Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

三国演义两个翻译版本的比较——节选二

2008-05-07 14:53 Department of Foreign Affairs

4.2.3 礼貌用语的翻译
　　礼貌用语汉语和英语都有，但是区别很大。有学者指出，由于汉民族把“礼貌”当作个人内在修养和道德情操的外在体现，是“发于内而形于外”的东西，因此，在表示“礼貌”的时，往往侧重于以言辞体现品德，体现自我的恭敬(对他人) 与谦卑(对自己) ，从而把“贬己尊人”及“称呼准则”作为最富有中国文化特色的礼貌原则。尤其汉语在涉及人与人之间的关系时，比英语更注重礼貌原则。而西方民族以形式为重，认为“礼貌”是“避免冲突”的策略，因此往往注重自身尊重他人，二者兼顾（何艳平 2004：34-36）。既然差异那么大，就有学者指出在翻译礼貌用语时，不能只求形式上的对等，而应求得语义等值和语用等效，从而尽可能的达到“礼貌对等”(politeness equivalence)。还有学者主张，在从事古典文学作品的汉译英时，运用汉英语用对比知识、注重两种语言中这种社交指示语的语用文化差异对成功地实施敬称、谦称的转换显得非常重要。只有通过汉英两种语言语用文化的比较，才能在翻译中不为原文中敬称、谦称表面意思所束缚，努力译出其隐含的意思，从而避免译文的语用失误，以求最大限度地达到语用等值（叶小宝 2002：74）。

　　在礼貌用语方面，罗版和布版的处理方式就有较大的差异。布版就像这些学者的建议一样，对很多谦语、敬语和敬让语作了弱化处理，使之更加符合英文读者的习惯，而罗版则在大多数情况非常忠实的进行了翻译，有时甚至是字对字的翻译。请看以下的例子。

（1）（...势不可敌。）以愚之计，不如纳降，为万安之策。
R: Really, there is no opposing him, and in my poor estimation we would do better with the total security which submission will afford.
B: We cannot withstand him, and the only way to tranquility, in my opinion, is submission.

（2）愚闻多言获利，不如默而无言。
R: With your permission, sometimes one carries the day by holding one's peace.
B: There is a saying that though something may be gained by talk, there is more to be got by silence.

（3）统曰：“愚浅之见，丞相自裁之。”
R: "My uninformed views," responded Pang Tong, "are for Your Excellency to use as he sees fit."
B: "That is only my idea," said P’ang T’ung. "It is for you to decide about it."

　　这三句里面都用到了“愚”字，这是对自己的一种谦称。在翻译的处理上，罗版第一句和第三句努力反映“愚”字所要传达的意思，而第二句也添加了 “With your permission”来体现原文谦逊的用语。相比之下，布版中第一句简单地处理成了“in my opinion”，第二句则用了很中性的“There is a saying”，省略了此处“愚”字所传达的谦语意味，第三句则翻译成了“only my idea”，用“only”很自然的传达了略表谦虚的意思，比“愚”字有所弱化。

（4） (阚泽)公既捐躯报主，泽又何惜微生！
R: Since your life is pledged to requite your lord, can I begrudge my own worthless self?
B: When you, my friend, have suffered so much for our lord, could I spare myself? No.

　　例4中的“微生”是阚泽的自谦语，罗版用了“my own worthless self”来表达这个意思，而布版只用了“myself”，没有翻译出自谦的意思。

（5）瑾曰：“贤弟既到江东，如何不来见我？”
R: "Worthy brother," said Jin, "since you are in the Southland, why haven't you come to see me?"
B: Chin said, "Why have you not been to see me, brother?"

（6）孔明曰：“连日不晤君颜，何期贵体不安！”
R: “It is many days since we last met, my lord,” Kongming began. “But I never imagined that your precious health was failing.”
B: "I have not seen you for days," said he. "How could I guess that you were unwell?"

　　例5中用到了敬语“贤弟”，罗版翻译的是“worthy brother”，把“贤”字的字面意思翻译了出来。布版则只翻译了“brother”。例6中用了另一个敬语“贵体不安”，罗版是用了“precious”修饰“health”，力图传递“贵”的尊敬意味。而布版只用了“unwell”，只传递了最基础的意思。

（7）孔明曰：“若蒙不弃，愿效犬马之劳，早晚拱听驱策。”
R: If you would accept my humble efforts, I would toil unsparingly, like a dog or a horse, entirely at your service.
B: "Should I be happy enough not to be rejected, I would render such humble service as I could. Perhaps presently I might be able to offer a plan to oppose him."

（8）泣血拜白，万勿见疑。
R: Weeping bitter blood, I speak bent to the ground. Never doubt me!
B: In perfect sincerity I state these matters. I pray you not to doubt me.
在例7和例8中，说话人都是用了夸张的语言，表达了礼貌的意思。例7中用了“愿效犬马之劳”，是一句带夸张的比喻，罗版就按照字面将犬马的比喻都翻译了出来，而布版则只翻译了内涵“humble service”。例8选自黄盖纳降书的最后一句，“泣血拜白”用了夸张的手法表示其诚心和敬意，罗版按照字面将夸张都译了出来，如“Weeping bitter blood”和“bent to the ground”。布版则用很平白的语言翻译了这句话真正的含义，即“In perfect sincerity I state these matters”。同样没有表现原文的毕恭毕敬。

　　在这些例子中，罗版的翻译是非常精确的将原文每一个字的含义都翻译了出来，保留了原文的夸张。而布版则完全忽略了原文的敬语，按照英文的语言习惯将最朴实的意思翻译了出来。

　　当然，并不是说布版就省略了所有的谦语和敬语，完全按照西方读者的语言习惯进行翻译，在很多时候，布版也保留了原文的礼貌用语色彩，只不过程度有所弱化。例如：

（9）献茶已毕，孙权曰：“多闻鲁子敬谈足下之才，今幸得相见，敢求教益。”孔明曰：“不才无学，有辱明问。”
R: After the presentation of tea Sun Quan spoke: "Lu Su has told me of your great abilities. Now that we have the good fortune to meet you, I make bold to seek the benefit of your teaching." "One unfit and unlearned as I," Kong Ming responded, "could never do justice to your enlightened question."
B: The serving of tea being now finished, Sun Ch’uan began with the usual gracious ceremonial expressions.
"Lu Su has often spoken of your genius," said the host. "It is a great pleasure to meet you. I trust you will confer upon me the advantage of your instruction."
"I am neither clever nor learned," was the reply. "It humiliates me to hear such words."

（10）权见孔明，谢曰：“适来冒渎威严，幸勿见罪。”孔明亦谢曰：“亮言语冒犯，望乞恕罪。”权邀孔明入后堂，置酒相待。

R: Quan received Kongming with an apology: "Just now I recklessly sullied your high name. Kindly overlook the offense." Kongming conveyed his regrets too: "It was I who spoke offensively, and I beg your forgiveness for it."
B: He spoke courteously, saying, "I offended you just now. I hope you are not implacable."
"And I also was rude," replied K’ung-ming. "I entreat pardon."

（11）玄德曰：“将军名传天下。备不才，何烦将军重礼？”
R: you are renowned throughout the empire. I am a man of no talent. Do not trouble so much over ceremony.
B: General, you are famous throughout all the country, while I am a nobody. Do not overwhelm me with too great deference.

（12）孔明曰：“诡谲小计，何足为奇。”
孔明曰：“亮乃碌碌庸才，安有妙计？”
R: "A petty subterfuge of common cunning," Kongming replied, "not worth your compliments."
"I am a run-of-the-mill mediocrity," replied Kongming. "What kind of unique stratagem could I offer you?"
B: "There is nothing remarkable in that trifling trick," replied he.
"But where should I, a man of poor everyday ability, find such a plan as you desire?"

　　在这几个例子当中，罗版和布版都有把原文谦语和敬语的风格传递到译文中，不过传递的程度还是有明显的区别，例9中“敢求教益”的“敢”字和“有辱明问”的“明”字罗版也毫不怠慢的翻译了出来，而布版则忽略。布版中还增加了这样一句话：“Sun Ch’uan began with the usual gracious ceremonial expressions”，说明下面是要开始讲客套话了。例10中罗版的遣词造句明显比布版更加毕恭毕敬。例11中“不才”两字罗版仍然是按照字面翻译了出来，而布版则使用了英文更习惯的“nobody”。例12中，罗版的翻译保存了原文中夸张的自谦，而布版的翻译虽然也翻出了谦逊的意思，但是选词较为缓和，没有完全反映原文的夸张程度。

　　两个版本对谦语处理的区别也很明显是由翻译目的的不同所造成的。罗版的翻译目的除了是对小说故事本身的翻译以外，还有文化的传递，对中国的介绍。谦语的风格是中国和西方文化迥然相异的一点。罗版希望向读者传递的不仅仅是人物说了什么话，剧情如何发展。其翻译目的还包括向西方人介绍中国古人的说话方式，使读者了解中国人的谦虚是秉着“贬己尊人”这一原则的，使读者进一步加深对中国的了解。

　　不少学者认为翻译谦语如果太过于忠实原文，反而是没有忠实原文，因为西方读者会不习惯不适应，乃至产生误解。因此他们主张按照西方的习惯翻译，让译文看起来更加自然。很明显，布版的翻译就是出于这样的考虑，希望给西方读者提供一个看起来更自然更顺畅的译文，让读者能津津有味的读下来浑然不觉语言生涩怪异。布版的翻译目的相比起传递中国的文化特色，更重视的还是提供一个顺畅的、自然的译文。

第一部分　　　　　　第三部分

外事司
朱玉屏
未完待续

(Source: English Site of Department of Foreign Affairs)

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