《文学批评无用论–季羡林》 -英语翻译技巧与实例-英汉互译实用教程

朗读这篇文章

文学批评无用论–季羡林

On the Futility of Literary Criticism –Ji Xianlin 
🔥背景知识:本文是季羡林写于1989年1月26日的一篇小品文。
 
Q:英文标题中的介词如何用?
🎈on/of +…:书、讨论或观点关于,涉及。如:弗朗西斯·培根著作《论学习》译作Of Studies,老舍的《养花》译为On Growing Flowers。
 

读最近一期的《文学评论》,里面有几篇关于“红学”的文章,引起了我的注意。
In the latest issue of the Literary Review, several articles on Redology have attracted my attention.
🎈「红学」指研究古典文学《红楼梦》的学问,可译为Hongloumeng scholarship,但不如Redology简洁。Redology是由Red加词尾ology(学)构成。
 

有的作者既反省,又批判。有的作者从困境中找出路。有的作者慨叹,“红学”出了危机。如此等等,煞是热闹。
Some of the authors are introspective as well as critical; some try to find a way out of their academic predicament; some sigh with regret that Redology is faced with a crisis; and so on and so forth. The discussion is quite animated.
🎈「反省」译为introspective,和self-examining同义。
 
🎈some of the authors中,some是数量词],(指整个群体中的)一些,部分,常用搭配为some of…;some try to…中some是代词,同样指(整个群体中的)一些,部分。
🎈and so on and so forth,and so on和and so on用法上没什么区别,均表示「诸如此类;如此等等」。只不过在美国英语中,so on更口语化,so forth 更书面化一些。
例句
There are many novels, magazines, periodicals, and so forth
那里有很多小说、杂志和期刊等等。
 

文章的论点都非常精彩,很有启发。但是,我却忽然想到了一个怪问题:这样的“红学”有用处吗?
The arguments set forth in the articles are very interesting and enlightening. Nevertheless, a strange question has occurred to me: Is this kind of Redology of any use at all?
🎈set forth in the articles作arguments的后置定语。其中,set forth意为「(清晰而有条理地)阐述,陈述,说明」。
例句
Dr. Mesibov set forth the basis of his approach to teaching students.
梅西伯夫博士阐述了他的教学方法的基础。
🎈忽然想到…/…忽然出现在脑海中 ……occur to sb.
🎈of+ n.=adj. 例如,此处of any use相当于useful。即这个句子可以写成Is this kind of Redology useful at all?其中,at all加强否定或疑问或准否定的语气。
例句
Do you know him at all?
你到底认不认识他?
同理,at all在本句中发挥的作用就是加强语气:“红学到底有没有用?
 

对红学家本身,对在大学里和研究所里从事文学理论研究的人,当然有用。但是对广大的《红楼梦》的读者呢?我看是没有用处。
It is of course useful to the Redologists themselves as well as to those engaged in the study of literary theory at universities and research institutes. But, to my mind, it is of little use to readers of A Dream of Red Mansions at large. 
🎈「广大的……读者」译为readers of …at large,其中at large是成语,和as a whole或in general同义。 
🎈「我看」意即「我认为,在我看来」,现用成语to my mind表达。 
 

《红楼梦》问世二百年以来,通过汉文原文和各种译文读过本书的人,无虑多少个亿。
Ever since the publication of this novel some 200 years ago, hundreds of millions of people have read its Chinese original or its translations in various languages.
🎈「问世二百年以来」实际上是「问世约二百年以来」,故译为Ever since the publication of… some 200years ago,其中some是添加成分,作「大约」解。 
🎈ever since和since的区别
一、指代不同
1、ever since:打…以后。
2、since:从…以来。
二、用法不同
1、ever since:since用作连词作“自从…以来〔以后或现在〕”解时,引导时间状语从句,在主句是现在完成时的情况下,如果since从句中谓语动词用一般过去时,则表示动作或状态的完成,计时的起点是动作或状态完成的那一时刻。
2、since:since用作介词的意思是“从…以来,自从…之后”,其宾语常指过去的一个时间点,其含意通常指持续到说话时刻的动作或情况开始于什么时候。since之后常接名词、动名词作其宾语,since then意为“从那以后”。
三、侧重点不同
1、ever since:侧重于指从某个时间后一直持续。
2、since:侧重于只是陈述从某时以后。
🎈汉文原文和各种译文its Chinese original or its translations in various languages
 

这样多的读者哪一个是先看批评家的文章,然后再让批评家牵着鼻子走,按图索骥地去读原作呢?我看是绝无仅有。
Of these innumerable people, how many have read the novel by starting with a perusal of critics’ articles and allowing themselves to be led by the nose by the critics as to how to read the novel? Next to none.
🎈Of all…的用法。
🎈「哪一个是先看批评家的文章,然后再让批评家牵着鼻子走,按图索骥地去读原作呢?」译为how many have read the novel by starting with a perusal of the critics’ articles and allowing themselves to be led by the nose by the critics as to how to read the novel?「按图索骥」在这里指「按批评家的指点去读原作」,其意思已包括在上面译文中,故略而不译。 
🎈「绝无仅有」作「极其少有」解,译为Next to none,和Almost none同义。 
 

一切文学作品,特别是像《红楼梦》这样伟大的作品,内容异常地丰富,涉及到的社会层面异常地多,简直像是一个宝山,一座迷宫。
All literary works, especially a monumental one like A Dream of Red Mansions, are extremely rich in content and involve diverse social strata —to such an extent that they virtually resemble a mountain of treasure or a labyrinth.
🎈「特别是像《红楼梦》这样伟大的作品」译为especially a monumental one like A Dream of Red Mansions,其中monumental比great更有力,有不朽(immortal)的意思。从这个角度看,扩大自己的(名词/形容词/动词)词汇量等真的非常重要了。
🎈到…(程度)以至于…to such an extent that…。这个表达由to an extent(在某种程度上)变化而来,增添了such…that…结构。
🎈关于especially…:此处,其不是同位语,也不是并列句的省略,传统语法会认为这是插入语,是对前面说的话中的某个词、短语或句子的补充解释;现代语法则把这种对某个词、短语或句子作解释补充的成分,称为补充语(supplement)。
补充语
包括插入语在内,但不限于插入语。非限制性定语、非限制性同位语、分词作状语等都囊括在补充语的项下。其特征是有逗号与句子隔开,其功能是对句子中的某个词、短语或整个句子做补充解释。补充语本身可以是名次词组、形容词词组,也可以是一个分句。补充语可以有标记词,如namely, such as, for example, especially等。
 

而读者群就更为复杂,不同的家庭背景,不同的社会经历,不同的民族,不同的国家,不同的文化传统,不同的心理素质,不同的年龄,不同的性别,不同的职业,不同的爱好——还可以这样“不同”下去,就此打住——,
And the readers are even more complicated, differing from each other in family background, social experience, nationality, country, cultural tradition, psychological condition, age, sex, profession, hobby, etc., etc. The list could go on endlessly, so I wouldn’t mind stopping here.
🎈etc. 是缩略语,全拼et cetera。句子中使用一个etc.较为常见。译文中的etc., etc.可以理解成and so on and so forth或者and so on and so on吧。 
例句
Another called Twister, and so on and so on.
然后就会有更多人加入,以此类推。

他们来读《红楼梦》,会各就自己的特点,欣赏《红楼梦》中的某一个方面,受到鼓舞,受到启发,引起了喜爱;也可能受到打击,引起了憎恶,总之是千差万别。
They will each appreciate a certain aspect of the novel according to their own individuality. They may feel inspired and enlightened, and hence love it, or they may feel hurt, and hence loathe it. In short, the reactions vary.
🎈「也可能受到打击」中的「打击」作「刺痛」或「感情受到创伤」等解,不宜按字面直译为feel attacked。现全句译为or they may feel hurt。
 
Q: hence有什么用法?
🎈 ①hence后面可以直接放上一个名词成分,形成一个没有谓语动词的特殊句型,表示「因为前面说过的缘故,所以有了…」
例句
Hence my surprise. 
所以我感到惊讶。
②hence也可以作为一个普通的副词「因此」,放在正常的句子中起作用。
例句
These cars have become cheaper, and hence affordable to more people.
这些汽车变得更为便宜,因而为更多的人所买得起。
③ hence还有「从现在算起」的副词意义。
例句
The property must be vacated 12 days hence
该不动产应该自现在起12天内腾出。
 

对这些读者来说,“红学家”就好像是住在“太虚幻境”里的圣人、贤人,与自己无关。他们不管“红学家”究竟议论些什么,只是读下去,读下去。 
To them, the Redologists seem to be sages and men of virtue residing in the “Illusory Land of Great Void” and having nothing whatsoever to do with them. They just read on and on, caring not what the Redologists may say. 
🎈「太虚幻境」引自《红楼梦》第五回,曾被译为Great Void Illusion Land和Illusory Land of Great Void等。
🎈whatsoever是副词,表示「丝毫,任何,无论什么」
例句
My school did nothing whatsoever in the way of athletics.
我的学校在体育方面无所作为。
 

因此我说,文学批评家无用。不但对读者无用,对作者也无用。查一查各国文学史,我敢说,没有哪一个伟大作家是根据文学批评家的理论来进行创作的。
Therefore, I reiterate, literary criticism is useless. It is useless not only to readers, but also to writers. Looking up the literary history of each and every country, I dare say that none of the world’s great literary figures ever did their writing in line with the theory of literary critics.
🎈「ever did 」中ever是副词,用于否定句和疑问句。表示「在任何时候,从来」
🎈(与…)一致; (与…)相符; (与…)成一直线 in line with。在句中,介词短语作状语。
🎈每一个 each and every 
 

那么,文学批评家的研究不就是毫无意义了吗?也不是的。
On the other hand, however, does it follow that the research done by literary critics is totally meaningless? No, that is not true either.
🎈on the other hand可以单独用(不与on one hand连用),但是其前面得有内容,做到后面的内容和前面的既呼应又区别。
🎈难道事实就是/遵循……吗?does it follow that…
 

他们根据自己的文学欣赏的才能,根据不同的时代潮流,对文学作品提出自己的看法,互相争论,互相学习,互相启发,互相提高,这也是一种创作活动,对文学理论的建设会有很大的好处。
In accordance with their own capacity for literary appreciation and the different historical trends, the views they put forward for mutual discussion, study, inspiration and improvement are also something creative and conducive to the development of literary theory.
🎈对文学作品提出自己的看法,互相争论,互相学习,互相启发,互相提高,这也是一种创作活动→(抱着相互讨论、学习……的目的提出的for…)的看法views是创造性的和(对XX)有益的。学习译文的处理方法。其中,因为译文主语是views,所以不能说views是创作活动,而是处理成了something creative。注意前后搭配。
🎈development译为中文时,根据具体语境可译为「成长、发展、建设……」不等。
 

只是不要幻想,自己的理论会对读者和作者有多大影响。这样一来,就可以各安其业,天下太平了。
Only they should be under no illusion about their theories exerting powerful influence on the readership or writers. That is the way for each to have a role of his own to play and for peace to reign under heaven.
🎈对……不报幻想/没有……的幻觉
has/be under no illusions about sth. 
🎈结构划分:Only// they should be under no illusion about// their theories (exerting powerful influence on the readership or writers).其中,exerting……是theories的后置定语。only 往往暗含「出人意料」或「反而」的转折意味。
 

上面这些话其实只有幼儿园的水平。可是还没有见有什么人这样坦率地说了出来。就让我当一个“始作俑者”吧! 
What I’ve said above is only skin-deep, of kindergarten level. But so far none else have ventured to be equally candid. Therefore, let me be reconciled to being saddled with the epithet of “originator of a bad practice”.
🎈「上面的这些话其实只有幼儿园的水平」译为what I’ve said above is only skin-deep, of kindergarten level,其中skin-deep(肤浅的)是添加成分,用以衬托of kindergarten level。
🎈「就让我当一个‘始作俑者’吧!」语气幽默,意即姑且接受‘始作俑者’的称号(接受被安一个“始作俑者”的名头)吧!”现按此意译为Therefore, let me be reconciled to being saddled with the epithet of “originator of a bad practice”。 
 
🔥必背词汇
futility    un.无益;无用;徒劳;白费
英义
Futility is a total lack of purpose or usefulness.
例句
She could see the utter futility of trying to protest.
她明白抗议是完全无用的。
 
introspective   adj.内省的;自省的;反省的
英义
Introspective people spend a lot of time examining their own thoughts, ideas, and feelings.
例句
Satire is a lonely and introspective occupation, for nobody can describe a fool to the life without much patient self-inspection.
讽刺是一项孤独而又内省的工作,因为没有人未经一番具有非常耐性的自我检讨而能够逼真地刻画一个傻瓜的。
 
predicament   cn.困境;艰难的处境;尴尬的境地
英义
If you are in a predicament, you are in an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of.
例句
The decision will leave her in a peculiar predicament.
这个决定会让她处于尴尬的境地。
 
animated    adj.生气勃勃的;活泼的;热烈的
英义
Someone who is animated or who is having an animated conversation is lively and is showing their feelings.
例句
She was seen in animated conversation with the singer Yuri Marusin.
有人看见她与歌手尤里·马鲁辛交谈甚欢。
perusal   un.阅读;读
英义
Perusal of something such as a letter, article, or document is the action of reading it.
例句
perusal of the letters which we have published has satisfied him of the reality of our claim.
读了我们的公开信后,他终于相信我们的要求的确是真的。
 
resemble     v.类似;与…相似;与…相像
英义
If one thing or person resembles another, they are similar to each other.
例句
She so resembles her mother.
她很像她母亲。
 
labyrinth   cn.迷宫;迷阵
英义
If you describe a place as a labyrinth, you mean that it is made up of a complicated series of paths or passages, through which it is difficult to find your way.
例句
He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.
他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。
 
loathe     v.厌恶;讨厌;憎恨
英义
If you loathe something or someone, you dislike them very much.
例句
She loathed being the child of impoverished labourers.
她憎恨自己是贫困工人的孩子。
 
whatsoever     adv.丝毫,任何,无论什么
英义
You use whatsoever after a noun group in order to emphasize a negative statement.
例句
My school did nothing whatsoever in the way of athletics.
我的学校在体育方面无所作为。
 
🔥重点表达
文学批评无用论On the Futility of Literary Criticism
文学评论the Literary Review
红学Hongloumeng scholarship/Redology
引起了我的注意have attracted my attention
从困境中找出路find a way out of their predicament
慨叹sigh with regret that
出了危机is faced with a crisis
诸如此类;如此等等and so on and so forth
(清晰而有条理地)阐述,陈述,说明set forth 
忽然想到…/…忽然出现在脑海中 ……occur to sb.
研究所research institutes
我认为;在我看来to my mind
广大的……读者 readers of …at large
《红楼梦》问世二百年以来Ever since the publication of this novel some 200 years ago
汉文原文和各种译文its Chinese original or its translations in various languages
让批评家牵着鼻子走allowing themselves to be led by the nose by the critics
绝无仅有Next to none/Almost none
文学作品literary works
《红楼梦》A Dream of Red Mansions
内容异常地丰富are extremely rich in content
到…(程度)以至于…to such an extent that…
像是一个宝山resemble a mountain of treasure
家庭背景family background
社会经历social experience
文化传统cultural tradition
总之是千差万别In short, the reactions vary.
住在“太虚幻境”里的圣人、贤人sages and men of virtue residing in the “Illusory Land of Great Void”
只是读下去,读下去just read on and on
查一查各国文学史Looking up the literary history of each and every country
(与…)一致; (与…)相符; (与…)成一直线 in line with
难道事实就是/遵循……吗?does it follow that…
文学欣赏的才能capacity for literary appreciation
对文学理论的建设会有很大的好处be conducive to the development of literary theory
对……不报幻想/没有……的幻觉has/be under no illusions about sth.
对读者和作者有多大影响exerting powerful influence on the readership or writers
各安其业,天下太平for each to have a role of his own to play and for peace to reign under heaven
只有幼儿园的水平is only skin-deep, of kindergarten level
姑且接受‘始作俑者’的称号let me be reconciled to being saddled with the epithet of “originator of a bad practice”
 
🔥复盘测试
文学批评无用论
文学评论
红学
引起了我的注意
从困境中找出路
慨叹
出了危机
诸如此类;如此等等
(清晰而有条理地)阐述,陈述,说明 
忽然想到…/…忽然出现在脑海中 
研究所
我认为;在我看来
广大的……读者 
《红楼梦》问世二百年以来
汉文原文和各种译文
让批评家牵着鼻子走
绝无仅有
文学作品
《红楼梦》
内容异常地丰富
到…(程度)以至于
像是一个宝山
家庭背景
社会经历
文化传统
总之是千差万别
住在“太虚幻境”里的圣人、贤人
只是读下去,读下去
查一查各国文学史
(与…)一致; (与…)相符; (与…)成一直线 
难道事实就是/遵循……吗?
文学欣赏的才能
对文学理论的建设会有很大的好处
对……不报幻想/没有……的幻觉
对读者和作者有多大影响
各安其业,天下太平
只有幼儿园的水平
姑且接受‘始作俑者’的称号
 
🔥表达对比
「在我看来」有几种不同表达?
 
但是对广大的《红楼梦》的读者呢?「我看」是没有用处。
But, to my mind, it is of little use to readers of A Dream of Red Mansions at large.
「在我看来」,我们的产业活动正在多元化,这是一件好事。 
It seems to me that our industry is becoming quite a bit more diversified in its activities, and that’s a good thing.
然而,「在我看来」,这件事他做得不尽如人意。
Well he’s not making a very good job of it in my opinion.
「在我看来」,是官员们煽动了这场争斗。
As far as I’m concerned, the officials incited the fight.
我随即表示,「在我看来」该提议是绝对不可能的。
And I said immediately that in my view the proposition was out of the question.

未经允许不得转载:帕布莉卡 » 《文学批评无用论–季羡林》 -英语翻译技巧与实例-英汉互译实用教程

赞 (0) 打赏

觉得文章有用就打赏一下文章作者

支付宝扫一扫打赏

微信扫一扫打赏