A Place Without Autumn Insects叶圣陶Ye Shengtao🔥背景知识：《没有秋虫的地方》是叶圣陶早期的一篇散文。文章通过描写秋虫汇集的乡间，来衬托没有秋虫的都市庭院生活的枯燥乏味。作者夹叙夹议，倾谈「心如槁木不如工愁善感」的哲理。🎈「秋虫」主要指「蟋蟀」（crickets），现直译为autumn insects，取其广义。阶前看不见一茎绿草，窗外望不见一只蝴蝶，谁说是鹁鸽箱里的生活，鹁鸽未必这样趣味干燥呢。Not a single blade of green grass beyond the doorsteps, nor a single butterfly outside the window. It is a place even more dry and dull than a pigeon house.🎈「阶前看不见一茎绿草，窗外望不见一只蝴蝶」此句的译文中并未出现动词，并且将否定词置于句首，简洁地道。🎈「谁说是鹁鸽箱里的生活，鹁鸽未必这样趣味干燥呢」意即「鹁鸽箱里的生活未必这样趣味干燥」。其中「鹁鸽」为「传书之鸽」，本应译为carrier pigeon或homing pigeon，现笼统译为pigeon即可。秋天来了，记忆就轻轻提示道：“凄凄切切的秋虫又要响起来了。”The advent of autumn has vaguely reminded me of the season’s insects once again chirping plaintively.🎈对于这句话，是不是会有小伙伴处理成两句句子呢？但是呢，转换一下词性就可以变成一句话啦！记住，词性转换是翻译必备技巧。每次落笔前，想一想这儿需不需要变个词性呢？经过整理，这句话就变成了「秋天的到来使我想起秋虫凄凄切切的叫声」。其中译者并未直接译出「记忆」一词，而是通过remind sb of词组来表达其含义。来，又是这个熟悉的话语~没错，虽无其词却有其意！汉译英“换主语”的操作也是经常会有的！🎈「轻轻地」一词并未直译为「gently」「lightly」等词，而是选用了与记忆有关的vaguely一词。用词精妙，大家可以细品。可是一点影响也没有，邻舍儿啼人闹，弦歌杂作的深夜，街上轮震石响，邪许并起的清晨，However, so far none of it is heard. All I hear late at night is the din from the houses in the neighbourhood — crying of babies, hubbub of grown-ups and confused noise of music and song. And all I hear in the early morning is the rumble of vehicles on the stone pavements and the simultaneous yo-ho of labourers on the streets. 🎈「一点影响也没有」意即「一点鸣声也没有」，故译为none of it is heard，其中「it」是指前面的insects once again chirping plaintively。🎈「儿啼人闹，弦歌杂作」「轮震石响，邪许并起」一组词语从主谓结构变成了偏正结构哭闹的婴儿，交谈的大人，嘈杂的音乐，隆隆隆隆作响的车辆，齐声高喊的工人：「crying of babies, hubbub of grown-ups and confused noise of music and song」「the rumble of vehicles and the simultaneous yo-ho of labourers 」🎈「邪许」的读音为「yé xǔ」，乃拟声词，指劳动时众人一齐用力所发出的呼声，英语的对等词为yo-ho。遇到这类词的翻译时，我们需要充分了解背景知识，知晓其含义，再在目的语中找到最为贴切的词语。无论你靠着枕儿听，凭着窗沿听，甚至贴着墙角听，总听不到一丝的秋虫的声息。You hear no insects chirping however you try, by leaning your head on the pillow, over the window, or against the wall.🎈「靠着枕儿，凭着窗，贴着窗」皆转换为介词on, over, against，中文动词转换为英文介词是一个常见现象。并不是被那些欢乐的劳困的宏大的清亮的声音淹没了，以致听不出来，乃是这里本没有秋虫这东西。Not because, drowned by the overwhelming din of merry-making or suffering, it has thus become inaudible, but because this place is utterly devoid of autumn insects.🎈「欢乐的劳困的宏大的清亮的声音」此句前置定语非常长，所以翻译时就要做出一些转变，故译为the overwhelming din of merry-making or suffering。一开始碰到这样的转变时，可能会觉得有点难（我当初也是，怎么自己写出来的和参考译文永远不大一样），但是遇到的次数多了，心里自然而然就会做出判断：哦，这儿是不是该做些转变，然后译文才会更地道些？呵，不容留秋虫的地方！秋虫所不屑留的地方！O a place leaving no room for autumn insects! Or rather a place where the insects themselves disdain to stay!🎈「秋虫所不屑留的地方」译为Or rather a place where the insects themselves disdain to stay，其中Or rather是成语，作「更确切地说」解，为译文中的添加成分，使全句成为前面一句的补充。where引导的是一个定语从句，而非状语从句。🎈如何区分where引导的是定语从句还是状语从句？当引导定语从句时，where为从句的关系副词，前有与where相关的先行词。例句I remember a river where there are a lot of ducks in my hometown. 当引导状语从句时，where与前面所出现的名词没有关系，where引导的状语从句单纯作为整个主句的状语成分例句Yesterday I met an old friend where many people were fishing. 若是在鄙野的乡间，这时令满耳是虫声了。At a time like this, if I were in the lowly countryside, I would hear insects all around me.🎈「满耳是虫声」意即「我听到虫子都在我周围」，故译为I would hear insects all around me。🎈「若是在…」译文采用了虚拟语气。虚拟语气的相关时态从句主句与过去事实相反had done would/should/could/might have done与现在事实相反did/ werewould/should/could/might do与将来事实相反did/should do/were to dowould/should/could/might do白天与夜间一样地安闲；There peace and tranquillity prevail day and night.🎈此处「安闲」转换为名词peace and tranquillity。一切人物或动或静，都有自得之趣；All living beings, whether moving or at rest, stand to enjoy life in their own way.🎈「都有自得之趣」意即「都在享受生活」，故译为enjoy life in their own way。嫩暖的阳光或者轻淡的云影覆盖在场上，到夜呢，明耀的星月或者徐缓的凉风看守着整夜，在这境界这时间唯一的足以感动心情的就是虫儿们的合奏。In the daytime, the sun shining warm and cozy with thin clouds floating over the fields, while during the night, the moon and stars hanging bright in the sky with soft breezes cooling the air. The only thing capable of affecting our mood then and there is the chorus by insects.🎈「感动心情」意即「影响心情」，故译为affect our mood。它们高、低、宏、细、疾、徐、作、歇，仿佛曾经过乐师的精心训练，所以这样地无可批评，踌躇满志，Their performance, with a voice high or low, sonorous or piping, quick or slow, sustained or suspended, is flawless and skillful, as if they had undergone thorough training under a music master.🎈「它们高、低、宏、细、疾、徐、作、歇」指的是秋虫的声音，虫鸣声。此处用了performance一褒义词来表达作者心情，「高、低、宏、细、疾、徐、作、歇」则用形容词来修饰声音voice，结构十分工整。🎈「无可挑剔」意即「没有瑕疵，没有差错」，故译为flawless。「踌躇满志」意即「心满意足」或「从容自得的样子」，现结合上下文按「娴熟自如」之意译为「skillful」。其实他们每一个都是神妙的乐师；In fact, each and every one of them is a consummate music master all by itself.🎈此处增译了all by itself，意为秋虫是自己唱出了歌声，并非借助他人之力，就像是自学成才的神妙乐师。众妙毕集，各抒灵趣，那有不成人间绝响的呢。As a constellation of fine artists, they each give full play to their unique talent. No wonder their performance has reached the peak of artistic perfection.🎈「众妙毕集」意即「一群灿烂的艺术家」或「群芳齐集」，故译为a constellation of fine artists。🎈「各抒灵趣」即「各自展示自己的独有才华」，故译为give full play to their unique talent，此处give full play为固定词组「充分发挥」的意思。🎈「那有不成人间绝响的呢」意即「怎会没有艺术巅峰呢」，故译为No wonder their performance has reached the peak of artistic perfection。虽然这些虫声会引起劳人的感叹，秋士的伤怀，独客的微喟，思妇的低泣；但是这正是无上的美的境界，绝好的自然诗篇，It makes toilers sigh with feeling, old forgotten scholars grieve over their luckless past, lonely travellers murmur moodily and solitary women weep silent tears. All that makes for the highest state of beauty on earth and natural poetry of super excellence.🎈「劳人」即「劳苦的人」，故译为toilers。🎈「秋士」指「士之暮年不遇者」，结合上下文译为old forgotten scholars。🎈「独客」指「孤独的旅人」，译为lonely traveller。🎈「思妇」指「怀念丈夫远行的妇女」，译为solitary women。不独是旁人最欢喜吟味的，就是当境者也感受一种酸酸的麻麻的味道，这种味道在一方面是非常隽永的。Not only does it intrigue onlookers, but also brings a bitter feeling to the party concerned. Such a feeling is, to a certain extent, of profound significance.🎈「吟味」即「咏玩味」，故译为intrigue onlookers。🎈「味道」在此处并不指「气味、味道」，而是指「感觉」feeling。🎈party与上文神妙乐师相呼应，好像在开一个派对一样，故当境者译为the party concerned。🎈联系上下文，我们可以发现译文中的it指的是虫声，虫声让人吟咏玩味，让当境者有酸酸麻麻的感觉。大概我们所蕲求的不在于某种味道，只要时时有点儿味道尝尝，就自诩为生活不空虚了。Perhaps what we seek for is not a specific feeling, but just a bit of any feeling now and then, so that we can praise ourselves for living a life free from spiritual barrenness.🎈what we seek for为主语从句🎈此处「味道」同上文一样，也是「感觉、感触」，故译为feeling。假若这味道是甜美的，我们固然含着笑意来体味它；If it happens to be a sweet feeling, let’s savour it with a smile.Q：为何要用happen to be，而不直接用is呢？🎈happen to有恰巧的含义，如果这味道恰好是甜美的，那我们就含笑品味它。所以happen to be 比单独一个be动词更贴切。若是酸苦的，我们也要皱着眉头来辨尝它；这总比淡漠无味胜过百倍。我们以为最难堪而亟欲逃避的，惟有这一个淡漠无味！If it happens to be a bitter feeling, we should still try to taste it, albeit with knitted brows, for it is a hundred times better than absence of any feeling, which is most unbearable and should be avoided by all means.🎈「淡漠无味」意即「缺乏感触」或「麻木不仁」，故译为absence of any feeling。「淡漠无味」接连出现两次，所以就可以整合信息，用非限制性定语从句表达它是most unbearable and should be avoided by all means.。所以心如槁木不如工愁多感，迷蒙的醒不如热的梦，一口苦水胜于一盏白汤，一场痛哭胜于哀乐两忘。Therefore, being sentimental is better than apathetic, having a warm dream is better than becoming a living corpse, drinking a bitter cup is better than a cup of insipid water, having a good cry is better than being insensitive to both sorrow and happiness.🎈「心如槁木」意即「犹心若死灰」，形容不为外物所动的一种精神状态。现多用以形容灰心失意，故译为apathetic。🎈「迷蒙的醒」意即「行尸走肉」，故译为becoming a living corpse。🎈「哀乐两忘」意即「无论悲喜，都无感」，故译为be insensitive to both sorrow and happiness。但这里并不是说愉快乐观是要不得的，清健的醒是不须求的，甜汤是罪恶的，狂笑是魔道的。This does not mean, however, that happiness and optimism are no good, healthy wakefulness is undesirable, sweets of life are evil and hearty laughter is vicious.🎈此处可以注意一下however的位置。无论翻译还是写作中，我们可以和译者一样将however置于句中，而不是一味的放在句首。🎈「甜汤」意即「美好的生活」，故译为sweets of life。这里只说有味总比淡漠远胜罢了。What I mean here is that susceptibility is always preferable to insensibility.🎈此句意即「我的意思是，敏感远比麻木可取」。故译为What I mean here is that susceptibility is always preferable to insensibility。所以虫声终于是足系恋念的东西。Hence, the insects’s song is something we always long for.🎈we always long for作为定语从句修饰something，省略了that。又况劳人、秋士、独客、思妇以外还有无量的人，他们当然也是酷嗜味道的，当这凉意微逗的时候，谁能不忆起那妙美的秋之音乐？In addition to the above-mentioned toilers, old forgotten scholars,lonely travellers and solitary women, innumerable other people are equally susceptible. With a chill in the air, who wouldn’t think of the beautiful music of autumn?🎈上文提及劳人、秋士、独客、思妇这些人皆易受到虫声的影响，而「无量的人也酷嗜味道」的意思便是「许多人也同样容易受到影响」，故译为innumerable other people are equally susceptible。🎈「秋之音乐」进行了偏正结构的变化，译成the beautiful music of autumn。可是没有，绝对没有！But none of it exits. Absolutely none!🎈it仍然指的是秋虫的声音井底似的庭院，铅色的水门汀地，秋虫早已避去惟恐不速了。The courtyard is as still as the bottom of a well, the cement ground is leaden. Insects have long been keeping clear of a place like this.🎈「井底似的庭院」一定很安静，所以增译still。🎈「水门汀地」便是「水泥地」，故译为cement ground。🎈keep clear of为固定词组，避开🎈have been doing现在完成进行时强调一直延续的动作。而我们没有它们的翅膀与大腿，不能飞又不能跳，还是死守在这里。Without their wings and legs, we cannot fly or leap as they do. We have to stick to this place.🎈stick to 意为坚守，坚持想到“井底”与“铅色”，觉得象征的意味丰富极了。How pregnant with meaning are the two expressions — “the bottom of a well” and “leaden”!🎈此处了使用了感叹句。感叹句的格式还记得吗？How+ adj/adv+S.+v= what+(a/an)+n.+S+v.例句How wonderful the football match is!What a wonderful football match is!🔥必背词汇blade n. 〔草的〕叶片，草叶英义blade of grass a single thin flat piece of grass例句a blade of grass 一片草叶 advent n. (重要事件、人物、发明等的)出现，到来英义the coming of an important event, person, invention, etc. 例句the advent of new technology 新技术的出现plaintive adj. (声音)悲伤的，哀怨的英义sounding sad, especially in a weak complaining way近义词mournful 例句a plaintive cry / voice 凄楚的哭泣 / 声音din n. 喧嚣声；嘈杂声；吵闹声英义a loud, unpleasant noise that lasts for a long time 近义词racket 例句The children were making an awful din. 孩子们吵得厉害。rumble n. 持续而低沉的声音；隆隆声英义a long deep sound or series of sounds例句the rumble of thunder 隆隆的雷声 inaudible adj. 听不见的英义that you cannot hear例句The whistle was inaudible to the human ear. 这种啸声人耳听不到。 devoid adj. 完全没有；缺乏英义completely lacking in sth例句The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling. 这封信既无热情又无感情。tranquility n. 平静，安静，安宁例句disturb the tranquility of the night 打破夜晚的宁静sonorous adj. 雄浑的，浑厚的英义having a pleasant full deep sound例句a sonorous voice 浑厚的嗓音 consummate adj. 技艺高超的英义showing a lot of skill例句a great performance from a consummate actor一名演技出色的演员的精彩表演constellation n. 一系列(相关的想法、事物)；一群(相关的人)英义a group of related ideas, things or people例句a constellation of Hollywood talent 一群好莱坞天才albeit conj. 尽管，虽然例句He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us. 尽管勉强，他最后还是同意帮助我们。leaden adj. 铅灰色的英义dull grey in colour, like lead 例句leaden skies 铅灰色的天空 pregnant adj. 蕴涵丰富的…，饱含…英义pregnant with sth formal containing a lot of a quality例句Every phrase in this poem is pregnant with meaning.这首诗的片言只语都蕴涵着丰富的含义。🔥重点词组…的到来 the advent of 弦歌杂作 confused noise of music and song 没有，缺乏 be devoid of不屑于做某事 disdain to do sth. 宁静 peace and tranquility 神妙的乐师 a consummate music master众妙毕击，群芳齐集 a constellation of fine artists 秋士 old forgotten scholars孤客 lonely travellers思妇 solitary women 无上之美 the highest state of beauty精神空虚 spiritual barrenness寓意深远 pregnant meanings 儿啼人闹 crying for babies, hubbub of grown-ups街上轮震石响 the rumble of vehicles on the stone pavements邪许并起的早晨 the simultaneous yo-ho of labourers靠着枕儿听 lean your head on the pillow不容留秋虫的地方 leave no room for autumn insects或静或动 whether moving or at rest非常隽永 be of profound significance 淡漠无味 absence of any feeling心如槁木 be sentimental工愁多感 be apathetic🔥复盘测试…的到来弦歌杂作没有，缺乏不屑于做某事宁静神妙的乐师众妙毕击，群芳齐集秋士孤客思妇无上之美精神空虚寓意深远儿啼人闹 街上轮震石响邪许并起的早晨靠着枕儿听不容留秋虫的地方或静或动非常隽永淡漠无味心如槁木工愁多感🔥表达对比来看看有关「虫声」的描写秋天来了，记忆就轻轻提示道：“凄凄切切的秋虫又要响起来了。”The advent of autumn has vaguely reminded me of the season’s insects once again chirping plaintively.并不是被那些欢乐的劳困的宏大的清亮的声音淹没了，以致听不出来，乃是这里本没有秋虫这东西。Not because, drowned by the overwhelming din of merry-making or suffering, it has thus become inaudible, but because this place is utterly devoid of autumn insects.若是在鄙野的乡间，这时令满耳是虫声了。At a time like this, if I were in the lowly countryside, I would hear insects all around me.它们高、低、宏、细、疾、徐、作、歇，仿佛曾经过乐师的精心训练，所以这样地无可批评，踌躇满志，Their performance, with a voice high or low, sonorous or piping, quick or slow, sustained or suspended, is flawless and skilful, as if they had undergone thorough training under a music master.所以虫声终于是足系恋念的东西。Hence, the insects’s song is something we always long for.
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叶圣陶《我和商务印书馆》 
爱是一颗心遇到另一颗心（出处+配图） 
