汉译英：最珍贵的废书.docVIP

最珍贵的废书袁国良一天，收拾屋子，找出两本布满尘土的小学课本。女友说还不扔了？我抚摸着书半晌没说话。书是我上高中时妈妈为我买的。妈妈是个一字不识的苗家妇女。家乡有种风俗，一个女人在去世时，口里必须含银（或金）才能入土为安。所以在贫因人家，攒钱置办一件小小的银饰便成了家庭生活的重要内容。那一年，妈妈起早摸黑喂了两头猪，终于置办了一对银手镯。在临近高考的那段日子，妈妈时常进城给我送些吃的。她知道我复习忙，每次都是匆匆来匆匆去。有一天，妈妈去了不久却又回来，拉我到僻静处：“孩子，我替你买了两本考大学的书。”“什么！”我心里格登一下。常听人说学校外面时常有人用假书、假资料骗那些来自山区一字不识的家长。“人家说，只要用这书，考大学包中。”“哪来的钱？”“镯子换的。”我抢过书，撕去包装，一阵巨大的绝望顿时袭上心头：两本小学课本竟然就骗走了妈妈的镯子！“孩子，行吧？”望着满怀期望的母亲，我强压下泪水和屈辱，“行，妈，行的！”后来我考上了大学，妈妈高兴极了，说是两个镯子花得值。她甚至想找卖给她书的人道谢！“你妈后来知道真相了吗？”女友问。“没有，我永远都不会让她知道。”The “Useless” Books I Treasure MostYuan GuoliangOne day I was cleaning up my place and found two dust-covered elementary school books. “Why not discard them?” said my girlfriend. I held the books tightly in my hands, didnt respond for a while.Mom bought these books for me when I was in high school. She was an ordinary woman of the Miao minority who didnt know how to read and write. In my home village, when a woman passed away, the custom was to put a piece of silver or gold in her mouth to secure peace in the world beyond. Therefore, to families of extreme poverty, it had become a very big deal in life to save enough money for a small piece of silver jewelry. One year, mom worked from dawn to dusk raising two pigs, which were sold to finally buy her a pair of silver bracelets.As the date of my college entrance exam approached, mom often came in town to bring me food and treats. She knew that I was pressed for time to study; therefore, shed rush in and out each time. One day however, mom returned shortly after she had left. She took me to a quiet place and said, “Son, I bought you two books to prepare for the college exam.”“What!” my heart sank at her words. I often heard that outside of our school, fake books and printed handouts were sold to illiterate parents from the mountainous areas.“The guy said that if you use these books, youll have no trouble getting in college.”“Whered you get the money?”“I sold the bracelets.”I grabbed the books and tore away the covers; an enormous feeling of despair immediately overwhelmed me. Who would think that two elementary school books actually cheated mom out of her precious bracelets!“Will theywork, son?”Seeing mom with a gaze that was full of hope, I forced back tears and humiliation. “Yes mom, they sure will!”Later on, I passed the exam and enrolled in college. Mom was overjoyed with happiness. She said it was well worth the two bracelets; she even thought of finding the guy who sold her the books and thanking him.“Did your mom ever find out the truth?” asked my girlfriend.“No, I will never let her know.”（赵波 译）翻译简评一天，收拾屋子，找出两本布满尘土的小学课本。One day I was cleaning up my place and found two dust-covered elementary school books. 似可改译：One day when I was cleaning up my place, I found two dust-covered elementary school books. 原译将“收拾”和“找出”两个动作并列译出，改译后，成为偏正关系。从而使译文更符合英文的行文习惯。女友说还不扔了？“Why not discard them?” said my girlfriend.原文采用间接引语，译文改用直接引语方式。若在品读译文的过程中细加品味，汉语的间接引语，英译后改用直接引语，是很常见的一种翻译技巧。我抚摸着书半晌没说话。I held the books tightly in my hands, didnt respond for a while.似可改译：I held the books tightly in my hands, not responding for a while.原译再次将“抚摸”和“说话”两个动作并列翻译，显得生硬：didnt之前至少应加上连词and, 否则似乎语法不通，乃汉语式思维所致。将respond改为现在分词，句子结构便清晰了。“什么！”我心里格登一下。“What!” my heart sank at her words.译文中动词sink的选用，和介词at的使用，很是传神。其实，at her words（听到她的话），属于合理添译。关于sink的另例：His heart sinks as he listens to the judge utter the fateful word.他听到法官字字千钧的话，顿时垂头丧气。My heart sinks again on viewing the inextricable complexity of this deception.看到这个骗局的错综复杂，我的心又沉了下来。常听人说学校外面时常有人用假书、假资料骗那些来自山区一字不识的家长。I often heard that outside of our school, fake books and printed handouts were sold to illiterate parents from the mountainous areas.汉语为主动语态，译文改用被动语态。一方面符合英语爱用被动语态的习惯做法，另一方面可表示客观存在的一种情况。“镯子换的。”“I sold the bracelets.”“孩子，行吧？”“Will theywork, son?”此二译文都与原文在字面上有了较大的距离。此谓“改变说法”，以使译文更加符合译入语的语言表达习惯。说是两个镯子花得值。她甚至想找卖给她书的人道谢！She said it was well worth the two bracelets; she even thought of finding the guy who sold her the books and thanking him.将汉语的句号，改译为英语的分号，即意味着将两个句子合并为一个句子来译。在she even之前若添加使用连词and, 则语气更显连接贯通。若将句尾的and thanking him改为to express her overflowing gratitude, 则效果可能更好。原译将finding和thanking并置，与汉语“找”和“道谢”保持一致。其实，这里还是可以考虑将汉语的并列关系改为英语的偏正关系，用不定式表示目的，更符合英文行文习惯。另外，汉语句尾用感叹号，表示母亲在得知儿子因“假书、假资料”而考上大学之后对商贩的感激之情。英译不适合用感叹号，但用overflowing gratitude可弥补此一情感力度的削弱。翻译技巧：间接直接（indirect quotation into direct quotation）笠翁闲情偶寄说奕棋不如观棋，因观者无得失心，观棋是有趣的事，如看斗牛、斗鸡、斗蟋蟀一般，但是观棋也有难过处，观棋不语是一种痛苦。In his Xian Qing Ou Ji (Notes at Leisure), Li Yu, who styled himself Li Weng, said, “To play chess is not so interesting as to watch others play, for an onlooker has nothing to worry about gain or loss has nothing to do with him.” Watching others playing chess indeed is quite interesting, just like watching bullfighting, cockfighting or cricket-fighting, yet an onlooker also has his own suffering, say, to keep silence while watching.被动主动（passive voice into active voice）The bird had to be extricated from the netting.要把小鸟从网中救出。The library was enriched with new books.购买新书使图书馆得到了充实。Seat belts are effective only if they are correctly adjusted.坐椅安全带只有调节好才能起作用。He was so fortunate as to be admitted to Harvard.他很幸运进了哈佛大学。Its about time a few movie makers with original ideas were given a chance.现在该是一些具有独创见解的影片制作人大显身手的时候了。You dont have to change your position on the problem, whatever opinions may be held by others.不管其他人有什么看法，你不必在这个问题上改变自己的观点。We wish that the problem could be solved.我们希望这个问题能得到解决。The committee suggests that even greater emphasis be placed on this matter.委员会提出这件事应该予以充分重视。That the attempt to save her had failed soon became widely known.想救她而未成功，此事不久已尽人皆知。The fact that his proposal makes sense should be recognized.应当承认他的建议是有道理的。Whenever possible the jobs are given to local people.只要有可能总是为本地人提供就业机会。These arguments can hardly be characterized as being original.这些论点还不能说有什么创见。This play is usually attributed to Shakespeare.此剧本一般认为是莎士比亚所著。Instructions were given that warm clothing should be distributed to the flood victims.有指示说要给水灾难民分发保暖衣服。No evidence has been provided that he was involved in the robbery.无人提供证据，证明他涉嫌这宗盗窃案。双重被动If accepted for this post, you will be informed by May 1st.如果你被录用担任此职，5月1日前会收到通知。He is expected to be supported at the meeting by John and Tony.估计他在会上将得到约翰和托尼的支持。双重被动In the distance could be seen the purple mountains.远处可以见到紫色的群山。If he is invited to attend the meeting, so should I be.要是请他参加会议，也该请我参加。Seldom have enterprise and personal responsibility been more needed.难得像现在这样需要开拓精神和个人责任感。He was pitied rather than disliked.与其说人家不喜欢他，不如说同情他。Have you had your hair cut?你理发了没有？隐性被动The risk of developing heart disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked.吸烟得越多，患心脏病的危险就越大。隐性被动He was at his best yesterday evening and kept us all amused.他昨晚表现极佳，谈吐风趣，大家玩得很开心。隐性被动It is in studying as in eating; he who does it gets the benefits, and not he who sees it done.学习犹如吃饭；亲自实践，得益匪浅，不老而获的事是没有的。Shes a pleasant child, if a little spoiled.她尽管有点娇气，却是个讨人喜欢的孩子。隐性被动The office was beautifully if quietly furnished.办公室虽然陈设朴素，但很雅致。隐性被动The affair is wrapped in mystery. 这件事扑朔迷离。这里的被动，并不强调动作，而只是描述一种状态，因而更倾向于静态。Questions are invited.欢迎提问。The book is intended for beginners.本书是为初学者编写的。The stillness was rent by thunderous applause.雷鸣般掌声打破了寂静。He was embittered by his failures.他因失败而痛苦。主动被动（active voice into passive voice）女人的风情万种，不经意地流露，纯粹而又余味无穷。All womanly charm can be naturally displayed just as it is, purely and with infinite aftertaste. 她的脸快乐得通红。Her face is mantled in joy.父亲过了好几年才回来。后来，他带着母亲和我外出做官。Father came home after a long absence. Then he took us to where he was appointed a magistrate.店老板惊慌失色。原来银子是他和押送官的随从合谋偷盗的。The innkeeper was thrown into terror. It turned out that he and an assistant to the official had colluded to steal the silver.这里叫教条主义休息，有的同志却叫它起床。The demand was made that dogmatism be laid to rest, yet some comrades are telling it to get out of bed. 这次你把我从天上带下来，证明我们的确是有缘分。我要做你的儿子来报答你的大恩大德。Now that you have brought me back from the sky, it is obvious we are knit together in fate. I would like to repay my debt of gratitude by becoming your son.看来，名人促销是从二千年以前的中国开始的。It seems the idea of celebrity endorsement in product promotion was started two thousand years ago in China.喜欢女人有美丽容颜也算是男人的弱点吗？正好相反，从遗传的角度说，这恰恰是使得后代形象具有美感的明智抉择，何罪之有？Is it a mans weak point to be fond of beautiful female looks? No, I should say the opposite is true. It is quite sensible to do so if one looks at it from a hereditary point of view. That is the very way to have ones fine qualities pass on to his children. What fault can be found in it? 近村的绿树，都笼在湿烟里。弓儿似的新月，挂在树梢。（冰心笑）The green trees in the neighboring village were shrouded in a mist. The crescent new moon looked as if hanging on the tips of the trees.“绿树笼在湿烟里”，英译The green trees were shrouded in a mist. 汉语主动，英译被动。而此处英译的被动，却正好用来表示一种状态或静态。他精疲力竭。He is drained of all strength.她冷得缩手缩脚。She is pinched with cold.她的脸快乐得通红。Her face is mantled in joy.这部电视机每天至多开两小时。The television set is switched on two hours a day at most.他的真心实意迄今仍待证明。As yet we have to be convinced of his good faith.申请必须在二十四小时内办理，否则不予受理。The application must be made within twenty-four hours, or it will not be attended to.连一点点食物都没留给他。Not even a morsel of food has been left for him.他坚持要找一位医生。He insisted upon a doctor being sent for.讨论不再继续进行，会议就此结束。No further discussion arising, the meeting was brought to a close.一般说来，我们总是倾向于把英语的被动句，译为汉语的主动句；同时把汉语的主动句，译为英文的被动句。但是，偶尔也有例外情况。例如：The truth will come home to him at last.真理终会被他认识的。这里，英语的主动句，翻译处理成了汉语的被动句。改变说法（different expressions）包括词汇层面和句法层面。词汇层面的改变说法：马灯：hurricane lamp公用电话：pay phone水草：float grass旁证：circumstantial evidence昙花一现：a flash in the panHe is something of a gossip.他是个专门搬弄是非的家伙。Something of a sth. 意指达到某种程度。He is something of a bore.他这个人真讨厌。Their marriage made something of a stir in high society.他们的结婚在上流社会中引起了一定的轰动。He figured this would cut the time needed to complete the puzzle by at least 50 percent.他认为这样做至少可以把完成一次游戏的时间减少一半。He tends to put self-interest above everything else.他往往把个人利益放在首位。He was respected above all others.他最受尊敬。Education by example is more eloquent than speeches.以身作则比空头演讲要有效得多。(teach/education by example: 以身作则)If only you would come to my help.要是你来帮助我就好了。Not a single day goes by but that I think of Smith.没有一天我不想史密斯。No man is so cruel but he may feel some pity.没有人会残忍到连一点同情心都没有。There is nothing so difficult but it becomes easy by practice.世上无难事，只要通过实践便易于解决。She did not remain anything like faithful to him.她对他根本谈不上忠贞不渝。Anything like 作“全然，压根儿，”解，与not 连用指“根本谈不上”。nothing like作“绝对不；压根儿不”解，与as.as.连用意指“远不如”。We have not anything like completed the job.我们根本谈不上完成了这项工作。His cooking is nothing like as good as yours.他的烹饪技术远不如你的高明。This book is nothing like as interesting as that one. 这本书远不如那本有趣。Their win was nothing short of a miracle.他们的取胜简直是奇迹。They would settle for nothing short of total independence.不取得完全独立，他们绝不善罢甘休。The results are nothing short of magnificent.结果真是妙不可言。Well settle for nothing less than a complete victory.我们不获全胜决不收兵。Youre nothing less than a murderer!你简直就是刽子手。What you said amounted to nothing less than a scathing criticism.你所说的话实际上无异于一种尖锐的批评。His negligence was nothing less than criminal.你的疏忽无异于犯罪。That he should stoop to cheating!他竟然会堕落到骗人的地步！Hes a sort of unpaid adviser, as it were, to the committee.可以说，他是委员会的义务顾问。As it is作“实际上；照原样；照现状”解Hes a real gentleman, if a little pompous at times.他虽然有时显得傲慢一些，但仍不失为一个正派的人。It is nothing if not a good idea.这个主意好极了。Nothing if not作“非常；极其；确实”解，其后可跟名词或形容词。Youve got to admit hes nothing if not persistent.你不得不承认，他工作非常执著。She is nothing if not polite.她很有礼貌。Nothing if not courageous, he took the rostrum.他鼓足勇气走上了讲坛。Hes nothing if not a great thinker.他是一位了不起的思想家。The arguments as advanced in your article are open to question.你在文章中提出的论点值得商榷。There you go again jumping to conclusions on the slightest evidence.你又来这一套了在证据很不充分的情况下忙于下结论。I think you are withholding the fact from me.我知道你对我隐瞒了事实真相。You should do me a favour if only for the sake of friendship.讲点交情帮个忙也是应该的。If only to do sth. 作“即使仅仅是；光是为了”解；if only for 作“即使仅仅为的是”解。He says he didnt cheat, but I know better.他说他没有弄虚作假，但我可不相信。Know better作“变得聪明些；不再相信；不再上当”解。You should know better than to reason with him.你该放聪明一些，别去跟他评理。He was all skin and bones.他瘦得皮包骨头。He is a beefy athlete, all bulging limbs.他是个结实的运动员，四肢粗壮有力。He was all smiles.他满脸笑容。He was all kindness to us.他对待我们十分友好。They are all eagerness to go to the festival.他们急于要参加节日活动。At that very moment they came into the room, all chatter and laughter.正在那个时刻，他们说说笑笑走进了房间。I shall be all anxiety till I hear from you.我要等到你来信了才能放下心来。She was all gaiety.她非常快活。He was all melody and song.他成天哼着曲子唱着歌。She acquainted them with the facts.她把事实告诉了他们。Please acquaint me with the facts of the case.请把这事儿的情况告诉我。We accepted his story as true.我们认为他说的是真话。He can hardly be described as really clever.很难说他真聪明。There is something in what he says.他说的话有点道理。The newest fighter can fly here in half an hour.最新型的战斗机三十分钟就可以飞到此地。Shes not much of a correspondent.她不喜欢写信。This is a book that is a veritable feast for the mind.这是一本给心灵带来真正快乐的书。Im not much of a linguist.我不很擅长语言学。Im not going to have him throwing his weight about with me.我可不会让他对我滥用权势。His performance was less than perfect.他的表演并不理想。We cannot praise him too much.我们无论怎样表扬他也不为过。The importance of physical training cannot be overemphasized.体育锻炼的重要性无论怎样强调也不为过。We cannot be too careful in this world; our best friends often deceive us.在这个世界上我们越谨慎越好：我们最好的朋友也常常会欺骗我们。That which is good cannot be done too soon.好事做得越早越好。We can scarcely pay too high a price for liberty.为了争取自由我们无论付出多高的代价也不为过。Hes got more money than taste.他有钱但无修养。Marilyn is a pretty girl but that new barmaid at our local pub leaves her standing. 玛里琳是个非常漂亮的姑娘，但我们这里酒店中新来的酒吧女比她更姣好。Men are blind in their own muse.一意孤行的人是盲目的（当局者迷）。Summer was at its height.当时正是盛夏时节。Be nicer to him. You shouldnt mess around with him like that.对他好些，你不该对他那么随便。Barely had she unlocked the door when the young man dashed out, knocking down the candle in her hand, and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him.柜门刚打开，贼儿就冲出去。他打翻婢女手里的烛台，飞快地逃出门外。A person from a rich family may be haughty to a person of modest origin. The spouse from a poor family may have inferiority complex.家境富裕的一方会对家境不如的一方摆架子。家境贫寒的一方会在对方面前抬不起头来。He is not quite equal to the task.他不能十分胜任这项任务。My patience is running out.我忍耐不住了。Well, then, give me leave to state my case.那么，请你让我说几句话。What he said was beside the point.他的话与题无关。Shes wanted to go on the stage from an early age.她从小就想当演员。He lived in genteel poverty.他虽穷，却爱摆排场。（genteel: 冒充上流的；附庸风雅的）You only need so much food to eat, so many clothes to keep you warm and a house for shelter.人活在世上，只要有饭吃，有衣穿，有房住，就够了。Sibling relationship is special. It is different from other relationships. If there is a crack in the relationship, you must fix it quickly. Never allow it to grow big.兄弟姐妹的关系非同寻常。如果关系出现裂痕，就要赶快弥补，不能让它坏下去。Mark my words, the first woman who fishes for him, hooks him. 瞧着吧，不管什么女人钓他，他都会上钩。I buried my head under the quilts, but my aunt heard me. 我用被子蒙着头，可姑母还是听见了。When he was satisfied with his hands he went in and went to work. 他洗好了手，就进屋开始工作了。She was oblivious to the problem until the next morning, when she heard the womans hurt voice on the telephone. “At that instant,” Baldrige says, “I wanted to die.”直到次日早晨，她还蒙在鼓里。就在那个早上，她从电话中听到了那个女士的不悦之声，“在那一刻，”鲍里奇说：“地上有个洞，我真会钻进去。”When I was eight I always assumed I would shoot myself when I got to 40; it seemed obvious to me that nobody older than that could have any fun at all. I am now 40 and Id shoot all those people who keep alive the ridiculous myth that middle age is dismal time, especially for women. 在我八岁的时候，我常想，到了四十岁我将结束自己的生命，因为在我看来，显然人过四十，生活将毫无乐趣可言。我现在四十岁了，我将对持有这种可笑而荒诞的观点的人大声说“不”，他们认为中年，尤其是对女性来说，是个沮丧的时代。Shes starving herself to try to lose weight. 她为了减肥而忍饥挨饿。现在，就是碧草红云的现在啊！离家已有六百多里路。Now, on this green grass, amid these rosy clouds, / Now, two hundred miles from home.汉译英正在这时，恰巧有一群小孩也来看茶花，一个个仰着鲜红的小脸，甜蜜蜜笑着，唧唧哇哇叫个不休。Just at that moment, a group of children came to see the camellias. Each with his red face lifted and a smile honey-sweet, they carried on like little chatterboxes. 我想等他再来，再来开口求爱，两人的目光相遇，他就立刻避开。I waited long for his return, / His coming to seek my love. / But every time our eyes would meet / He looked the other way. 难道把头仰起来就以为比别人高了吗Will raising the head skywards / Add a cubit to ones stature?披散你的满头发，赤裸你的一双脚；跟着我来，我的恋爱，抛弃这个世界，殉我们的恋爱！Let your hair d