周 維
(衡陽(yáng)師范學(xué)院 外語(yǔ)系,湖南 衡陽(yáng) 421002)
中國(guó)的茶文化歷史悠久,到 《紅樓夢(mèng)》成書時(shí)期的清朝已經(jīng)接近成熟完美的地步。 《紅樓夢(mèng)》作者曹雪芹在書中充分展示了我國(guó)歷史悠久的茶文化?!都t樓夢(mèng)》中還提到了各種精致的茶具。本文試圖從目的論的角度來對(duì)比分析楊憲益和霍克斯兩個(gè)譯本中茶具的翻譯效果,讓讀者欣賞清代精美的茶具,領(lǐng)略我國(guó)古代的茶文化。
一
功能派翻譯目的論興起于德國(guó),是由德國(guó)功能派代表人物漢斯·弗米爾 (Hans.Vermeer)在20世紀(jì)70年代末期創(chuàng)立的。該理論認(rèn)為翻譯是以原文為基礎(chǔ)的有目的和有結(jié)果的行為,這一行為必須經(jīng)過協(xié)商來完成;翻譯必須遵循一系列法則,其中目的法則居于首位[2](轉(zhuǎn)引自 Nord 2001:29)。后來克里斯汀娜·諾德全面總結(jié)和完善功能派理論。她首次用英語(yǔ)系統(tǒng)闡述了翻譯中的文本分析所需考慮的內(nèi)外因素,以及如何在原文功能的基礎(chǔ)上制定切合翻譯目的的翻譯策略。漢斯·弗米爾 (Vermeer)所提出的目的論,認(rèn)為文本目的是翻譯過程的第一準(zhǔn)則,因此所有的翻譯遵循的首要法則就是 “目的性法則”:任何翻譯行為都是由翻譯的目的來決定的,即 “結(jié)果決定方法 (The end justifies the means)”[2]29。由于功能翻譯理論就是以 “目的原則”為最高準(zhǔn)則,而任何翻譯活動(dòng)都是有目的的行為,翻譯的最終目標(biāo)和主要功能是幫助人們了解原文的主要內(nèi)容。后來克里斯汀娜·諾德又用英語(yǔ)系統(tǒng)闡述了如何在原文功能的基礎(chǔ)上制定切合翻譯目的的翻譯策略。也就是說,目的論認(rèn)為譯者必須能夠針對(duì)特定的翻譯目的采用特定的翻譯方法或策略,即根據(jù)不同的翻譯目的,根據(jù)譯文在譯入語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言和文化里的預(yù)期功能調(diào)整自己的翻譯策略。
二
功能學(xué)派翻譯目的論使譯者把焦點(diǎn)從原文轉(zhuǎn)移到譯文的目的上,為翻譯研究開辟了一條新的道路。目的論認(rèn)為,實(shí)現(xiàn)譯文的預(yù)期功能是首要原則。用目的論來指導(dǎo)譯文的翻譯和譯文的賞析,可以解析譯者的翻譯過程,更好地賞析譯文[3]86。接下來本文將從目的論的角度對(duì)比分析楊憲益和霍克斯兩個(gè)譯本中各種茶具的翻譯效果。
茶文化除了講究茶的品種和質(zhì)量,還注重茶杯、茶壺和茶盤等茶具。《紅樓夢(mèng)》中就提到了不少精致的茶具。接下來本文將從目的論的角度對(duì)比分析楊憲益和霍克斯兩個(gè)英譯本中對(duì)于一些茶具的翻譯。
(一)填漆茶盤和小蓋鐘的翻譯
《紅樓夢(mèng)》第六回劉姥姥一進(jìn)榮國(guó)府,看見平兒站在炕沿邊,捧著小小的一個(gè)填漆茶盤,盤內(nèi)一個(gè)小蓋鐘。鳳姐也不接茶,也不抬頭,只管撥手爐內(nèi)的灰……[4]42
楊憲益譯文:Pinger stood by the kang with a small covered cup on a little lacquered tray,but Xifeng ignored the tea and kept her head lowered as she stirred the ashes.[5]126
霍克斯譯文:Patience stood beside her carrying a covered teacup on a tiny inlaid lacquer tray.Xi-feng appeared not to have noticed her,for she neither reached out for the cup nor raised her head,but continued picking absorbedly at her hand-warmer.[5]64
此處提到了兩種茶具,分別是填漆茶盤和小蓋鐘。填漆是漆器的一種裝飾方法,漆工藝技術(shù)最早起源于晚周時(shí)期,漢代出土的葬品中就有漆器,漆器歷經(jīng)我國(guó)各個(gè)朝代,品種紛繁。但漆器裝飾上基本方法只有三種:即描飾法、填嵌法與雕鏤法。填漆屬于填嵌法中的一種,填漆器物是我國(guó)古代最精致的工藝品之一?,F(xiàn)代填漆技術(shù)已經(jīng)失傳,此處提到的填漆也就是填彩漆,即在漆器表面陰刻出花紋后,用不同的色漆填入花紋,干后將表面磨光滑,可見填漆是將漆填在器物的表面。
楊憲益采用直譯法把填漆茶盤翻譯成lacquered tray,把小蓋鐘翻譯成a small covered cup。而霍克斯把填漆茶盤翻譯成inlaid lacquer tray,把小蓋鐘翻譯成a covered teacup。從目的論的角度來說,此處霍克斯的譯文比楊憲益的更好。首先霍克斯的譯文tiny inlaid lacquer tray,突出了原文中的填漆一詞,顯示漆是填進(jìn)去的,楊憲益的譯文則只保留了漆器一詞,沒有突出填漆,無法顯示該茶盤的精湛工藝。而且平兒用該填漆茶盤送茶給鳳姐喝,填漆茶盤也間接突出了鳳姐的社會(huì)地位。對(duì)于小蓋鐘,從目的論的角度而言,本人認(rèn)為楊憲益的譯文更合理。因?yàn)橹疤岬搅颂钇岵璞P是個(gè)小小的,與之匹配的蓋鐘也是小的,突出了茶具的精美細(xì)小。楊憲益保留了 “小蓋鐘”中的 “小”字,但是霍克斯不知道是有意還是無意,在譯文中省略了 “小”字,也就無法突出蓋鐘的細(xì)小精美。
(二)茶筅的翻譯
《紅樓夢(mèng)》第二十二回 “聽曲文寶玉悟禪機(jī),制燈迷賈政悲讖語(yǔ)”中提到:太監(jiān)又將頒賜之物送與猜著之人,每人一個(gè)宮制詩(shī)筒,一柄茶筅,獨(dú)迎春,賈環(huán)二人未得[4]145。
楊憲益譯文:The eunuch then proceeded to give the winners their prizes:apoem-container made in the Palace and a bamboo whisk for cleaning teapots.The only two left out were Yingchun and Jia Huan,and while she regarded this as a game and did not take it to heart he was most disappointed.[5]436
霍克斯譯文:The eunuch proceeded to distribute prizes for answering the Imperial Concubine's riddle.Everyone who had guessed correctly received an ivory note-case made by Palace craftsmen and a bamboo tea-whisk.Ying-chun and Jia Huan were the only ones who did not receive anything.[6]215
在此提到的茶具是元妃獎(jiǎng)給賈府兄妹的燈謎獎(jiǎng)品:一柄茶筅。由此看出茶文化在我國(guó)古代影響深遠(yuǎn),小小茶具茶筅甚至被當(dāng)成宮廷賞賜的獎(jiǎng)品。楊憲益把茶筅翻譯為 a bamboo whisk for cleaning teapots, 霍克斯翻譯成a bamboo teawhisk。從目的論的角度來說,此處楊憲益的譯文更好,他采用意譯法把茶筅翻譯為a bamboo whisk for cleaning teapots,不僅突出了該茶具的材質(zhì),而且突出了該茶具的用途,相比霍克斯的譯文來說,此譯文更有利于目的語(yǔ)讀者的理解。
(三)小茶盤和蓋碗的翻譯
《紅樓夢(mèng)》第四十回 “史太君兩宴大觀園”中提到:紫鵑早打起湘簾,賈母等進(jìn)來坐下。林黛玉親自用小茶盤捧了一蓋碗茶來奉與賈母……[4]268
楊憲益譯文:Zijuan had the bamboo portiere raised ready for them.The Lady Dowager and others went in and took seats,after which Daiyu with her own hands brought her grandmother a covered bowl of tea on a small tray.[5]793
霍克斯譯文:Nightingale was already waiting with the bamboo blind raised for them to enter.Grandmother Jia led her party through the doorway and sat down inside.Dai-yu waited on her in person;offering her tea in a covered cup which she carried on a little tray.[6]396-397
這里有兩處提到了茶具,即小茶盤和蓋碗。楊憲益采用直譯法把小茶盤翻譯成a small tray,把一蓋碗翻譯成a covered bowl?;艨怂挂膊捎弥弊g法把小茶盤翻譯成a little tray,采用意譯法把一蓋碗翻譯成a covered cup。對(duì)于小茶盤,從目的論的角度來說,霍克斯和楊憲益的譯文相差無幾,都達(dá)到了翻譯的目的。但是對(duì)于蓋碗,霍克斯的譯文比楊憲益的更好,蓋碗在此應(yīng)該是指茶杯。盛茶的茶具如果按照直譯法翻譯成 “a covered bowl”,似乎不妥,容易讓目的語(yǔ)讀者產(chǎn)生誤解。
(四)小洋漆茶盤、舊窯茶杯并十錦小茶吊、茶吊和茶碗的翻譯
《紅樓夢(mèng)》第五十三回 “寧國(guó)府除夕祭宗祠,榮國(guó)府元宵開夜宴”中提到:這邊賈母花廳之上共擺了十來席。每一席旁邊設(shè)一幾,幾上設(shè)爐瓶三事,焚著御賜百合宮香。又有八寸來長(zhǎng)四五寸寬二三寸高的點(diǎn)著山石布滿青苔的小盆景,俱是新鮮花卉。又有小洋漆茶盤,內(nèi)放著舊窯茶杯并十錦小茶吊,里面泡著上等名茶……賈母于東邊設(shè)一透雕夔龍護(hù)屏矮足短榻,靠背引枕皮褥俱全。榻之上一頭又設(shè)一個(gè)極輕巧洋漆描金小幾,幾上放著茶吊,茶碗,漱盂,洋巾之類,又有一個(gè)眼鏡匣子[4]369。
楊憲益譯文:In the old lady's hall about ten tables were set for the feast.Beside each,on a teapot,stood an incense-burner burning Palace incense conferred by the Emperor;an incense box and a vase;a miniature garden about eight inches long,four inches wide and two or three inches high,with fresh flowers among small mossy rocks;teacups made in a previous reign;and gay little teapots filled with the finest tea on a small tray of Western lacquerware.
……
To their east stood a carved openwork dragonscreen with below it a low couch spread with cushions,pillows and furs.Beside the pillows,an elegant low table of foreign lacquer with gilt designs was set out with a teapot,cups,rinse-bowls and towels as well as a spectacle-case.[5]1093-1095
霍克斯譯文:Inside the hall some dozen or more tables had been laid facing outwards towards the stage.They were arranged in a fan shape,with the two central tables in the place of honour at the back and the rest of them raying out forwards to left and right of them.At the side of each table a smaller,ornamental table had been placed on which were arranged.
1.a little three-piece incense set (a vase,a cassolette and a tripod,all made on a miniature scale out of metal)in which Hundred Blend aromatic—agift from the Palace—was burning;
2.a porcelain dish,eight inches long,four or five inches wide and two or three inches deep,containing a miniature landscape made out of stones and mosses;
3.a small japanned tea-tray on which was one of Grandmother Jia's best china teacups and a little individual mille fiori teapot in which choicest tea was brewing;
……
To their left,at the head of the row of tables radiating outwards towards the east side of the hall,there was a large,low wooden settle with a carved pierced-work back of interlacing dragons,which had been put there for Grandmother Jia to lie on.It was furnished with a back-rest and bolsters and was large enough to have a fur rug spread out on it and still leave room at one end for a small,exquisitely gilded table of foreign make on which had been placed a teapot,a teacup,a spittoon,a napkin and,among various other small objects,an eyeglass-case.Grandmother Jia rested with her feet up on the settle and,after talking for a while with the company,took out the eyeglasses from their case and looked through them at the stage.[6]548-549
以上這段文字中,提到了幾種茶具,分別是小洋漆茶盤、舊窯茶杯并十錦小茶吊、茶吊和茶碗。此處 “舊窯”一詞,用來指代歷代無法確認(rèn)的年代久遠(yuǎn)特別名貴珍稀的古瓷器。由于無法確定瓷器的年代和出產(chǎn)地,于是用 “舊窯”指代。這里的 “十錦小茶吊”,應(yīng)該是前朝明代的瓷器。因?yàn)樗胃G還未出現(xiàn)彩繪瓷器,青花瓷元代才有,五彩則是明代宣德年間才出現(xiàn)的,在成化時(shí)期趨于成熟,所以此處的十錦小茶吊應(yīng)該是明朝宣德年間出產(chǎn)的瓷器,到《紅樓夢(mèng)》所在的清朝已經(jīng)有一定的年代了。小洋漆茶盤和舊窯茶杯并十錦小茶吊作為賈母房間的擺設(shè),表明了賈母的尊貴身份和地位。
從目的論的角度來看,楊憲益采用直譯法把小洋漆茶盤翻譯為small tray of Western lacquer ware。譯文準(zhǔn)確明了,達(dá)到了翻譯的目的。舊窯茶杯翻譯為teacups made in a previous reign;此處 “舊窯”一詞突出該茶杯年代久遠(yuǎn)特別名貴珍稀,顯示了賈母的尊貴地位。楊憲益把 “舊窯”翻譯為in a previous reign,采用的是意譯法,意思是指過去朝代生產(chǎn)的,但是譯入語(yǔ)讀者可能并不能從該譯文中得知此茶杯年代久遠(yuǎn)特別名貴珍稀,因此尚未達(dá)到翻譯的目的。對(duì)于十錦小茶吊楊憲益翻譯為gay little teapots,乍一看讓人誤以為是同性戀小茶壺,查詢一下字典得知 “gay”除了有同性戀,快樂的,放蕩的意思之外,還有色彩艷麗的意思,楊憲益想必當(dāng)時(shí)沒有考慮到該譯文可能會(huì)讓目的語(yǔ)讀者產(chǎn)生歧義,因此才選擇了“gay”這個(gè)單詞來指代 “十錦”。從目的論的角度來說,由于該譯文容易讓讀者產(chǎn)生歧義,而且十錦小茶吊應(yīng)該是明朝宣德年間出產(chǎn)的瓷器,暗示該茶吊年代久遠(yuǎn)特別名貴,楊憲益的譯文中并沒有加注說明,也就喪失了原文中暗含的一些茶文化內(nèi)涵,因此并沒有達(dá)到翻譯的目的。最后兩個(gè)普通的茶具茶吊和茶碗楊憲益采用直譯法將它們分別翻譯為teapot和cups,從目的論的角度而言,該譯文與原文保持了一致,達(dá)到了翻譯的目的。
從目的論的角度來看,霍克斯將小洋漆茶盤翻譯為small japanned tea-tray,意思是小的瓷器茶盤,從目的論的角度來看,該譯文與原文有較大的差距,沒有突出原文中的 “洋漆”,而原文中這一詞語(yǔ)暗示了該茶盤非普通人家所有的瓷器,因?yàn)楫?dāng)時(shí) “洋漆”只有富貴人家才有,所以譯文中 “洋漆”這一詞語(yǔ),也就不能顯示該茶盤主人賈母的尊貴身份和地位。
對(duì)于舊窯茶杯霍克斯采用了意譯法翻譯成one of Grandmother Jia's best china teacups,意思是賈母所有的最好的瓷器茶杯之一。從目的論的角度而言,該譯文突出了舊窯茶杯的珍貴,但是此處霍克斯省譯了 “舊窯”一詞,目的語(yǔ)讀者無法從譯文中得知此茶杯年代久遠(yuǎn),特別珍稀,因此也沒有完全達(dá)到原文翻譯的目的?;艨怂拱咽\小茶吊翻譯成a little individual mille fiori teapot,即一個(gè)小小的獨(dú)個(gè)的千花茶壺。此處mille fiori是來自19世紀(jì)中期的意大利語(yǔ),本義是千花的意思,現(xiàn)在有千花玻璃的說法,用來指鎮(zhèn)紙。從目的論的角度來說,西方千花玻璃的做法和十錦瓷器的做法完全不一致,風(fēng)格圖案相差甚遠(yuǎn),因此該譯文容易給目的語(yǔ)讀者帶來錯(cuò)誤的遐想,以為十錦小茶吊類似西方千花玻璃的圖案,也就無法達(dá)到準(zhǔn)確傳遞原文意思的翻譯目的。對(duì)于茶吊和茶碗這兩種茶具,霍克斯也采用了直譯法將它們分別翻譯為teapot和teacup,從目的論的角度而言,該譯文與原文意思一致,達(dá)到了翻譯的目的。
古典名著 《紅樓夢(mèng)》通過對(duì)以上各種精美茶具的描寫充分展示了我國(guó)歷史悠久的茶文化。本文從目的論的角度通過對(duì)比分析由楊憲益和戴維霍克斯翻譯的 《紅樓夢(mèng)》的兩個(gè)英譯本中一些茶具的翻譯,發(fā)現(xiàn)兩位譯者由于文化背景的差異、自身理解的不同,導(dǎo)致兩者的譯文各有千秋,孰是孰非,關(guān)鍵看譯者對(duì)原文的理解是否透徹。
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