秋千影
閱讀《習(xí)近平談治國(guó)理政》時(shí),讀者會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)總書記諳熟中華傳統(tǒng)文化,不時(shí)結(jié)合現(xiàn)實(shí)引經(jīng)據(jù)典、論理說情,頗接地氣。品讀此類文章,讀者不但能感受到領(lǐng)袖的家國(guó)情懷,而且能感悟到領(lǐng)袖博觀約取的文化底蘊(yùn)。
今天我們擇選“青年要自覺踐行社會(huì)主義核心價(jià)值觀”一文中的部分古語及其英譯,一起感受經(jīng)典文化的恒久魅力,體會(huì)英文表述中華傳統(tǒng)文化的獨(dú)特方式。
原文:行百里者半九十。
譯文:A thing is yet to be done until it is done.
點(diǎn)評(píng):漢英翻譯經(jīng)常需要采用太極手法,以虛譯實(shí),此一例也。
原文:大學(xué)之道,在明明德,在親民,在止于至善。
譯文:The way to great learning is to manifest bright virtue and to treat the people as ones own family, thereby arriving at supreme goodness.
點(diǎn)評(píng):“止于至善”英文表述甚多,還有be committed to excellence等。
原文:國(guó)有四維,禮義廉恥,“四維不張,國(guó)乃滅亡?!?/p>
譯文:In ancient China our ancestors developed core values highlighted by “propriety, righteousness, honesty and a sense of shame—the four anchors of our moral foundation, and a question of life and death for the country.”
點(diǎn)評(píng):對(duì)傳統(tǒng)文化稍有研究的讀者肯定知道,此處的“義”也有理解為“正義”的,所以,英文有時(shí)譯作justice;而“廉”也可直譯為integrity;“禮”譯為civility也頗貼切。
原文:民惟邦本。
譯文:The people are the foundation of a state.
原文:天人合一
譯文:the harmony of Nature and man
點(diǎn)評(píng):與“合一”相關(guān)的另一常用短語就是“知行合一”:the congruence between knowledge and actions; consistency of knowledge and practice。
原文:和而不同
譯文:harmony without uniformity
點(diǎn)評(píng):這是中華文化中一個(gè)很典型的價(jià)值觀,其英文表述也可采用另一地道表達(dá):agree to disagree。
原文:天行健,君子以自強(qiáng)不息。
譯文:As Heaven changes through movement, a gentleman makes unremitting efforts to perfect himself.
點(diǎn)評(píng):針對(duì)同句漢語,讀者諸君以為下面譯文如何?Whereas the universe moves eternally, a gentleman strives for perfection constantly.
原文:大道之行也,天下為公。
譯文:When the Great Way prevailed, a public spirit ruled all under Heaven.
點(diǎn)評(píng):“天下為公”單獨(dú)使用時(shí),尤其僅作短語時(shí),經(jīng)常翻譯為a world shared by all。
原文:天下興亡,匹夫有責(zé)。
譯文:Everyone is responsible for his countrys rise or fall.
原文:君子義以為質(zhì)。
譯文:A gentleman takes morality as his bedrock.
點(diǎn)評(píng):如前,“義”可以理解為integrity,也可以理解為justice。
原文:德不孤,必有鄰。
譯文:A man of high moral quality will never feel lonely.
點(diǎn)評(píng):“有德之人”最常見的英文表述是a man of character,所以這句話是不是也可譯為:A man of character is never alienated.
原文:老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼。
譯文:Respect others elders as one respects ones own, and care for others children as one cares for ones own.
點(diǎn)評(píng):這句古語的意思相當(dāng)明晰,所以翻譯起來相對(duì)簡(jiǎn)單。
原文:千磨萬擊還堅(jiān)勁,任爾東西南北風(fēng)。
譯文:In the face of all blows, not bending low, it still stands fast. Whether from east, west, south or north the wind doth blast.
點(diǎn)評(píng):詩歌翻譯,兼顧押韻,頗有難度,但這里處理得當(dāng),譯文中詩韻猶存。
原文:非學(xué)無以廣才,非志無以成學(xué)。
譯文:One cannot enhance ones ability and wisdom if one does not work hard; neither can one succeed without ambition.
原文:若無德,則雖體魄智力發(fā)達(dá),適足助其為惡。
譯文:He who is strong physically and talented but has no virtue will end up on the side of vice.
原文:見善則遷,有過則改
譯文:learning from fine things that may appear and correcting any mistakes that may occur
原文:學(xué)而不思則罔,思而不學(xué)則殆。
譯文:Reading without thinking makes one muddled; thinking without reading makes one flighty.
原文:千淘萬漉雖辛苦,吹盡狂沙始到金。
譯文:Gold glitters only after countless washings and sievings.
點(diǎn)評(píng):在具體語境中,韻文也不一定總要翻譯成韻文。
原文:博學(xué)之,審問之,慎思之,明辨之,篤行之。
譯文:Learn extensively, inquire earnestly, think profoundly, discriminate clearly and practice sincerely.
點(diǎn)評(píng):這幾個(gè)副詞的選擇值得翻譯愛好者學(xué)習(xí)。
原文:所謂大學(xué)者,非謂有大樓之謂也,有大師之謂也。
譯文:The key to the success of a university lies in having a lot of highly accomplished gurus rather than imposing buildings.
原文:天下難事,必作于易;天下大事,必作于細(xì)。
譯文:Difficult things are done starting from easy ones; a great undertaking begins with minor work.
原文:己所不欲,勿施于人。
譯文:Dont do unto others what you dont want others to do unto you.
點(diǎn)評(píng):其實(shí),我一直認(rèn)為,日常交往中,除了遵循“己所不欲,勿施于人”,我們還應(yīng)該遵循“己所欲,亦勿施于人”。畢竟,英文有云:One mans meat is anothers poison. 在國(guó)際交往中,尤其如此,君以為然否?
古典詩文在現(xiàn)代語文中經(jīng)常使用,但詩無達(dá)詁,因此導(dǎo)致翻譯時(shí)經(jīng)常遇到這樣的難題:準(zhǔn)確理解漢語意義;其次才是找到合適的英文表述,忠實(shí)、通順地傳譯。本次討論中的“義”“禮”等字的翻譯均說明了上述道理。
最后我們一起看看我在美國(guó)波士頓唐人街拍到的一張圖片,對(duì)翻譯感興趣的朋友可以對(duì)比思考一下“禮義廉恥”“天下為公”等詞的不同譯法。