋瑟中。只要粗通文墨的中國人一見相關的環境，就會立即釋放出潛藏在心中的意象，把眼前的一切卷入詩境。

原譯：In my mind, the Táng poems exist as a whole—in a lonely city filled with the sound of a Qiāng flute, in the mist of the Yellow River, in lonely mountains after the rain, or in river-reflected sunlight accompanied with an autumn zither melody.Once Chinese with even a minimal understanding of literature see the correlating environment, they will immediately free up their heart's desires and infuse everything before their eyes into poetic imagination.

點評：這段翻譯的問題是胡亂解釋，而且把這里的“瑟”當成了樂器。他還很認真地做了一個注釋：瑟（sè），an ancient floor harp related to the Chinese gǔqín（古琴）and the Japanese koto.Its legendary inventor Fúxīis also reputed to be the author of The Book of Changes。

這里的“羌笛”“孤城”“黃河”和“白云間”均出自王之渙的《涼州詞》；“空山新雨后”是王維的《山居秋暝》的第一句，可譯為“the empty mountains after a fresh rain”，而“潯陽秋瑟”則出自白居易《琵琶行》的第一句“潯陽江頭夜送客，楓葉荻花秋瑟瑟”，所以宜譯為“existed in Xunyang River in late autumn（Xunyang is today's Jiujiang in Jiangxi province）”。所以第一句建議這樣譯：The Tang poems, in my mind's eye, exist as a whole in“the Qiang flute”and“a lonely city”，in“the Yellow River”and in“the white clouds”，in“the empty mountains after a fresh rain”，in“the Xunyang River in late autumn”。出版時，這段話被整體刪除了。

例4　經過一二百年的風風雨雨，處處已顯出蒼老，但蒼老而風骨猶在，竟然沒有太多的破敗感和潦倒感。

原譯：Going through one or two hundred years of wind and rain, everywhere there are signs of age.Yet age and style are everlasting, and there really isn't too much feeling of ruin or failure.

點評：原譯還不到位，建議修改為“Aged they were, their vigorous style was everlasting, and they didn't give any impression of dilapidation and frustration.”。出版時除時態被改為過去時，余皆被采納。（Quset, p.158）

例5　黃帝就不一樣了。男性的力量大為張揚，溫柔的平靜被打破，試圖追求一種更加宏大的平衡。《五帝本紀》說黃帝“習用干戈”“修德振兵”“撫萬民，度四方”，儼然是一位騎在戰馬上俯瞰原野的偉大首領。

原譯：At that time Huángdì was different.He boldly paraded masculine power, broke up peaceful scenes, and tried to strike a kind of broad balance Wǔdì Běnjì（Biographies of Five Chinese legendary kings）states that Huángdì was“accustomed to using weaponry”“leading soldiers by example”“pacifying the people”and“saving all sides”.Assuredly he served as the great chieftain, looking down on the wild from his warhorse.

點評：顯然他對原文中的幾個地方沒有吃透，“更加宏大的平衡”應是“balance on a much larger scale”；“修德振兵”應為“cultivating morality and strengthening the army”；“度四方”指丈量四方土地，加以規劃，應為“measuring the land in the country”；《五帝本紀》應為“Biographies of Five Chinese Legendary Kings”。

出版時的譯文：At that time Huángdì was different.He boldly paraded masculine power, broke up peaceful scenes, and tried to strike a general balance.Wǔdì Běnjì states that Huángdì was“accustomed to using weaponry”“cultivating morality and strengthening the army”“pacifying the people”and“measuring the land for better planning”.Assuredly he served as the great chieftain, looking down on the wild from his warhorse.（Quset, p.11）

例6　我們在他的詩里讀到千古蜀道、九曲黃河、瀑布飛流時，還能讀到他的眼神，幾分惶恐，幾分驚嘆，幾分不解，幾分發呆。

原譯：In his poems when we read of the severely-inclined, ancient roads of Sìchuān, the nine bends of the Yellow River and rushing waterfalls, we can also read into the look in his eyes—read some fear, some astonishment, some confusion, and some catatonia.

點評：“九曲黃河”不是“the nine bends of the Yellow River”，應該是“多灣的”。建議改為“In his poems when we read of the severely-inclined, ancient roads of Sìchuān, the meandering Yellow River and torrential waterfalls, we can also read into the look in his eyes—read some fear, some astonishment, some confusion, and some dumbfoundedness.”。

出版時的譯文：In his poems when we read of the severely-inclined, ancient roads of Sìchuān, the meandering Yellow River and torrential waterfalls, we can also read his eyes—read some fear, astonishment, confusion, and dumbfoundedness there.

六、古漢語的功力不濟

對古漢語的理解不足是翻譯工作中的一個大問題，它是翻譯的一個環節，涉及語言的第一次翻譯，即由古漢語到現代漢語。這是外國人翻譯時經常遇到的困難，下面舉例說明。

例1　老夫不知何言，吾妻！

原譯：Old Confucius cried speechlessly，“Thine wife！”

點評：這是十分簡單的古漢語，“老夫”是孔子自稱，“吾妻”是孔子對妻子說話時的稱謂。

出版時的譯文：I really don't know what to say, my wife.（Quset, p.65）

例2　百家言黃帝，其文不雅馴。

原譯：Everyone is always bringing up Huángdì，and this is not good etiquette.

點評：司馬遷的意思是，先秦的諸子百家都在講述黃帝的故事，可是他們沒能正確地進行解釋。“雅訓”的一個意思就是“正確的解釋”。建議譯成“All schools talked about Huangdi, but their interpretations were not correct.”。可惜這一段也在出版時被刪除了。

例3　民多而田少，竭豐年之谷，不足供兩月。故耕種之外，咸善謀生，跋涉數千里，率以為常。

原譯：Píngyáo has many people and few fields, so even if they work all year the entire harvest wouldn't yield enough food for two months'use.Because there are very few who aren't farmers for a living, they often go to faraway places to survive.

點評：這里出現了對“咸善謀生”的錯誤理解。該短語的真實意思是“所有人都善于謀生”。建議修改意見為“There are many people and few fields, so even in a year of bumper harvest, the grain wouldn't be enough for two month's use.So besides farming, they are all good at making a living, and it is very common for them to go to far away places to survive.”。

出版時的譯文：The people to farmland ratio is high, so even if there is extra harvested one year, the grain wouldn't be two months's use in the next.So besides farming, they are all good at making a living and it is very common for them to go to far away places to survive.（Quset, p.163）

例4　城市中“不士、不農、不工、不商之人，十將五六”。

原譯：……and fifty to sixty percent of the city people“weren't willing to be soldiers, weren't willing to farm, and weren't willing to do business”.

點評：這里的“soldiers”是不理解古文造成的翻譯錯誤。士農工商是中國古代所謂四民，指讀書的、種田的、做工的、經商的。這句宜譯為“five or six out of ten city people were not scholars, farmers, craftsmen, or businessmen.”.

出版時的譯文：……“fifty to sixty percent of the city people weren't scholars, farmers, craftsmen or businessmen.”（Quset, p.153）

例5　幫助他完成這種精神轉化的第一要素，是酒。“人分千里外，興在一杯中”“但使主人能醉客，不知何處是他鄉”，都道出了此間玄機。

原譯：The primary factor that allowed him to complete this kind of spiritual transformation was alcohol.“When a man meets another from a faraway land, their happiness is in a glass.”“A host at a distant location can give liquor to his guest, then what does the guest care what location that is？”Such statements are revealing.

點評：其實“人分千里外，興在一杯中”是李白《江夏別宋之悌》中的句子：“楚水清若空，遙將碧海通。人分千里外，興在一杯中。谷鳥吟晴日，江猿嘯晚風。平生不下淚，于此泣無窮。”既然是“別”，就不好用meet了。能否改為“We'll be thousands of miles apart, and the feeling is all in the glass”？“但使主人能醉客，不知何處是他鄉”出自李白《客中作》：“蘭陵美酒郁金香，玉碗盛來琥珀光。但使主人能醉客，不知何處是他鄉。”“但使”是“只要”的意思，能否改成“if only the host entertains me with good wine, I don't know if I am in a strange land？”。

出版時的譯文：The primary factor that allowed him to complete this kind of spiritual transformation was alcohol.“A host at a distant location can give liquor to his guest, then what does the guest care what location that is？”“If only the host entertains me with good wine, I don't know if I am in a strange land？”Such statements are revealing.（Quset, p.92）

例6　墨家還批評儒家“不擊則不鳴”的明哲保身之道，提倡為了天下興利除弊，“擊亦鳴，不擊亦鳴”的勇者責任。

原譯：They went on to criticize the Confucians'reserved character of self-preservationists, advocating instead that a man be courageous and face his duty to improve greater society.

點評：“不擊則不鳴”原文是“……問焉則言，不問焉則止，譬若鐘然，扣則鳴，不扣則不鳴”（……問了才說，不問就不說，就像敲鐘一樣，敲了才響，不敲就不響）。如這句不譯，似乎可惜了。

出版時的譯文：They went on to criticize the reserved character of Confucians（speaking only when spoken to），advocating instead that a man be courageous and face his duty to improve greater society（speaking even when not spoken to）.（Quset, p.84）

雖然譯出了基本意思，但我認為還不到位。可能這樣譯更貼切：They criticized the Confucians'worldly-wise-and-play-safe attitude of“saying nothing when not asked”，advocating a courageous man's attitude of“speaking out whether being asked or not”，in order to promote what is beneficial and abolish what is harmful.

例7　據《商子》記載，在炎帝的部落里，“男耕而食，婦織而衣，刑政不用而治，甲兵不起于王”（正確的文字應該是“甲兵不起而王”，意思是無須使用武力就可以得天下）。

原譯：According to the records of Shāngzǐ，in Yándì's tribe，“Men cultivate and provide food, women spin fabric and supply clothes, and the nation runs without the use of law or the need to raise troops.”

點評：“刑政不用而治，甲兵不起而王”這兩句基本上沒有譯對。正確的譯法應該是：achieve social order without using penalty, and bring a place under one's rule without using military force.

出版時的譯文：……Their nation achieves social order without the use of punishments and takes over territories without using military force.（Quset, p.10）

七、外國譯者有時候也很粗心大意，也犯語法錯誤

例1　很久失去自信的上海人偶爾在廣播電視里聽到宋慶齡、宋美齡女士講話，居然是一口地道的上海口音，感到很不習慣。

原譯：In spite of their adopting a very authentic Shànghǎi dialect, when Shanghainese who have long lost their confidence listen to the occasional TV broadcast with Sòng Qìnglíng and Sòng Měilíng's locution, they feel profoundly unfamiliar.

點評：這里“lose their confidence”后面最好跟“in”，所以后面應該用“listening”。出版的文字中，“listen”后面加上了“ing”，另外“profoundly”改成了“quite”。（Quset, p.192）

例2　楚王一聽，就下令不再攻打宋國。

原譯：Once the Chǔlord heard this, he immediately ordered a ceasefire.

點評：從上下文看，楚王只是在做攻打的準備，所以不能譯為“ceasefire”。

出版時的譯文：Once the Chǔlord heard this, he immediately made an order to cease preparations for the attack on ChǔState。（Quset, p.75）

例3　他們長揖作別。

原譯：They said a long goodbye.

點評：其實“作揖”是中國的禮節，這里建議改為“They bowed deeply to bid farewell.”。出版的文字中刪除了deeply。（Quset, p.50）

例4　黃道婆使上海成為一個以紡織業為中心的商貿重鎮。

原譯：Huáng Dàopó turned Shànghǎi into an important textiles village.

點評：“商貿重鎮”應該是“an important textile-based commercial and trading town”。最后的譯文也是這樣改的。（Quset, p.190）

例5　山西商人全方位的成功，與他們良好的整體素質有關。這種素質，特別適合于大規模的商業活動，因此也可稱之為商業人格。

原譯：Shānxībusinessmen's broad-scale success is related to their good overall character.This character is especially well-suited to macroeconomics.

點評：“全方位”用“all-round”比“broad-scale”要好。“大規模的商業活動”用“large-scale economic activities”更好，“macroeconomics”是“宏觀經濟學”的意思，如用形容詞“macroeconomic”則可以。

出版時的譯文：Shānxībusinessmen's all-round success is related to their good overall character.This character is especially well-suited to macroeconomic activity.（Quset, p.169）

例6　他的大兒子張廷材聽說他可能在宣府，便去尋找他，但張廷材去了多年也沒有了音訊。小兒子張廷楌長大了再去找父親和哥哥，找了一年多誰也沒有找到，自己的盤纏卻用完了，成了乞丐。

原譯：His elder son Zhāng Tíngcái heard that his father was likely in Xuānfǔand went looking for him, though Zhāng Tíngcái stayed there many years without a clue as to his father's whereabouts.After the younger son Zhāng Tíngyán had grown up, he went looking for his older brother and father.He searched for more than a year and didn't find anyone, and running out of travel money and becoming a beggar.

點評：這段譯文中“也沒有了音訊”（指大兒子）系錯譯，應該是“however he had never been heard of ever since he left”才對。在出版的文字中，只把“didn't find anyone”改成了“failed to find them”。（Quset, p.167）

例7　孔子的這次上路，有點匆忙，也有點惆悵。他一心想在魯國做一個施行仁政的實驗，自己也曾掌握過一部分權力，但最后還是拗不過那里由來已久的“以眾相凌，以兵相暴”的政治傳統。

原譯：This time when Confucius set out on his trip he was not only in a hurry, but also a bit nervous.He had resolved to realize benevolent governance in LǔState（and even succeeded in obtaining a modicum of power），but in the end he could not sway the traditional rule by mutual intimidation and military violence Confucius was thus abandoned by the Lǔnobility.

點評：這里首先出現了一個用詞錯誤，“惆悵”不是“nervous”，而是“disconsolate”；其次是不理解“以眾相凌，以兵相暴”是“靠人多勢眾或者靠武力欺負小國”的意思。建議把后半句譯為“long-standing political tradition of‘bullying by numerical majority and military violence’”。

出版時的譯文：This time when Confucius set out on his trip he was notonly in a hurry, but also a bit disconsolate.He had resolved to realize benevolent governance in LǔState（and even succeeded in obtaining a modicum of power），but in the end he could not change the long-standing political tradition of mob bully and military violence.（Quset, p.56）

例8《貴義》篇中寫道，一位齊國的老朋友對墨子說，現在普天下的人都不肯行義，只有你還在忙碌，何苦呢？

原譯：In his Guìyì it is written that an old friend from Qí State told Mòzǐthat people everywhere are not willing to work for justice.If you're the only one doing the work, why bother？

點評：這里的“people everywhere are not willing to”有部分否定之嫌，建議改為“nowhere in the world are people willing to”。

出版時的譯文：In his Guìyì it is written that an old friend from Qí State told Mòzǐthat nowhere in the world are there people willing to work for justice.If you're the only one doing the work, why bother？（Quset, p.88）

例9　草稿中有多處漏譯，現舉一例：

他不是無處停步。任何地方都愿意歡迎一個光有名聲和學問，卻沒有政治主張的他。任何地方都愿意贍養他、供奉他、崇拜他，只要他只是一個話語不多的偶像。但是，他絕不愿意這樣。

原譯：Not that he had nowhere to stay.He would have been welcome had he been a man of fame and learning without any political ideas.He would have been financially supported, materially provided and academically worshipped, so long as he were an idol who remained taciturn.However, that was what he would never have done.

出版時的譯文：Not that he had nowhere to stay.He would have been welcome had he been a man of fame and learning without any political ideas.He would have been financially supported, materially provided and academically worshipped, if he had become an idol who remained taciturn.However, that was not something he would ever have done.（Quset, p.59）

例10　老子的白口袋里，裝著他在關口寫作并講解《道德經》的報酬——十五個餑餑，這又是魯迅的小說手法了。我喜歡魯迅對于老子出關后景象的散文化描寫，尤其是把白、黃、青全都變成灰色，再變成黃塵的色彩轉換。而且，還寫到關尹喜回到關上之后，“窗外起了一陣風，刮起黃塵來，遮得半天暗”。老子會怎么樣，很讓人擔憂了。不管怎么說，這是中國第一代圣哲的背影。

原譯：In his white bag was the reward he got for his Daodejing, which he wrote and lectured when he was at the gate—fifteen steamed bread, and this again is Lu Xun's style of writing.I like Lu Xun's prose-like description of Laozi leaving the pass, especially the change of white, yellow and black into grey and then to the yellow dust.What is more, when he wrote about Guan Yinxi returned to the pass when“a gust of wind outside the window blew up the dust that shielded the sky”.What would become of Laozi is everybody's worry.At any rate, this was the back of China's first generation of Sage.

出版時的譯文：In his white bag was his payment（fifteen steamed buns）for completing the Dàodéjīng, which he wrote and recited when he was at the gate—and this again is LǔXùn's style of writing.I like LǔXùn's prose-like description of Lǎozǐleaving the pass—especially the change of white, yellow and black into gray and then to yellow dust.Furthermore, he also wrote about Guān Yǐnxǐ's return to the pass and how“a gust of wind outside the window kicked up dust that blanketed the sky”.Everyone was worried about what would become of Lǎozǐ.In any case, they were watching the back of a man who was to become the first of a generation of Chinese sages.（Quset, p.54）

本講結束語：這一講羅列了不少現象。它們只是一個外國譯者在翻譯一本書時出現的一些情況和問題，并不能涵蓋漢譯英的全部情況和問題。我們一開始就說了，涉及古漢語的地方一定要去查考，等明白以后再著手翻譯，這樣錯誤就可能減少一些。這對我們中國譯者也一樣。希望這個講座能有助于大家破解漢譯英過程中所發現的問題。有些問題我們后面還要談到。

翻譯練習

下面的句子是《尋覓中華》的譯者在翻譯過程中出現的問題。這樣的句子，你怎么譯？參考譯文在答案中。

1.安史之亂

原譯：ànshǐconflict

2.抱愧山西

原譯：The Shame of Shānxī

3.我正在一一撤回來好交代給你。

原譯：I'm selling them off one by one and giving you all the proceeds.

4.我幾乎不會言動，眼前一直晃動著那些草刷和鐵錘。

原譯：I'm practically mute as I watch the constantly swinging grass brushes and iron hammers.

5.掌權的極“左”派根據一個人含糊其詞的“揭發”，斷言我父親有“政治歷史問題”……

原譯：Someone from the extreme left of the regime had vaguely exposed my father, concluding that he had a“political history problem”……

6.他以前也曾對鄰近的齊國懷抱過希望，但齊國另有一番浩大開闊的政治理念，與他的禮樂思維并不合拍。例如那位小個子的杰出宰相晏嬰，雖然也講“禮”卻又覺得孔子的“禮”過于繁瑣和倒退。

原譯：At one point he had hopes for the neighboring Qí State, but the popular political consciousness there didn't line up with his morality.For example, that short-statured yet outstanding prime minister Yàn Yīng had morals, but he still found those of Confucius to be too backwards and complex.

7.……正像現在即使人人去唱“卡拉OK”，也不能證明這是一個音樂的時代。

原譯：……though all Chinese sing karaoke, this does not prove that this is a musical era.

8.（他們）只是湯官和皂隸之子罷了。

原譯：……as being of low stock and only the sons of kitchen managers and volunteers.

9.“兼愛”“非攻”我已經在上文做過解釋，“尚賢”“尚同”還沒有，但這四個中國字在字面上已經表明了它們的基本含義：崇尚賢者，一同天下。所謂一同天下，也就是以真正的公平來構筑一個不講等級的和諧世界。

原譯：I've already explained universal love and harmlessness above, though the latter two are still unexplained.Yet their basic meaning can be understood from their names.Devotion is the adoration of the virtuous, and camaraderie is equality everywhere.This refers to using genuine fairness to construct a classless, harmonious society.

10.（我決定）先把一些著名的常規景點游覽完，最后再鄭重其事地逼近我心里埋藏的那個大問號。

原譯：（I decided）to first take a tour of some well-known, must-see areas, and again finally taking that big question mark hidden in my mind very seriously.