翁海頻 王燕
【摘要】論讀書是英國文藝復興時期散文家、哲學家弗朗西斯·培根的作品,于1653年發(fā)表,并收錄于《培根隨筆》中。作者旨在對王佐良譯本進行分析,首先從翻譯方法與技巧入手,再對翻譯特點進行總結,以此剖析王佐良先生譯本的獨到之處。
【關鍵詞】論讀書;王佐良;翻譯方法與技巧;翻譯風格
【Abstract】Of study is an important article included in a book entitled “Bacons essay, published in 1653 by Francis Bacon, a British writer. This present paper aims to make analysis of the articles Chinese translation by Wang Zuoliang in terms of translation method and technique as well as its translation characteristics in order to decompose its uniqueness.
【Key words】Of study; Wang Zuoliang; translation method and technique; translation characteristics
【作者簡介】翁海頻,王燕(通訊作者),重慶醫(yī)科大學外國語學院。
一、引言
論讀書是英國文藝復興時期散文家、哲學家弗朗西斯·培根的作品,于1653年發(fā)表,并收錄于《培根隨筆》中?!杜喔S筆》是英國隨筆文學的開山之作,以其簡潔的語言、優(yōu)美的文筆、透徹的說理、迭出的警句,在世界文學史上占據(jù)了非常重要的地位。
全文 503 字,卻涵義深廣,富有哲理。文中多處采用排比或對偶,也有很多格言式的句子,給翻譯增加了難度。(龔家慧,2016)
《論讀書》一文是培根散文的代表作,是論述學習、教育的語篇。在詞匯方面,培根使用了許多古英語及拉丁語,如“makths”、“doth not”、“Nay”、“Abeunt studia in mores”等等,同時作者為了展現(xiàn)平衡之美,使用了平行并列結構,即由兩個意義相近或相關的詞匯,用“and”,“but”“nor”等詞匯手段連接,組成平行并列結構,如:“to find talk and discourse”;“be chewed and digested”;“with diligence and attention”等。名言警句的引用是《論讀書》的又一特點。名言警句是人生經驗和規(guī)律的總結,具有教育意義,能夠起到鼓勵人激勵人警示人的作用,并使文章說理更加充分有說服力。在句法方面,原文簡單句、并列復合句以及排比句相間交替使用,使得文章結構層次清晰,說理氣勢充沛。此外,文中較少使用人稱代詞,以增強文章的客觀性及正式性。這些詞匯及句法特征體現(xiàn)了文章正式、莊重、典雅的文體特點。在修辭方面,文中大量使用排比句。用排比來說理,可以收到條理分明的效果;增強語言的氣勢和韻律美。同時文中還相間使用比喻的修辭手段,可使說理生動形象具體可感,以此引發(fā)讀者聯(lián)想和想象,給人以鮮明深刻的印象,并使語言文采斐然,富有很強的感染力??傊喔倪@篇散文語言簡潔,文筆優(yōu)美,警句迭出,在世界文學史上占據(jù)了非常重要的地位。
二、翻譯風格
《談讀書》譯本眾多,王佐良先生以半文半白的文體,精湛地譯出培根散文簡約的風格,譯出培根自信的口吻,古色古香的文字中,飽含著人生的經驗和智慧。
王佐良先生一生著作、譯作豐富。一方面,他對文學研究抱有罕見的熱情?!八闹骷攘钊烁呱窖鲋?,又親切動人。”(李賦寧 1996: 4)王佐良在外國文學研究上最重要的學術貢獻在于對英國文學史(包括詩史、散文史、小說史、戲劇史等)的研究和撰著。著有The Literary Reputation of John Webster, Degrees of Affinity: Studies in Comparative Literature, 《英國文學論文集》,《英語文體學論文集》,《照瀾集》,《風格和風格的背后》等。另一方面,王佐良利用有限的時間從事翻譯研究與實踐,并自謙為“一個業(yè)余翻譯者”。他的譯作有《彭斯詩選》,《蘇格蘭詩選》,《英國詩文選譯集》,Thunderstorm(曹禺《雷雨》英譯)等。
王佐良先生《談讀書》的譯本體現(xiàn)了功能對等的特點。
“動態(tài)對等”翻譯是奈達的最主要的翻譯觀。他認為,對等可以分為兩種,形式對等和動態(tài)對等 。(Nida,Eugene A.Toward a science of translating,1964)因此,我們可以得知,動態(tài)對等也就是兩種語言之間不僅應該是意義的對等,而且還是文體風格和語言特點的對等,以及還要使譯文給讀者心靈上的反響與原文對讀者內心所激發(fā)的情感對等。奈達與德瓦爾( De War) 合著的《從一種語言到另一種語言:論圣經翻譯中的功能對等》一書中把“動態(tài)對等”改為“功能對等”( Functional Equivalence) 。而功能對等更突顯出的是翻譯的語用與交際功能 。(Nida,Eugene A &C; R Taber. The theory and practice of translation,1969)奈達定義的原文是: Translating consists in re-producing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source - language message,first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. 這個定義的正確譯文應是: 翻譯是首先在意義上,其次在風格上用接收語再現(xiàn)源語信息最接近的、自然的對應信息( 或相當信息) 。
從“動態(tài)對等論”看,王佐良先生《論讀書》的譯文在詞匯、句法、修辭及行文風格等諸方面都做到了對等。
1.詞匯對等。
原文:for delight,for ornament,and for ability
譯文:怡情,傅彩,長才
原文:a full man; a ready man; an exact man.
譯文:充實、機智、準確。
原文:Histories,poems,mathematics,natural philosophy,moral,logic and rhetoric
譯文:讀史,讀詩,數(shù)學,科學,倫理學,邏輯修辭之學。
原文:Bowling,shooting,gentle walking,riding
譯文:滾球,射箭,漫步,騎術。
2.句法對等。
原文:Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
譯文:讀書足以怡情,足以傅彩,足以長才。
原文:Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business.
譯文:其怡情也,最見于獨處幽居之時;其傅彩也,最見于高談闊論之中;其長才也,最見于處世判事之際。
原文:To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affection; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar.
譯文:讀書費時過多易惰,文采藻飾太盛則矯,全憑條文斷事乃學究故態(tài)。
原文:Crafty men contemn studies, simply men admire them, and wise men use them;
譯文:有一技之長者鄙讀書,無知者羨讀書,唯明智之士用讀書。
原文:Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and swallowed, but to weigh and consider.
譯文:讀書時不可存心詰難作者,不可盡信書上所言,亦不可尋章摘句,而應推敲細思。
原文:Some books are to be tasted,others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
譯文:書有可淺嘗者,有可吞食者,少數(shù)則需咀嚼消化。換言之,有只須讀其部分者,有只須大體涉獵者,少數(shù)則須全讀,讀時須全神貫注,孜孜不倦。
原文:Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking fro the stomach; riding for the head; and the like.
譯文:滾球利睪腎,射箭利胸肺,漫步利腸胃,騎術利頭腦,諸如此類。
原文:So if a mans wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are crymini sectores: if he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers cases.
譯文:如智力不集中,可令讀數(shù)學,蓋演算須全神貫注,稍有分散即須重演;如不能辨異,可令讀經院哲學,蓋此輩皆吹毛求疵之人;如不善求同,不善以一物闡證另一物,可令讀律師之案卷。
運用排比說理,可將道理說得充分透徹。因此,運用排比說理有很強的說服力,能夠增強文章表達效果與氣勢,深化中心。而王佐良先生的譯文,與培根原文風格吻合,體現(xiàn)了奈達翻譯“功能對等”原則。
原文: else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things.
譯文: 否則書經提煉猶如水經蒸餾,味同嚼蠟矣。
原文: Some books are to be tasted,others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is , some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
譯文: 書有可淺嘗者,有可吞食者,少數(shù)則需咀嚼消化。換言之,有只須讀其部分者,有只須大體涉獵者,少數(shù)則須全讀,讀時須全神貫注,孜孜不倦。
原文: Nay, there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises.
譯文: 人之才智但有滯礙,無不可讀適當之書使之順暢,一如身體百病,皆可借相宜之運動除之。
用比喻來對某某事物的特征進行描繪和渲染,可使事物生動形象具體可感,以此引發(fā)讀者聯(lián)想和想象,給人以鮮明深刻的印象,并使語言文采斐然,富有很強的感染力。此外,比喻還可以使深刻抽象的道理淺顯、具體地表達出來。王佐良先生的譯本,與培根的風格吻合,體現(xiàn)了奈達翻譯“功能對等”原則。
三、翻譯方法與技巧
為了達到動態(tài)對等,王佐良先生的譯本采用了轉性譯法、增詞譯法、省詞譯法、轉態(tài)譯法等翻譯方法。
1.轉性譯法。轉性譯法是翻譯中常用的翻譯方法。所謂轉性譯法,即在翻譯過程中,根據(jù)譯文語言習慣,進行詞性轉換,例如:把原文中的名詞轉換成動詞,把原文中的副詞轉換成介詞,等等。(馮慶華,2010,p66) 例如:“Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.”(名詞-動詞),“ 讀書足以怡情,足以傅彩,足以長才?!蓖踝袅枷壬鷮⒚~: delight, ornament, ability 分別譯為動詞結構“怡情, 傅彩, 長才”。 “Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring;for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business.”(名詞-動詞),“其怡情也,最見于獨處幽居之時;其傅彩也,最見于高談闊論之中;其長才也,最見于處世判事之際?!蓖踝袅枷壬鷮⒚~ privateness and retiring, discourse, the judgment,and disposition of business 分別譯為動詞“獨處幽居、高談闊論、處世判事”?!癝o if a man's wit be wandering”,(動詞-形容詞)“如智力不集中”。王佐良先生將動詞wander譯為形容詞“(不)集中”
2.增詞譯法。所謂增詞譯法,即在原文基礎上,添加必要單詞、詞組、分句或完整句,從而使譯文在語法、語言形式上符合譯文習慣和在文化背景、詞語聯(lián)想方面與原文一致,使譯文與原文在內容、形式和精神等三方面都對等起來。(馮慶華,2010,p58) 例如:“For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs come best from those that are learned.” “練達之士雖能分別處理細事或一一判別枝節(jié),然縱觀統(tǒng)籌、全局策劃,則舍好學深思者莫屬?!蓖踝袅枷壬诜g中添加“分別”、“舍......莫屬”,使譯文語言形式上符合漢語習慣并符合原文古樸典雅之風格?!癛ead not to contradict and confute;” “讀書時不可存心詰難讀者;”王佐良先生為“contradict and confute”增加賓語“作者”,使原本易于產生歧義的句子,意義清晰明確?!癟heir chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring;for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business.”“其怡情也,最見于獨處幽居之時;其傅彩也,最見于高談闊論之中;其長才也,最見于處世判事之際?!蓖踝袅枷壬诜g中添加“之時”“之中”“之際”,以示強調。“for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning (pruning) by study;”“蓋天生才干猶如自然花草,讀書然后知如何修剪移接,”王佐良先生在翻譯中添加原文中雖無形式但意在其中的“然后”,使譯文銜接流暢。
3.省詞譯法。所謂省詞譯法,即把原文中需要而譯文中不需要的單詞、詞組等在翻譯中省略。這種省詞譯法一般是出于譯文語法和習慣表達法需要。從一定的意義上來講,增詞譯法中的規(guī)律反過來就是省詞譯法的規(guī)律。(馮慶華,2010,p61)例如:“And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit;and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not.”“因此不常作筆記者須記憶特強,不常討論者須天生聰穎,不常讀書者須欺世有術,始能無知而顯有知?!蓖踝袅枷壬谧g文中省略連詞if,使譯文更簡練,更符合漢語表達習慣?!癟hey perfect nature, and are perfected by experience:”“讀書補天然之不足,(而)經驗又補讀書之不足,”王佐良先生在譯文中省略連詞and,符合漢語語法和表達習慣。 “Nay there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies:”“人之才智但有滯礙,(但)無不可讀適當之書使之順暢,”王佐良先生在譯文中省略連詞but,符合漢語語言習慣以及原文簡練之風格。
4.轉態(tài)譯法。所謂轉態(tài)譯法,即在翻譯過程中把原文中的被動語態(tài)轉換為譯文中的主動語態(tài),或把原文中的主動語態(tài)轉換為譯文中的被動語態(tài)。一般來說,無論是書面語中,還是口語中,英語比漢語用更多的被動語態(tài)。英語中那些被動語態(tài)在翻譯成漢語時,我們可以根據(jù)漢語語言習慣把被動語態(tài)轉換為主動語態(tài)。(馮慶華,2010,p98)例如,“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”“書有可淺嘗者,有可吞食者,少數(shù)則須咀嚼消化。換言之,有只須讀其部分者,有只須大體涉獵者,少數(shù)則須全讀,讀時須全神貫注,孜孜不倦?!蓖踝袅枷壬鷮⒃闹械谋粍愚D化為漢語的主動形式,使譯文符合漢語表達習慣?!癮nd studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.” “而書中所示,如不以經驗范之,則又大而無當。”王佐良先生的譯文用漢語的主動形式,通過“以”表達原文這種被動關系?!癟hey perfect nature, and are perfected by experience:”“讀書補天然之不足,經驗又補讀書之不足:”王佐良先生出于譯文前后銜接的需要,把原文的被動語態(tài)譯成了漢語的主動形式,使行文更加流暢。
四、結論
動態(tài)對等理論將翻譯的視角由“忠實”和“通順”引發(fā)的爭論轉向了兩種語言之間在意義、文體風格以及語言特點的對等。采用文言風格的王先生的譯本,在詞匯、句法以及修辭等諸方面體現(xiàn)出功能對等的特點,重現(xiàn)了培根散文凝練優(yōu)美的特色??梢哉f,從王佐良先生的《論讀書》譯本來看,王先生做到了與培根原文的“動態(tài)對等”。
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