北外笔译课心得 | 中英翻译的实用技巧

来源:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9sWQPDWjnxBSFeidSVMmTQ

在学习了北京外国语大学彭萍教授的笔译课程后,我深受启发,对中英翻译有了许多新的认识。本文旨在结合课程所学,分享我个人整理的一些核心心得与思考,并融入了一些自己的例子。所有知识和灵感的源头均归功于彭萍老师,在此致以最诚挚的感谢。如对课程或原著感兴趣,请支持正版。

1. 文化负载词:
对于承载独特文化内涵的词语,关键在于传递其核心意义,而非字面拼接。
e.g.;

① “情痴情种”:是中文的意复短语,无需拆解,只译一遍即可。

不佳:a love fool and a seed of love

推荐译法:a soul devoted to love

② “四大家族”

说明:“大”多为中文的音节需要,无实际“宏大”之义。

推荐译法:the four noble families / the four families

③ “存天理,灭人欲”

① preserve the Heavenly Principle and eliminate human desires.

② the elevation of Heavenly Principle over human desires.

③ the suppression of human desires in observance of Heavenly Principle. (强调压制)

2. 比喻转换:追求功能对等
中文善用生动比喻,英文注重逻辑清晰。当直译显得生硬时,应捕捉核心意象进行转化。

e.g.:

① “封建社会百科全书”

直译问题:a vivid encyclopedia of feudal society (英文encyclopedia无比喻义,显得奇怪)。

优化策略:

使用形容词:an encyclopedic portrayal of feudal society

转换比喻:a panoramic view of feudal society / a tapestry of feudal life

② “像俄罗斯彩蛋,一层层剥开…”

问题:意象 (如果选了doll ,后面剥开就不能用 shell)

优化:Like a Russian Fabergé egg, each layer of its narrative reveals yet another, more intricate shell beneath. (保留核心“层层嵌套”的意象,用词精准统一)。

二、 词汇选择的精准性与地道性

e,g,

① “感情丰富”:

* sensitive:偏向“敏感易受伤”。* sentimental:偏向“多愁善感”,感怀往事。 (e.g., She became sentimental when remembering her childhood.)

* emotional:中性词,既可指“易动感情的”,也可指“情绪化”。根据语境,通常是比sensitive更好的选择。

②“悲剧结局”:

避免陈词:their tragedy is doomed (过于老套)。

推荐:This conflict sealed their tragic fate. / That is why their love ended in tragedy.

③ “不争气,安于富贵”:

不佳:lack ambition and are content with privileged life (privileged life搭配不常见)。

推荐:They are men of no ambition, content with their inherited wealth.(中文并列结构,英文处理成主从结构)

④ “一味迷信好道”:

错误:be obsessed with superstition and Taoism practice. (superstition 含义狭窄且含贬义,且逻辑矛盾:明知是“迷信”又何谈“痴迷”?)

推荐:He is a superstitious man, obsessed with the practice of Taoism. (将“迷信”作为性格描述,“好道”作为痴迷对象,逻辑清晰)。

⑤ “虽有才情,但又不肯委身仕途”:

不佳:…devote himself to an official career. (devote to 暗示已在此道路上)。

推荐:…refused to pursue an official career. / …would not commit himself to the path of officialdom.

⑥ “兴利除弊”:

避免过大或过繁:不用 reform (词过大),也不用 promote benefits and eliminate drawbacks (太冗长)。

推荐:make a change / implement improvements (简洁达意)。

⑦ “于事无补”:

推荐:their efforts ultimately proved futile. / …attempt to… in vain. / their efforts were of no avail.

三、 句子结构与逻辑重组

  1. “联动式”句子优化

核心原则:避免用and机械连接中文的多个动词/短句,需根据逻辑关系(主次、先后、因果、方式-目的)重组为英文的主从结构。

① 主动与被动:将被动转为过去分词(非谓语)。

不佳:The plan was approved and we will implement it.

推荐:Approved by the committee, the plan will be implemented…

② 时态并列:避免时间逻辑断裂。

不佳:The Great Wall, which was built over centuries, has become a symbol. (过去式与现在完成时并列不佳)

推荐:The Great Wall, which came into being in ancient times, attracts millions. (主从结构,时态统一)

③ Be动词与实义动词:使用同位语合并。

不佳:China is a developing country and has made progress.

推荐:China, a developing country, has made tremendous progress…

④ 延续性动词与瞬间动词:

例:Feeling tired (延续状态), he sat down (瞬间动作).

⑤ 肯定与否定:

不佳:China opposes hegemony and will never seek it.

推荐:China, a firm opponent of hegemony, will never seek it.

  1. 引语格式

“…,” he said. (最常见)

“…,” he said, “…” (一句话被中断)

“…,” he said. “…” (引述的是两句独立的话)

四、 简洁性与写作规范

  1. 删除冗余信息

① “在书中”、“在我看来”等,若上下文已明确,可省去不译。例如,前文已在分析小说,则无需再译in the book。

② 代词使用

指代人:前文主语明确时,用she/her/he/him等,无需重复名字。 (e.g., Xue Baochai’love → her love)

指代事:避免使用模糊的it或this,用these efforts / this attempt / such an approach等更具体的词回指。

③ 文学评论写作规范

避免缩写:使用 it is, do not,而非 it’s, don’t,以保持正式语体。

推荐阅读:彭萍教授《译无巨细》,书中对此类问题有极为详尽的讲解,老师也很推荐我们去读,周围很多同学考研期间就买了此书细细研读,相信大家仔细读过后很有收获的~