异化视角下散文汉译英的修辞与翻译策略
2016-04-15万颖
万 颖
(佛山职业技术学院,广东佛山 528000)
异化视角下散文汉译英的修辞与翻译策略
万 颖
(佛山职业技术学院,广东佛山 528000)
在中国文学作品的英译实践中,异化和直译不是常用翻译策略,但在翻译散文过程中,应以异化和直译为主,目的是向西方读者介绍中国文化。归化翻译的译文具有较强可读性,译者罔顾源语语言形式的做法比较常见,这样势必会造成某种程度的变调。异化视角下的翻译实践则在一定程度上令译者重视源语文化和语言表达习惯,利于文化传播与沟通。
散文;直译;异化;翻译策略
1.引言
从19世纪70年代开始的一百年间,中国的文学翻译是以归化为主的。(王东风 2002)异化翻译是将源语文化作为归宿的翻译策略,要尽可能地保持原作的风味,使源语文化的异国情调得以存继,使目的语文化中的读者领略到原汁原味而采用不完全符合目的语的语言规范。对于读者而言,对文化差异的第一层认识通常是通过对风俗习惯的差异产生。虽然归化的翻译往往因为可读性而被广泛地接受,但是译者的语言素养可以决定译语在多大程度上的可接受性。(葛校琴 2002)“十里不同风,百里不同俗”, 正是这种千差万别的异域风情最能引起读者,特别是外国读者的兴趣,阅读符合源语文化的目的语文本就成了一件引人入胜的乐事。
文学翻译无外乎理解与表达两件事。理解是表达的前提,表达又是理解的具体化和深刻化。二者相辅相成,交织在一起,构成统一的翻译过程。我国21世纪的文学翻译将真正成热起来的主要标志之一就是注重异化译法;而异化译法的核心就是尽量传译原文的异质因索。(孙致礼 2002)理解是全方位的,异化的翻译策略应包括对作者的了解及对作品的理解两个方面。对作者的了解应包括:作者的生平、情感、意图;作者所处的时代;作者所处国度的历史、地理、人文环境;作者的其它作品及作者在文学史上的地位及影响等。对作品的理解应包括:理解作品的语体特征、文体特征、文本意义、语言形式、语言风格及作品的艺术成就等。在翻译散文的过程中,译者可通过直译和异化手段尽量接近标准,增强译文的可读性和文化的传播性。
散文英译中运用翻译策略,不仅要面临选择的问题,还要处理度的问题。尽管在语言形式上要达到归化的标准,但是在表达文化差异时应坚持“异化”的策略。丰子恺的散文体现了特别浓厚的中国文化,以下以《作客者言》和《车厢社会》两篇为例,探究其修辞特点和翻译策略。
2.译例实践与分析
2.1 选词应注重贴切:见划线部分。(本文下同)
① 火车厉害得很,走在铁路上的人,一不小心,身体就被碾做两段。
The train is so formidable that someone walking on the railway, if carelessly, will be ground into two parts.
② 火车快得邪气,坐在车中,望见窗外的电线木如同栅栏一样。
The train runs unbelievably fast. Sitting on the train, you may see the wooden wire poles looked like fences.
③ 自己的身体被装在一个大木箱中,而用机械拖了这大木箱狂奔。
The whole body was put into a large wooden case pulled by a galloping machine.
④ 前者所见都是可喜的,后者所见却大多数是可惊的,可笑的,可悲的。
In the first stage, the sights I enjoyed were gratifying but now they were mostly astonishing, ridiculous and lamentable.
2.2 词的增补:在汉译英时,为了保证译文语法结构完整而需要增补词语。
2.2.1 代词或名词的增补
2.2.1.1 作为主语的代词或名词的增补
汉语里常见无主语的句子,而英语句子一般要有主语。在翻译无主语句子时应根据上下文选择合适的代词或名词作为主语。例如:
① 那时候我觉得世间一切枯燥无味,无可享乐,只有沉闷、疲倦、和苦痛,正同乘火车一样。
At that time, I felt everything in the world dull and boring. Living was just like taking a train which had no fun but depression, tiredness and pain.
② 最初乘火车是乐事,后来变成苦事,最后又变成乐事,仿佛“返老还童”似的。
At first, taking a train was pleasure, later it turned to be pain and finally became joy again. The changes of mood were just like a man returned to his boyhood from old age.
③ 有一位天性真率的青年,赴亲友家作客,归家的晚上,垂头丧气地跑进我的房间来,躺在藤床上,不动亦不语。
A frank young man paid a visit to his relative. When he returned at night, he walked crestfallen into my room and lay on the cany bed, still and silently.
2.2.1.2 作宾语的代词或名词的增补
汉语中,如果根据上下文就能够理解,那么作宾语的代词常常可以省略。但英语的及物动词都得有宾语。因此汉译英时,经常需要增补作宾语的代词。
译例:只是回想过去乘火车时的心境,觉得可分三个时期。
Recalling my states of mind on the train, I think I can divide my travels into three periods.
2.2.1.3 物主代词的增补
物主代词在汉语里远不如英语里用得多。在英语里凡说到一个人的器官和归其所有或与其有关的事物时,总要在前面加上物主代词。
① 总之,那时我在形式上乘火车,而在精神上仿佛遗世独立,依旧笼闭在自己的书斋中。
All in all, in this period, my body was on the train, but my soul seemed to be independent and isolated from the world. I still caged myself in the study.
② 看见找寻坐位的人来了,把头向着里,故作鼾声,或者装作病了。
Seeing those looking for seats coming, they turned their faces to the back of the seats, pretending to snore or get ill.
③ 他的缓步忽然改为趋步,拱起双手。
He suddenly walked quicker, with his one hand cupping in the other to make an obeisance.
2.2.2 连词的增补
汉语中的词、词组、分句或句子之间的关系往往通过上下文和语序来表示,较少用连词。英语通常需要用连词来表明词与词、词组与词组以及句与句的逻辑关系。因此在汉译英时,需要增补连词的情况很多,有时是并列连词,有时是从属连词。
译例:虽然火车在其前早已通行,但吾乡离车站有三十里之遥,平时我但闻其名,却没有机会去看火车或乘火车。
Although the train had long gone into operation, my village was thirty Li away from the train station. Therefore, at ordinary times, I only heard about its name but never got a chance to see it or take it.
2.2.3 冠词的增补
汉语里极少用到冠词,而英语里却极多地使用冠词。因此汉译英时往往需要增补许多必要的冠词。
译例:虽然火车在其前早已通行,但吾乡离车站有三十里之遥。
Although the train had long gone into operation, my village was thirty Li away from the train station.
2.2.4 原文中暗含而无需名言的词语,汉译英时要增补出来
汉语和英语的习惯用法不同。汉语中某一说法本来是清楚的,谁也不会误解,可是如果生搬硬套,逐字译成英语,就很可能不达原意,甚至还会引起误解,或铸成大错。为了避免这种毛病,就必须在译文中增补适当的词,把原文中暗含的意思明确地表示出来。
译例:故前者的欢喜是真的“欢喜”,若译英语可用happy或merry。后者却只是like或“快乐”或“愉悦”。fond of不是真心的欢乐。
Therefore, the first period seems a genuine pleasure. It could be interpreted into being happy or merry. The third stage, however, was only fondness. It could just be interpreted into being pleasant or delighted.The phrase fond of did not mean real pleasure.
2.2.5 状语的增补
译例:还有一种人,不取大腿的策略,而用行李代替(放在自己身旁的坐位上)。
Without luggage as well, some might not adopt the thigh strategy.
2.3 语态的变换
所谓语态变换,是指翻译中汉英两种语言之间的主动式与被动式的互换。汉语多采用主动语态,但在英译时有时改用被动语态。英语里常常运用被动结构把动作的承受者作为句子的主语来突出其地位,强调其重要性。由于这个原因,汉译英时,往往将汉语的主动句变换为英语的被动句,把原文的宾语变成译文的主语。再者,在英语中,常常为了上下文的连贯,使句子之间的衔接紧密自然而运用被动结构。为此目的,在汉译英时也常常将汉语的主动句改为英语的被动句。例如:
① 看了许多书才走得两站!
Many pages were read but only two stations were passed.
② 主人因为我是远客,特地邀他们来陪我。
Since I was a guest from afar, they are specially invited to be my company.
若汉语的表达为被动句,那译为英语时一般没有必要改为主动句,仍译为被动句。因为这样的表达方式符合英语的表达习惯。
2.4 词性的变化
词性一发生变化,句子成分也接着改变。
① 我惊奇地笑道:“怪了!”
I was surprised and said with a smile: “Strange!” (副词变形容词)
② 他苦笑地答道。
He forced a smile and replied. (副词变动词)
③ 主人因为我是远客,特地邀他们来陪我。
Since I was a guest from afar, they are specially invited to be my company. (动词变名词)
2.5 语序的变换
译例:看到凭在车窗上指点谈笑的小孩子,我鄙视他们,觉得这班初出茅庐的人少见多怪,其浅薄可笑。
Seeing some children standing by the window, pointing to somewhere and talking joyfully, I looked down upon them for their superficiality and absurdness, thinking they were surprised at things they seldom saw.
2.6 句子成分的改变
① 十六七岁时,我毕业于本乡小学,到杭州去投考中等学校,方才第一次看到又乘到火车。
When I was sixteen or seventeen, after graduating from the village primary school, I headed for Hangzhou to take the entrance exam to middle school.(谓语改分词状语)
② 我看见各车站都美丽。
To me, every station was beautiful.(谓语改分词状语)
③ 作客而受主人优待,应该舒服且高兴。
A guest treated courteously should feel comfortable and happy. (动宾结构变成形容词和副词结构)
2.7 重复词语和重复结构的处理
在汉语和英语中,有时为了加强语气,有时为了求得句子的平衡、对称或其他修辞效果,往往使用重复词语或重复结构,即在一个句子或相连的几个句子中不止一次地重复使用同一个词语或同一个结构。但是,由于在语言结构和习惯用法等方面又各有不同的特征,汉语和英语在运用重复手段时也必然有一些相同和不同的地方,应恰当处理。
2.7.1 代替
① 自从这一回乘了火车之后,二十余年中,我对火车不断地发生关系。至少每年乘三四次,有时每月乘三四次,至多每日乘三四次。
Since I first took a train, I have constantly taken it for some twenty plus years, at least three or four times per year, sometimes the same number per month and that same number per day.
② 那时候乘火车这件事在我觉得非常新奇而有趣。
Then taking a train for me was fairly fresh and interesting.
③ 这种经验是我向来所没有的,怎不教我感到新奇而有趣呢?
Since such experience was completely new to me, how could it fail to make me feel fancy and funny?
2.7.2 部分重复
译例:以前买了车票热烈地盼望车子快到。现在也盼望车子快到,但不是热烈地而是焦灼地。意思是要它快些来载我赴目的地。以前上车总要拣个靠窗的好位置,现在不拘,但求有得坐。以前在车中不绝地观赏窗内窗外的人物景色,现在都不要看了,一上车就拿出一册书来,不顾环境的动静,只管埋头在书中,直到目的地的达到。
Previously, I looked forward to the arrival of the train after buying a ticket. Now, I still expected the train to come, but anxiously, not eagerly. I hoped it come earlier to take me to the destination. Before, I had always taken a good window seat once I boarded, but now I didn’t stick to a window seat and only wished a vacant one for me. Formerly, I kept observing people and enjoying views in and out of the window when taking a train, but now I didn’t want to see anything.
2.7.3 全部重复
译例:前者所见都是可喜的,后者所见却大多数是可惊的,可笑的,可悲的。
In the first stage, the sights I enjoyed were gratifying but now they were mostly astonishing, ridiculous and lamentable.
我看到这种车厢社会里的状态,觉得可惊,又觉得可笑、可悲。
Witnessing these phenomena on the train, I felt them astonishing, ridiculous and lamentable.
回想自己乘火车的三时期的心境,也觉得可惊,可笑,又可悲。
Recalling the states of mind in these three periods on a train, I also felt them astonishing, ridiculous and lamentable.
2.8 比喻性词语的译法
比喻性词语是指一些利用事物之间的相似特征通过具体形象来比喻某事物的词、词组或句子。运用比喻性词语,是为了使语言生动、逼真、富有感染力,是一种重要的修辞手段。汉语和英语都有丰富的比喻性词语,但因使用汉英两种语言的人有着不同的民族历史和风俗习惯,对比喻性词语的使用也有所不同。翻译时必须注意这一差别,力求能正确地表达原文思想内容,同时又能保持原文语言的修辞效果。
2.8.1 直译法
① 我看见最外边的椅子颇有些灰尘,恐怕里面的椅子或有更多的灰尘与龌龊,将污损我的新制的淡青灰哔叽长衫的屁股部分,弄得好像被摩登破坏团射了镪水一般。
I noticed some dust on it and worried there might be more on the unseen chairs which would stain the bottom of my new grayish serge gown and then make it look as if it were ruined by the strong acid thrown by modern saboteurs.
② 望见窗外的电线木如同栅栏一样。
Sitting on the train, you may see the wooden wire poles looked like fences.
2.8.2 意译法
译例:我听了这些话而想象火车,以为这大概是炮弹流星似的凶猛唐突的东西,觉得可怕。
Hearing these, I imagined, the train was probably a fearful thing as fierce as cannonballs and as abrupt as a shooting star.
2.9 长句的处理
长句指的是字数较多、结构较复杂、含有多层意思的句子。汉语和英语都有长句,但在句子的结构上差异很大。所以,在翻译时要讲究方法,否则就难以准确清晰地传达原文的各层意思。在处理长句时,经常碰到的问题是如何断句和区分主从。
2.9.1 断句
译例:他笑了,从藤床上坐起身来,向茶盘里端起一杯菊花茶来喝了一口,慢慢地、一五一十地把这一天赴亲友家作客而受异常优礼的招待的经过情形描摹给我听。
He sat up from the cany bed with a smile and picked up a cup of chrysanthemum tea from the tray. After taking a sip, he described to me, little by little, how he was treated at his relative’s place in detail.
分析:逗号变句号;动词变介词短语;逻辑连词,谓语动词变分词状语;语序,名词短语变动词短语。
2.9.2 区分主从
译例:有的人没有行李,把身子扭转来,教一个屁股和一支大腿占据了两个人的坐位,而悠闲地凭在窗中吸烟。他把大乌龟壳似的一个背部向着他的右邻,而用一支横置的左大腿来拒远他的左邻。
If without luggage, some twist their bodies to occupy two seats with the help of his bottom and thigh, and then they just lean against the window and smoke leisurely. They turn their backs which are like big tortoise shells to their right neighbors and keep from their left neighbors with a stretching left thigh.
分析:长句一般都需要拆分,同时注意区分主从关系。
2.10 标点符号的转换
在书面语里标点符号用来表示各句之间和句子各成分之间的关系,使文字所反映的思想内容明确清楚,易为读者了解。在翻译中,要使译文准确、通顺,就不能忽视对标点符号的运用和转换。原文的标点符号不应当也不可能原封不动地搬到译文中来。这不仅因为英语标点符号与汉语标点符号有某些不同之处,而且因为汉译英后语言结构必然发生变化,标点符号的运用也必须作相应的变动。
译例:有一位天性真率的青年,赴亲友家作客,归家的晚上,垂头丧气地跑进我的房间来,躺在藤床上,不动亦不语。
A frank young man paid a visit to his relative. When he returned at night, he walked crestfallen into my room and lay on the cany bed, still and silently.
2.11 习语的译法
汉英两种语言都有极为丰富的习语。习语是长期沿习使用的定型词组或短句。习语一般具有结构紧严、形式简练、含义精品、形象鲜明、表达生动等特点,因而为人们所喜闻乐用,广泛流传。汉语的习语在广义上包括成语、俗语、谚语、歇后语、格言和方言等,类别繁多,民族特色突出。正因为如此,习语的翻译也比较复杂。但是只要注意到原文的思想内容,联系上下文和语言就够的整体,避免死译硬译,困难是可以克服的。在文本的习语翻译里,本着异化的翻译策略和原则,主要采取直译和直译加注的处理方法。
2.11.1 直译
译例:心境一变,以前看厌了的东西也会重新有起意义来,仿佛“温故而知新”似的。
Once the state of mind changed, the thing I used to be tired of seeing began to make sense, just as reflecting on the past can make the present more understandable.
2.11.2 采用相应的英语译法
译例:我知道他正在等候我去打开他的话匣子来。
I knew he was waiting for me to turn on the gas.
2.12 文化意象的译法
① 这光景定是疑心我是窃了他家厅上的宣德香炉而赶出来捉我去送公安局。
I would have taken his undue reception for an arrest to the police station for his suspecting me of stealing his most prized censer in the hall which was produced during the reign of Emperor Xuan De in Ming Dynasty.
② 他的袒开的左手所照着的,是一排八仙椅子。
His left hand directed towards a row of chairs for the Eight Immortals Table, which was an old-fashioned square table capable of seating eight people.
3.结语
异化翻译主要的目的是文化交流,从读者阅读译作的目的出发,让目的语读者了解本国文化,同时,源语文化移植进目的语的做法将会丰富目的语文化和目的语的语言表达方式。实际上,散文原文的句法结构是散文的精髓所在,好的译者不会不顾源语的语言形式而强硬地进行归化翻译。如果不顾源语的句法结构和语义,随意调整或更改句式或语义,以取得迎合读者口味的效果,这样的翻译已经不能成其为翻译,而是改写了。散文作者的思想情感,势必会受损变调。面临中国文化走出去的时代,异化视角下的翻译实践则在一定程度上令译者重视中国文化和汉语的语言表达习惯,利于中华文化的传播与沟通。
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2016-03-28
本研究得到佛山市哲学社会科学基金项目(项目编号:2015-QN09)的资助。