张培基英语散文5

再说包装 节录 吴冠中 More on Packaging Excerpt Wu Guanzhong 包装的本质是伪装 Basically packaging means false embellishment 要点 伪装 在本文中应理解为 错误的装饰 因此译为 false embellishment 为了美观 略施装饰 无可厚非 斥之伪 有点刻薄 商品离不开包装 离谱 的包装 岂止伪 存心欺蒙顾客 日本人很讲究包装 一个漂亮的大匣里面藏 着精致的小匣 小匣里还有更小的匣 一层层的包装待你剥到底 最后裸露的 往往只是一块小小的糖果 Nevertheless a little embellishment for the sake of nice appearance is not altogether inadvisable and it is a bit harsh to denounce it as falsehood Merchandise can never do without packaging but going too far with it means something worse than falsehood it is deliberate cheating Japanese are very particular about packaging Hidden inside one beautiful big box will be a number of gradually smaller delicate ones placed one inside another You have to tear them off one by one until you finally hit on nothing but a tiny piece of candy 要点 1 此处的 无可厚非 并没有译为 beyond reproach 但此词的语气稍重 因此改 译为 is not altogether inadvisable 2 离谱的包装 即 过分的包装 译为 going too far with it 或 overdoing it too much of it 3 一个漂亮的大匣里面藏着精致的小匣 小匣里还有更小的匣 译为 Hidden inside one beautiful big box will be a number of gradually smaller delicate ones placed one inside another 这种表方位的 有 字句 很容易译为 there be 这种译 法更加突出主语 值得学习 综述 注意第三点省去 there be 的用法 我们进入了包装的时代 这恰好提醒我们进入了伪劣假冒的时代 豪华 精美 包装的礼品满天飞 送这种豪华礼品的人与被送者之间绝无真诚的友情 聪明的包 装者是明悟这一实际的 所以工夫用在礼品之外 包装之上 外国也 包装 也走人情 也行贿 但以包装作欺蒙则我们传统中早有提示 金玉其外 败絮其中 We have entered the age of packaging or rather the age of counterfeit and shoddy merchandise Attractively packaged gifts can be found everywhere Aware of the complete absence of real friendship between sender and receiver of a gift shrewd businessmen have been racking their brains trying to beautify the packing design rather than improve the commodity itself People in foreign countries are also particular about packaging and also bribe with gifts but we have a longer tradition of hoodwinking customers by means of packaging as witness the ancient Chinese saying Gold and jade without rubbish within 要点 1 我们进入了包装的时代 这恰好提醒我们进入了伪劣假冒的时代 可按 与其说我们进入了包装时代 不如说我们进入了假冒伪劣时代 译为 We have entered the age of packaging or rather the age of counterfeit and shoddy merchandise 加入关联词 更加凸显句间逻辑关系 后面的 所以工夫用在礼品之外 也使用 rather 翻译为 注重包装而不是商品本身 2 以包装作欺蒙则我们传统中早有提示 金玉其外 败絮其中 意即 以包装 欺骗顾客 是我们很久以来的传统 以 金玉其外败絮其中 为证 we have a longer tradition of hoodwinking customers by means of packaging as witness the ancient Chinese saying Gold and jade without rubbish within 综述 增译关联词可以凸显句与句之间的逻辑 包装歌星 包装书画家 包装著作 包装早已是堂而皇之的事业 不怕 社会讥讽了 书籍装帧应让人一目了然著作的内涵与品位 是极深奥的艺术创 作工作 但 今日书店书摊上琳琅满目 一片花里胡哨 连书名都认不出来 印 一张白底黑字的封面吧 Star singers painters and calligraphers authors all go in for self packaging overtly in disregard of public ridicule Binding and layout which provide clear insights into the content and quality of a book call for profound artistic work But today bookstores and bookstalls are a riot of loud glaring color so much so that the book titles are overshadowed and become hardly recognizable Why not have book covers printed just as black and white instead 要点 1 堂而皇之 即 公开的 译为 overtly openly 2 不怕 本处意为 不管 不顾 译为 in disregard of 3 但今日书店书摊上琳琅满目 一片花里胡哨 译为 But today bookstores and bookstalls are a riot of loud glaring color 其中 a riot of 译为 一片 loud glaring color 即 艳丽夺目的色彩 4 印一张白底黑字的封面吧 意即 还不如印一张白底黑字的封面 译为 Why not have book covers printed just as black and white instead 突出了作者的语气 综述 注意最后一点 增强语气 伪装是个人的野心 也适应社会的需求 官吏的乌纱 皇帝的蟒袍用以吓 唬老百姓 他们退堂退朝后便恢复本来面目 毋须衣冠沐猴了 西装 革履 领带 这种 包装在西方已定型几百年 并早已成为全世界公认的正式服饰 而 且居然在不断更新的时装流变中岿然不动 但休闲服的兴起 不知是否会冲垮 这端着架子的西装传统 因人们最终要追求自在与舒适 一切架子与伪装都将 被抛弃 Packaging serves to satisfy social needs as well as personal ambition Imperial officials and emperors used to wear black gauze hats and boa design robes respectively to frighten common people into submission After a court session or imperial court session was adjourned they would respectively cease to dress up as such and become their usual selves The Western style suit with leather shoes and necktie to go with it is a kind of packaging that has taken shape in the West ever since several hundred years ago It has long become universally accepted formal wear and even survived the vicissitudes of garment style intact Nevertheless nobody can tell if the tradition of wearing the stiff and formal Western style suit will end up being broken by the upsurge of popular casual wear In the final analysis people prefer ease and comfort to any form of affectation and pretence 要点 1 衣冠沐猴 即 人类打扮的猴子 意译为 乔装打扮 dress up as suach 2 这种包装在西方已定型几百年 译为 The Western style suit with leather shoes and necktie to go with it is a kind of packaging that has taken shape in the West ever since several hundred years ago 其中 to go with it 意为 与 相配 也可改用 to match it 3 端着架子的 意思是自高自大 为显示身份而装腔作势 通常用来形容人 现形容装束宜理解为 呆板正式 译为 stiff and formal 综述 除了上述句式 本段一些中国特色的词会比如 蟒袍 乌纱 革履 都是需要记 住的 困水记 何为 Stranded in a Flood He Wei 本月上旬 相隔仅一天 我家老房子先后遭逢两次水灾 旧筑地处繁华市区的 低洼地 多年来常为积水所困 但水漫厨房乃至客厅 登堂入室 以今年这两 次最为严重 尤其是第二次 Early this month my old house was twice flooded within three days Situated in a low lying part of the busy downtown area it has for years been subject to floods But the worst flood occurred this year especially after the second rain without kitchen sitting room and even bedrooms all covered with water 要点 1 题目 困水记 意为 记一次困在洪水里的经历 可译为 Stranded in a Flood 或 Stuck in a Flood 2 相隔仅一天 我家老房子先后遭逢两次水灾 译为 my old house was twice flooded within three days 此处译者并未直译 而是根据意思重新组织行文 译为 我家老房子三天遭了两次水 3 多年来常为积水所困 意即 多年来常被水淹 译为 it has for years been subject to floods 4 登堂入室 比喻学问或技能从浅到深 达到很高的水平 但此处作者取的是 它字面上的意思 即 使客厅乃至卧室都浸在水里 综述 依照原文的意思 从写作的高度重新组织行文在翻译中是很重要的一个 技巧 只有多加练习 不断提高自己的双语水平 才能更加自如的运营 是日 上午十点许 出门上街到对马路的医院治眼疾 不久就听到雨声雷声 顷刻间窗外白茫茫的雨水混沌一片 百年罕见的特大暴雨 狂泻如瀑布 如山 洪暴发 雨水的急骤猛烈 雨量之大 真是惊心动魄 On the morning of that day I went to the hospital on the other side of the street at about 10 o clock to see an eye doctor Soon a fierce thunderstorm broke out and I saw a vast expanse of foamy floodwater outside the window It was an exceptionally serious rainstorm dashing down like a cataract or mountain torrents What a scary scene 要点 本段主要是对于暴雨的描写 1 顷刻间窗外白茫茫的雨水混沌一片 中的 白茫茫 是指由于雨势过猛而产生 的泡沫 因此译为 foamy 泡沫的 起泡沫的 2 dash down 意为 冲下来 dash 意为 猛冲 匆忙完成 使破灭 用在此处很形 象地表现了洪水暴雨的猛烈之势 之前我们在 我的书斋生活 中也见到过它 的另一个词组 dash off 意为 匆忙完成 治病购药完毕 只能在候诊大厅呆等 病人都被突如其来的狂风暴雨困住了 坐在我旁边的一位七十多岁病者 为坐困水城频频叹气 此公听说多年前我住 过的羁旅之 地 顿时眉飞色舞提高嗓门 大说其福州话 原来他是福州人 说 起当地的一连串风味小吃 两人如数家珍 谈得津津有味 话一停 发现外面 的陆地成了海洋 于是只能坐下来再谈榕城风情 借以消磨时间 The patients were stranded by the sudden downpour All we could do was sit in the big hospital waiting room after having the prescriptions filled Sitting by my side was a patient in his seventies He kept sighing over the nasty weather Learning that I had been a dweller of Fuzhou many years ago he brightened up at once and began to speak the Fuzhou dialect loudly He turned out to be a native of Fuzhou We began to chat with relish about the typical local delicacies of Fuzhou like we were enumerating our family treasures Then during a break in the conversation we found the streets submerged by water so we had to sit down and resume chatting about Fuzhou so as to while away the time 要点 1 购药完毕 意即 配完药 译为 after having the prescription filled 2 为坐困水城频频叹气 译者依旧是上升到理解的高度 译为 He kept sighing over the nasty weather 即 为这恶劣的天气而不断叹气 3 如数家珍 意即 好象数自己家藏的珍宝那样清楚 比喻对所讲的事情十分 熟悉 译为 like we were enumerating our family treasures 4 再谈榕城风情 即 重新讨论福州 译为 resume chatting about Fuzhou 5 消磨时间 译为 while away the time 其中 while away 也可换为 wear down fritter away idle away 综述 本段句式不难 需要注意的是一些四字词的翻译 如 眉飞色舞 津津有 味 如数家珍 等等 暴雨来势虽猛 其实时间并不太长 由于苦等心焦 感到这场雨像是没完没了 终于有人试探地撑着伞向雨街走去 我也跟着起步踏上归程 The violent storm did not last long at all But it seemed interminable due to my impatience At last as I saw someone venture into the wet street under an umbrella I just followed suit 要点 1 我也跟着起步踏上归程 即 我也跟着这样做 译为 I just followed suit 医院的边门距我家不过一箭之遥 过马路不远就是我家的弄堂口 这一段路历 年来不知翻修过多少次 无奈下大雨积水为患 始终没有解决 这一天路面更 是大水泛滥 水深及膝 我别无选择 只能穿着皮鞋在泽国中小心翼翼地蹒跚 而行 It s only a stone s throw from the hospital to my home which is situated at the entrance of a lane across the street The section of the street here has undergone repair I don t know how many times in recent years yet it still bloods whenever there is a rain Now on that day it was flooded knee deep because of an especially heavy rain All I could do was stagger along cautiously in the deep water in my leather shoes 要点 1 医院的边门距我家不过一箭之遥 中的 一箭之遥 意即 相当于一箭射程的 距离 比喻相距不远 译为 It s only a stone s throw from the hospital to my home 2 历年来不知翻修过多少次 译为 has undergone repair I don t know how many times in recent years 其中 I don t know how 是常见的一个插入语 通常出现在 有 不知 字眼的句中 例如在 我坐了木船 中 跑了不知多少趟 也应用了此 类表达 译为 After making you don t know how many visits 3 这一天路面更是大水泛滥 水深及膝 译为 Now on that day it was flooded knee deep because of an especially heavy rain 注意 大水泛滥 和 水深及膝 的隐含 因果关系 偏偏最近又在修路 通行的只是一半马路 路上坑坑洼洼高高低低 过马路又 必须从丁字路口绕道过去 行人很少 我颤巍巍地涉水步行 忽然想起自己的 年龄 小时 候 总感到年龄属于七老八十的长辈们 与自己无关 我的祖父六 十岁时早已蓄须 不免显得老态 那时我只有十岁 现在我年已八十 在浑浊 的水中 有如滚滚浪 潮中的一叶孤舟 我闪避汽车开过的泥水飞溅 艰难地过 马路 进弄堂 推入家门 厨房里满地积水 过道上也是积水 甚至地面较高 的客堂后间也浸满大水 除了 冰箱已提前移开 家具都被水淹 我只有望洋兴 叹 It happened that the street was under repair with only half of it for free passage but full of bumps and hollows One had to make a detour at a T juncture There were few pedestrians As I tottered through the water I suddenly thought of my age When I was a kid I used to think that age had nothing to do with me and associated it instead only with my elders in their seventies or eighties When I was ten my grandpa at sixty looked quite old for his age because of the beard he was wearing Now as an octogenarian I was like a solitary small boat drifting at the mercy of a large flow of muddy water I barely managed to cross the street taking care to dodge the muddy water splashed over by cars At last I entered the lane and pushing open the door of my house I found the kitchen the passageway and even the place behind the drawing room all flooded All furniture except the fridge that had been previously moved elsewhere was soaking wet I felt simply helpless 要点 1 偏偏 采用固定句式 It happened that 2 总感到年龄属于七老八十的长辈们 译为 associated it instead only with my elders in their seventies or eighties 3 我的祖父六十岁时早已蓄须 不免显得老态 译为 my grandpa at sixty looked quite old for his age because of the beard he was wearing 注意句中的隐含因 果关系 4 现在我年已八十 在浑浊的水中 有如滚滚浪潮中的一叶孤舟 Now as an octogenarian I was like a solitary small boat drifting at the mercy of a large flow of muddy water 其中 drifting at the mercy of 属增益成分 意为 在 支配下漂泊 5 我只有望洋兴叹 译为 I felt simply helpless 即 我只感到无可奈何 综述 浸 泡 作为本文出镜率较高的词值得引起重视 译者用了不同的词来 表达 如 soak immerse submerge 等 这次去医院不足三小时 大部分时间都在归途上荡漾的水中度过 上了年纪 老年性疾病相继袭来 生活中不少时光都消耗在医院里 两个月前不慎伤脚 竟缠上石 膏 石膏长靴 刚除去 现在又遇水灾 一个目力不济的八十老翁 无人扶持 不用拐杖 摇摇晃晃在大水中跋涉 似乎有几分勇敢 也有几分悲 壮 被无情的岁月推入老龄社会的众多老者 过着凡夫俗子的生活 惟有自勉自励 加强自我保护意识 坚强地在人生道路上向前走去 否则又如何 Altogether it took me less than three hours to see the doctor but a greater part of the time was spent in wading through the floodwater on my way home People advanced in age are liable to various kinds of senile disease That s why they spend a lot of time in going to hospital Two months ago I had one of my legs in plaster after injuring it through carelessness Now with the plaster cast removed I was harassed by a flood I t seemed a bit of an act of bravery for me an 80 year old man with impaired eyesight to totter through the floodwater without a helping hand or a walking stick Yet it s something of stirring tragedy too Many who have been forced into the ageing society by inexorable time are now living the life of common people They need more self encouragement and more awareness of self protection and should live on with a strong will What else can they do 要点 1 老年性疾病相继袭来 即 更容易患上各种老年性疾病 译为 are liable to various kinds of senile disease 2 缠上石膏 意即 上了石膏 译为 have in paster 3 石膏长靴 指 石膏绷带 可译为 plaster cast 或 plaster bandge 4 也有几分悲壮 译为 Yet it s something of stirring tragedy too 悲壮 意为 声音 诗文等 悲哀而雄壮 情节 悲哀而壮烈 文中取第二种意思 译为 stirring tragedy 5 否则又如何 可译为 What else can they do 或 What can they do otherwise 综述 本文感情真挚 语言流畅 总体来说难度不大 注意四字词以及摆脱行 文束缚 从写作的高度重新组织语言的技巧 另外 本文在灵活使用动词方面 也是值得大家学习的 散书偶感 何为 Random Thoughts on Giving away Books Hei Wei 乍一听来 散书 的说法很费解 那天京华老友在长话中说 他们有些上年纪 的同行 正在散书或考虑散书 他就是其中的一个 原来 散书 之说 出自一 位德高 望重的世纪老人 前辈作家 大意谓少年是集书的时候 老年是散书的 时候 是啊 人到老年 有些事不能不考虑该如何处理了 The idea of giving away one s books sounds rather puzzling at first The other day my friend Jing Huatold me over the long distance that some of his elderly colleagues were giving away or considering giving away the books they owned and that he himself was doing the same The idea originated with a venerable old veteran writer who said something to the effect that youth is the time for collecting books and old age for giving away books Yes getting on in years one needs to ponder over the question of how to deal with certain things in life 要点 1 偶感 即 突然兴起的感想 或 随机的感想 译为 random thoughts 即可 2 在长话中说 即 在长途电话中说 译为 told me over the long distance 其中 the long distance the long distance phone call 3 大意谓 即 大意指 或 大概意思是说 译为 something to the effect that 这个表 达在第一册也出现过 说明还是比较常用的 4 getting on in years 意为 上了年纪 如 I am getting on in years and have difficulty getting about 我已步垂老之年 行动多有不便 综述 本段有些词需要深入理解 注意 上了年纪 的表达 散书也是近年来我常常想到的问题 我的所谓藏书 实在并无足道 不过从幼 时学文开始 数十年文学生涯中 相偕而来的书日益增多 现在隻能将书刊杂 乱地到处堆置 倘若集中起来 也是一个小小的书城 In recent years I too have often turned over in my mind the question of books though in fact my so called private library is not worth mentioning Nevertheless it has kept accumulating in the scores of years of my literary career Now piled up in a jumble here and there in my house they add up to quite a large number though 要点 1 散书也是近年来我常常想到的问题 译为 In recent years I too have often turned over in my mind the question of books 其中 turn over in my mind 意为 在 我脑海里翻转 此处表示 常常想到 生动 2 我的所谓藏书 与前文组成让步的关系 增译关联词 though 使行文结构 更加清晰 3 倘若集中起来 也是一个小小的书城 意即 然而 这些书 加起来的数量 也是很可观的 译为 they add up to quite a large number though 综述 turn over in my mind 以及第三点 都显示出了译者不拘于原文 从写作角度出 发来组织译文的 境界 值得学习 那年我的工作调到福州 搬家最苦最累的是搬书 到福州数年 文革 期间我 的书幸而未遭劫 及至下放到偏僻的闽北山区 全部书籍都随卡车装去 那真 是一种磨 难 两年后忽又调回省城 于是所有的书又装车回到福州 长途漫漫 车上驮着沉重的书 山一程 水一程 书上沾着山野的露水 带着青草的味 直至数年后 那整箱整箱的书又运回上海 重返我离去的地方 以我多年的生 命 绕了一个难以索解的怪圈 全靠我家老二的强劳力和灵巧聪慧 才能保全 颠沛流离中的旧书 在焚书的年代 保存旧书无异是一笔小财富 Years ago when I was transferred to a new post in Fuzhou the capital city of Fujian Province the removal of my books gave me a big headache During the several years when I was in that city my books were lucky enough to survive the disaster of the so called Cultural Revolution But whenI was sent to do manual labour in the remote mountains of northern Fujian all the books had to go with me by truck which plunged me into a world of trouble Two years later when I was suddenly transferred back to Fuzhou the books had to be loaded on a truck again fora long ride over mountains and rivers exposing themselves to the dew drops of the mountain area and inhaling the aroma of green grass It was not until some years later that the books then packed in boxes were at last transported back to Shanghai the place where I had originally come from I owe the safety of my books to the efforts of my second son who is physically strong and bright and clever Books that have survived the age of obscurantism are without doubt an invaluable asset 要点 1 搬家最苦最累的是搬书 译为 the removal of my books gave me a big headache 译者避免了直译的啰嗦 巧妙地将原文意思表现了出来 2 下放到偏僻的闽北山区 译为 I was sent to do manual labour in the remote mountains of northern Fujian 译者在此用 do manual labour 为 下放 做了一个小 小的解释 便于外国读者理解 3 长途漫漫 车上驮着沉重的书 山一程 水一程 将意思整合下 合译为 a long ride over mountains and rivers 简洁流畅 4 焚书的年代 可译为 the age of book burning 现译 the age of obscurantism 愚昧 综述 本段虽长 但语言都比较容易理解 因此难度不大 但若要译得和张爷爷 一样流畅 还需要费费脑细胞 这些旧书伴随我一生 在我的人生道路上相伴愈久 依恋之情也愈深 一般说 来 私人藏书大致可分三类 待读又不可不读的书 可读可不读的书 不读的 书 最后一类最简单 论斤卖掉当纸浆即可 第二类最难处理 大体上总要过 目一遍 常常为一本书的去留煞费踌躇 书是有感情的 总是藕断丝连的依依 不舍 恨起来快刀斩乱麻统统散掉 我年轻时曾说过 书是最忠实的 只要你 不离弃 它永不背叛你 啊 我的书 All my books are my life long companions The longer the companionship the more profound my attachment for them Generally speaking there are three kinds of books in my private collection namely books for required reading that have not yet been read books for optional reading and books unworthy of reading Books of the last kind can be disposed of easily that is by selling them off cheap as waster paper bound for the pulp mill The second kind of books are most difficult to handle I generally give a glance into them before making a difficult decision on whether to keep them or not Books are emotional and always reluctant to part from me And sometimes in a fit of impatience I will even feel like resolutely doing away them all at once As I said in my young days books