英語和漢語一般都有對應的語匯或習語,然而在處理具體問題時,常常不能完全對應。下面我們來看看一些例子。
比如漢語習慣稱亞洲“四小龍”,英語雖然可譯成the Asian “four dragons”,但西方人大都叫the Asian “four tigers”或“four tigers” in Asia,因為在西方人的眼里,dragon是一種類似鱷魚或蛇、長有翅膀而且會噴火、常常看守著金銀財寶的怪物。
成語和諺語更難對應了,有時甚至連原文的蹤跡都沒有了,如 “Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs”,如果按照字面直譯成“不要教你的奶奶磕雞蛋”,讓人看了會莫名其妙。要是意譯為“不要班門弄斧”,就既表達了原意,也符合漢語習慣。
和漢語一樣,英語的成語也很多,但其中大部分都很難對譯成漢語成語,這時一般采取意譯。如:
1.Like talking to a brick wall(對牛彈琴,瞎子點燈白費蠟),意為to waste one's breath trying to persuade someone who is so obstinate to listen to reason;例句:He is so dogmatic; it's like talking to a brick wall arguing with him.
2.To make bricks without straw(巧婦難為無米之炊),意為to try to achieve some result with inadequate means;例句:We were unable to give you an opinion because you didn't give us the information we needed. We can't make bricks without straw.
3.The rotten apple(害群之馬,敗家之子)意為the one bad person among a number of good ones;例句:His youngest son was the rotten apple.
4.To pay back in the same coin, to pay sb. back in his own coin, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,(以眼還眼,以牙還牙,以其人之道還治其人之身)意為to retaliate by using the same method;例句:Jukes has attacked us in his advertisement overseas; we will pay him back in the same coin.
5.To have a heart of gold(有一副菩薩心腸)意為to be a kind, generous, forgiving person whose qualities are much appreciated.
6.Walls have ears(隔墻有耳)意為You must be very careful what you say because someone may be eavesdropping.
在漢譯英時同樣應注意這一點。1992年北京國際拍賣會手冊上有一位領導人的題詞是:一錘定音,雙方買賣即成。我的譯文是:A hammer gives the final word, and a deal is concluded between the buyer and seller.“一錘定音”幾個字很形象,但比較難處理。拍賣的實際操作是由拍賣主錘師用木錘敲桌梆的形式來決定交易,而不是“成交”之類的話語。因此同時采用了直譯和意譯兩種手法,即:一(A hammer)、雙方買賣即成交(a deal is concluded between the buyer and seller)和定音(gives the final word)。這里用“final word”(或final say)指“拍板”,“敲定”,即決定下來,這樣處理既忠實原文又生動貼切。
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