《射雕英雄传》英译中的误译及归因

陈环 安徽建筑大学城市建筑学院 238076

2017年岁末,英国Maclehose Press出版了《射雕英雄传》的首部英译本.2018年2月,第一卷《英雄诞生》(A Hero Born)发售,译者为郝玉青(Anna Holmwood).郝玉青曾在牛津大学学习中文并取得中文系硕士学位,之后旅居中国多年.郝玉青根据金庸在2002年的"新修版"《射雕英雄传》翻译而成,译文覆盖原著前九章.

笔者比照阅读了中英两个版本,发现译者误译约有七十多处.经整理分析,笔者认为译者误译的原因有三.第一,粗心大意导致误译;第二,译者对带有中国特有文化的词语理解有误,导致误译;第三,译者对原文理解有误.但是这样的译法会造成一种源语文化的损失,也是对原作精神和内涵的一种偏离.有意识误译,虽然考虑了目的语读者的文化接受和认同,却也造成了文化意象的缺失.

现就误译情况举例说明分析.

1.粗心大意导致误译

1.1 原文:杨铁心叫道:"韩丞相专害无辜好人,谁不知道?我们可不上这个当."(P29)

译文:" The court at Lin'an only knows how to harass innocent citizens. Everyone knows that!" Guo called back. "We're not falling for that lie!"(P31)

人名译错,许是译者无心之过,但此处实际上对人物性格刻画极为重要.杨铁心个性易冲动,说话无遮拦,当面顶撞甚至辱骂丞相是个性使然,而郭啸天更忠厚老实,说话更圆通讲理.此处误译影响人物性格的统一性,不利于目的语读者对人物的理解.

1.2 原文:只见那穷酸喝了一口酒,摇头摆脑的吟道:"不义之财……放他过,……玉皇大帝……发脾气!"口中高吟,伸手从怀里掏出一锭锭金银,整整齐齐的排在桌上,一共掏出八锭银子,两锭金子.(P53)

译 文:Second Brother took a swig of wine and began reciting a poem, his head swaying from side to side as the words dipped and soared: "Ill-gotten gains, let them go, For the Jade Emperor is about to blow!" He reached into his shirt and removed ingot after ingot, laying them out neatly on the table.Eight gold, two silver.(P60)

译者无心之过.对情节发展并无影响.原文后文也未提及郭靖所持具体银两数目.

1.3 原文:这般大跑了两个时辰,郭靖才收缰下马稍息,然后上马又跑,再过一个多时辰,忽见远处草原上黑压压的列着三队骑兵,瞧人数是三个千人队.(P202)

译 文:Three hours had passed when he spotted three ranks lined up further ahead. There must have been at least three thousand men.(P238)

中文里古时一个时辰是现在的两个小时,此处应为six hours.但译者在其他几处时辰的翻译无误,可知译者知道这一中文中的常识.因此这里的误译是无心之过.

2.译者对中文特色词语的理解有误

2.1 原文:先一人道:"瞧你这副色迷迷的样儿,小心小王爷砍掉你的脑袋.这个姑娘么,相貌虽美,可还不及咱们王妃."另一人道:"这种风尘女子,你怎么拿来跟王妃比?"先一人道:"王妃,你道她出身又……"说到这里,忽然住口,咳嗽了两声,转口道……(P287)

译文:"Watch that the Prince doesn't hear your dirty talk, or he'll cut your head off! She may be pretty, but she's got nothing on the Consort." "That lowly country girl? Of course she's got nothing on the Consort." "But I thought you said the Consort came from-"He suddenly stopped and coughed.(P335)

中文中"道"有多种解释,新华字典中给出其作动词时意为"以为".原文意思是,你以为王妃的出身又(有多高贵吗?)译者将"道"理解为"说道",因此译错.

2.2 原文:王处一哈哈大笑,说道:"你义侠心肠,我喜欢得紧,哪会怪你?"(P264)

译文:Wang Chuyi responded with a hearty burst of laughter. "You are a courteous and humble young man,just to my liking! Why would I be angry?"(P306)

"义侠"二字正是武侠小说甚至中国传统文化的重要元素.这里"义侠心肠",放在原文语境中实指比武招亲时郭靖为穆易父女行侠仗义一事,王处一称赞郭靖正直且热心助人,并非是译文中为人谦逊的意思,应译作"righteous and obliging".

2.3.原文:完颜康走到她身边,拉住她手道:"妈,你又不舒服了么?"那女子叹了口气道:"还不是为你耽心?"完颜康靠在她身边,笑道:"儿子不是好好地在这里么?又没少了半个脚趾头."说话神情,全是在撒娇.(P291)

译 文:Wanyan Kang walked up to his mother and touched her on the arm. "Ma, are your feeling unwell again?" The woman sighed. "I worried about you so,"she said. Wanyan Kang leaned in closer and smiled."But look, your son is here now. And he's all in one piece, isn't he?" His behavior struck the two onlookers as most arrogant and unfilial.(P339)

"撒娇",《新华词典》的解释为表现出被宠爱的样子.完颜康被母亲包惜弱娇惯宠溺,此时母子聊天,母慈子孝,氛围亲密.并非译文中骄横无礼.这是译者对这一具有中国文化特征的词语的误解.