陳江寧
(淄博職業(yè)學(xué)院國際學(xué)院 山東淄博 255314)
翻譯的本質(zhì)是傳播,是一種跨文化、跨語際的特殊的傳播活動(dòng)[1],在面向國際推廣中華文化精髓的過程中起到了重要的媒介作用。典籍英譯是對(duì)外傳播中華傳統(tǒng)文化的主要手段之一。典籍英譯要符合目的語國家的語言習(xí)慣,同時(shí)還應(yīng)盡量保持原文文風(fēng),表現(xiàn)出原文的特色?!豆茏印芬粫鴥?nèi)容涉及哲學(xué)、社會(huì)科學(xué)、自然科學(xué)等諸多領(lǐng)域,是傳播中華傳統(tǒng)文化的重要典籍。雖然其簡篇錯(cuò)亂,文字奪誤,號(hào)稱難讀[2],但在其論說過程中,卻基本沒有華麗的語句,語言以平易自然為主。這主要是因?yàn)椤豆茏印贩磳?duì)不務(wù)實(shí)際的虛妄之言與華麗不實(shí)的言辭,主張語言要平易樸實(shí)[3]。在其英譯過程中,應(yīng)主要從以下三個(gè)方面體現(xiàn)其簡約風(fēng)格,并把要傳達(dá)的意義準(zhǔn)確表述出來。
《管子》以論說文為主,這種文體需要盡力把道理說得深入淺出。書中常用短句來使行文簡明扼要,英譯時(shí)應(yīng)選用適當(dāng)?shù)木湫?,避免句子拖沓冗長。
古漢語的文字精煉是現(xiàn)代漢語所無法比擬的,如果原封不動(dòng)地將其翻譯成英語,則會(huì)十分繁瑣。因此,在翻譯時(shí),應(yīng)在表意的同時(shí),根據(jù)英語的語法習(xí)慣來適當(dāng)精簡句子,以達(dá)到簡明的效果。
1)使用非限制性定語從句?!吨婧稀菲械摹白z充,言心也,心欲忠。末衡,言耳目也,耳目欲端”,如果按照原句型表述,則為“讂充就是人心,人心應(yīng)該忠良。末衡就是耳目,耳目應(yīng)該端正”,譯成英語后句子會(huì)很長。而像這種后一個(gè)分句的主語是前一個(gè)分句的表語的情況,可選用非限制性定語從句,避免重復(fù),使句子簡短。可譯為Xuan Chong is heart,which should be faithful.Mo Heng is eyes and ears,which should be upright.
2)使用伴隨狀語。《霸言》篇中的“疆國眾,先舉者危,后舉者利;疆國少,先舉者王,后舉者亡;戰(zhàn)國眾,后舉可以霸;戰(zhàn)國少,先舉可以王”,如果使用“在……情況下,如果……,就會(huì)……”的句型會(huì)非常拖沓,而把條件狀語從句轉(zhuǎn)為伴隨狀語則可以有效縮短句子。可譯為Many powerful states coexisting,acting earlier will court dangers,and acting later will make profits.Only a few powerful states coexisting,one acting earlier will become the king,and those acting later will be toppled.There being many states skillful in battle,one acting later will achieve hegemony.There being only a few states skillful in battle,one acting earlier will become the king.
使用對(duì)偶句可以讓文章有節(jié)奏感,表達(dá)意義豐富,更具吸引力。但是《管子》中的對(duì)偶句并非為了追求語言華麗,而是為了更方便地說明問題,用最簡練的語言,或?qū)Ρ然驈?qiáng)調(diào),讓讀者印象深刻,理解透徹?!豆茏印穼?duì)于語言的提煉十分精準(zhǔn)到位,其眾多的對(duì)偶句應(yīng)根據(jù)其表達(dá)的意思、句子的作用、上下文關(guān)系等采用不同的譯法。
1)保持句子工整。《牧民》篇中的“政之所興,在順民心;政之所廢,在逆民心”,表達(dá)十分簡潔,英譯時(shí)更要簡單明了,直接表達(dá)意思,讓讀者理解起來更輕松,同時(shí)盡量保持對(duì)偶的工整,體現(xiàn)原文的風(fēng)格。如在兩個(gè)分句中,將“興”、“廢”同時(shí)使用“動(dòng)詞加介詞”的結(jié)構(gòu)表達(dá),謂語部分分別用“can be”和“will be”來引領(lǐng)以體現(xiàn)不同的語氣,同時(shí)根據(jù)語氣的不同分別選用原因狀語和條件狀語,以及用“opinion”來表示“心”等??勺g為Policies can be carried out because they comply with the public opinion;Policies will be wiped off once they go against the public opinion.這樣的譯文,在字?jǐn)?shù)和結(jié)構(gòu)上都保持了對(duì)偶的形態(tài),同時(shí)意思表達(dá)簡潔明了。再如《國畜》篇中的“谷貴則萬物必賤,谷賤則萬物必貴”??勺g為When grain is expensive,other goods must be cheap;When grain is cheap,other goods must be expensive.以“grain”和“expensive”與“other goods”和“cheap”兩兩相對(duì),而用“goods”來體現(xiàn)商品的價(jià)格和供求關(guān)系也是合適的。
2)不必要求工整?!冻笋R》篇中的“不告之以時(shí)而民不知,不道之以事而民不為”,說明不告訴農(nóng)民農(nóng)時(shí),他們就不知道;不安排好農(nóng)事并且教給他們?nèi)绾紊a(chǎn),他們就無法勞動(dòng)。其中的“道”和“事”比前一分句中的“告”和“時(shí)”涵義要豐富,需要進(jìn)行解釋,在英譯時(shí)前后兩個(gè)分句的結(jié)構(gòu)很難保持相同,如果刻意追求工整對(duì)稱勢(shì)必導(dǎo)致句子冗長。因此,在保證意思完整的情況下,不必追求工整,而盡量做到條斷簡樸[4]??勺g為Farmers will not know the right farming season if they are not told;and they can not work if they are not allotted and taught how to perform the tasks.再如《霸言》篇中的“其君如明而非明也,其將如賢而非賢也,其人如耕者而非耕也”,此句是說君主看上去英明而實(shí)際上昏庸,將領(lǐng)看上去賢能而實(shí)際上愚蠢,百姓看上去在忙于耕作而實(shí)際上是在敷衍了事??勺g為The sovereign appears wise but is not wise in deed,generals appear sensible but are not sensible in deed,farmers appear busy working but are muddle through their work in deed.其中最后一個(gè)分句就是無法與前兩個(gè)分句完全工整對(duì)稱的。
為了說明自己的觀點(diǎn)(A),就先以與自己的觀點(diǎn)(A)在某一性質(zhì)或因果關(guān)系上類似的事物道理(B)作比喻,而這個(gè)事物道理(B)的內(nèi)容淺顯,其正確性是對(duì)方容易認(rèn)可的;只要對(duì)方承認(rèn)了所喻事物道理(B)的正確性,就應(yīng)該明白自己的觀點(diǎn)(A)的正確性了[5]。比喻論證在先秦諸子著述中應(yīng)用非常廣泛。《管子》中比喻論證的種類有很多,這使得其語言更加形象,便于讀者理解。
1)單層比喻論證?!毒枷隆菲幸浴八ā眮肀扔鳌暗馈保f“天下道其道則至,天下不道其道則不至也。夫水波而上,盡其搖而復(fù)下,其勢(shì)固然者也”。此句就屬于單層比喻論證,主要以一個(gè)事理進(jìn)行類比,說明君主按照合理的方式治理百姓,百姓就會(huì)歸順,否則就會(huì)背離,就像水波一樣,因?yàn)樽匀灰?guī)律時(shí)而上、時(shí)而下。這種比喻簡潔明快,英譯時(shí)可直接使用比喻詞“l(fā)ike”,譯為If the sovereign takes right methods to govern,peo-ple will come to support him,otherwise they will abandon him.That is somewhat like waves falling down naturally after having reached the peak.
2)多層比喻論證。如《小稱》篇中以“丹青”和“美珠”比喻好的事情,用“取”來比喻人們的認(rèn)可,以“丹青在山,民知而取之;美珠在淵,民知而取之”類推出“故我有善而立譽(yù)我,我有過而立毀我”。此處以多個(gè)事理進(jìn)行類比,不但說明了好事會(huì)得到百姓的贊譽(yù),而且反過來論證了壞事也會(huì)遭到百姓的指責(zé),表明百姓看問題是清清楚楚的。多層比喻論證在英譯時(shí)不宜使用比喻句進(jìn)行表述,而是可以根據(jù)其內(nèi)在邏輯性譯為幾個(gè)互為因果關(guān)系的句子,如Though cinnabar and azurite are generated deeply inside mountains,people will find them.Though precious pearls are generated in deep waters,people will also find them.So,they will praise me if I have done something good;and they will condemn me if I have done something bad.
1)直接比喻論證。如《侈靡》篇中用“魚鱉之不食餌者,不出其淵”和“樹木之勝霜雪者,不聽于天”類比“士能自治者,不從圣人”,主要是直接表達(dá)觀點(diǎn),說明無所求的人不會(huì)輕易服從。這屬于直接比喻論證,直截了當(dāng),可使用“as”引領(lǐng)類比,將前后分句倒置,譯為Intellectuals capable of supporting themselves will not follow their sovereign,as cold-resistant plant will not be threatened by the severest weather,or fishes and turtles not interested in baits will not be fished out of the deep water.
2)間接比喻論證?!稑醒浴菲械摹案臐M則概之,人滿則天概之,故先王不滿也”,用“釜鼓”的問題說明“人”的問題,通過間接表達(dá)觀點(diǎn),推導(dǎo)類比君主做事要留有余地,不能太讓人自滿,而是給人留有進(jìn)取的空間。這屬于間接比喻論證,迂回委婉,不宜使用比喻詞,而應(yīng)采用因果論證,可譯為If food container is full,it will be scraped.If people are full,they will be scraped by Heaven.Hence,former kings would not allow people too much.
《管子》行文善于借助數(shù)詞進(jìn)行概括,容易使讀者理清思路。主要表現(xiàn)在以單層數(shù)詞來總括論點(diǎn),以雙層數(shù)詞來引領(lǐng)分論。
1)數(shù)詞總括在前。《樞言》篇中的“立而不立者四,喜也者,怒也者,惡也者,欲也者”,用“四”來總括,進(jìn)而層層分析,列舉了“喜好”、“發(fā)怒”、“憎惡”、“貪欲”這四種君主想治理好國家卻不能治理好的原因??勺g為There are four things leading to dying out instead of consolidating of a state.They are joy,anger,hate and lust.又如《君臣下》篇中的“古者二言:‘墻有耳,伏寇在側(cè)’?!庇谩岸眮砜偫ǎ谐銮叭嗽f過的兩種情況:“隔墻有耳”和“藏?cái)吃谂浴???勺g為 There are two traditional sayings:“Someone is listening via the hole in the wall”and“The hidden antagonist is nearby”.
2)數(shù)詞總括在后?!栋匝浴菲械摹蔼?dú)明者,天下之利器也;獨(dú)斷者,微密之營壘也”,先對(duì)“獨(dú)明”、“獨(dú)斷”等問題的重要意義進(jìn)行解析,然后用“二”總括,“此二者,圣人之征所則也”,可譯為Unique wisdom is the most powerful weapon of the world.Unique estimation is the most meticulous barracks.Sages pay much attention to these two rules.
1)一個(gè)基數(shù)詞總括,多個(gè)序數(shù)詞引領(lǐng)分論,一次只分析一個(gè)問題。《立政》篇中的“君之所審者三:一曰德不當(dāng)其位,二曰功不當(dāng)其祿,三曰能不當(dāng)其官”,主要論述君主要重視的三個(gè)問題:一是大臣的品德是否與其地位相稱,二是大臣的功績是否與其俸祿相稱,三是大臣的能力是否與其官職相稱。英譯時(shí)應(yīng)注意基數(shù)詞與序數(shù)詞相結(jié)合使用,可譯為A sovereign should be prudent with three things about court officials:the first is that their virtues do not match their powers;the second is that their achievements do not match their salaries;the third is that their abilities do not match their positions.
2)多個(gè)基數(shù)詞總括,多個(gè)序數(shù)詞引領(lǐng)分論,一次分析多個(gè)問題。《兵法》篇中對(duì)一系列軍事常識(shí)的論述中把“三官”、“五教”、“九章”這三個(gè)問題連在了一起。先用“三”、“五”、“九”這三個(gè)基數(shù)詞分別總括,然后再用“一曰”、“二曰”、“三曰”等多個(gè)序數(shù)詞分別引領(lǐng)進(jìn)行論述,并在每一部分結(jié)尾處再次用數(shù)詞概括,條理分明。例如,關(guān)于“三官”的論述是這樣展開的,“三官:一曰鼓。鼓所以任也,所以起也,所以進(jìn)也。二曰金。金所以坐也,所以退也,所以免也。三曰旗。旗所以立兵也,所以制兵也,所以偃兵也。此之謂三官”,可譯為Three orders of signals:The first is the war drum,whose voice is used to invigorate the army to face the enemy,to attack,and to pursue in win.The second is the gong,which is used in defending and for retreat or armistice.The third is the banner,which is used to recruit troops,to command them,and to stop them from marching.These are called the three orders of signals.其它“五教”和“九章”的內(nèi)容也可依此法依次譯出。
朱長春評(píng)說《管子》其文約,其旨精,其義微,四百言即五千文之要素,而三乘之秘藏也[6],又說其言簡貴,不漫不煩[7],《歷子品粹·管子》評(píng)價(jià)《管子》說其旨確,其詞核,其步驟閑雅不亂,有味哉,其言也[6],足見《管子》文風(fēng)之簡約。因此,在對(duì)《管子》進(jìn)行英譯的過程中,不但要準(zhǔn)確表達(dá)原文的意義,而且要盡量體現(xiàn)原文的簡約文風(fēng),其英譯實(shí)踐還需長期探討。
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