我坐了木船I Took a Wooden Boat

葉圣陶Ye Shengtao

| 譯文摘自張培基《英譯中國散文選一》

從重慶到漢口，我坐了木船。

木船危險，當(dāng)然知道。一路上數(shù)不清的灘，礁石隨處都是，要出事，隨時可以出。還有盜匪——實在是最可憐的同胞，他們種地沒得吃，有力氣沒處出賣，當(dāng)了兵經(jīng)常餓肚皮，無可奈何只好出此下策?！偃缬鲆娏?，把鋪蓋或者身上衣服帶下去，也是異常難處的事兒。

I took a wooden boat from Chongqing to Hankou.
　　Of course I know it is risky to travel by wooden boat. With countless shoals and reefs to negotiate, accidents may happen any time. To complicate matters, there are bandits lurking around－those pitiful fellow countrymen who, unable to ward off starvation by farming or soldiering or whatnot, have been reduced to the disreputable business as a last resort. I'll be in a real fix if they should rob me of, say, my bedding or clothes.

要點：
1，“一路上數(shù)不清的灘，礁石隨處都是，要出事，隨時可以出。”此句乍看沒有主語，隱藏主語為“意外事件”，因此譯為With countless shoals and reefs to negotiate, accidents may happen any time. with句交代背景~
2，“種地沒得吃，有力氣沒處出賣，當(dāng)了兵經(jīng)常餓肚皮”是指這些人不管干什么都免不了挨餓，譯為unable to ward off（避開，防止） starvation by farming or soldiering or whatnot（等等）
3，“無可奈何只好出此下策”譯為have been reduced to the disreputable business as a last resort.其中，disreputable business（不體面的行為）指“下策”，reduced to意為“被逼從事…”（之前我們在《背影》中也見到過be in reduced circumstances這個表述，意為“光景慘淡”）,as a last resort 意為“作為最后一招”。
4，be in a real fix 意為“陷入困境”或“尷尬”~多讀大師的翻譯我們可以發(fā)現(xiàn)，高境界的譯文很大程度上是靠這些不常見的小詞撐起來的~

綜述：
本段乃至本篇文章的語言翻譯起來都需要幾經(jīng)推敲，比如“無可奈何只好出此下策”=“被逼著從事不體面的勾當(dāng)來維持生活”，就像之前說的要深挖它最本質(zhì)的意思~

但是，回轉(zhuǎn)來想，從前沒有輪船，沒有飛機，歷來走川江的人都坐木船。就是如今，上上下下的還有許多人在那里坐木船，如果統(tǒng)計起來，人數(shù)該比坐輪船坐飛機的多。
Now, on reflection, I realize that in the days before steamers and aircraft came into use, people used to travel by wooden boat up and down the Sichuan section of the Yangtze River. Even today, many continue to do so, and statistic will invariably show a higher percentage of people travelling by wooden boat than by steamer or aircraft.

要點：
1，“回轉(zhuǎn)來想”譯為on reflection(反思，回想)
2,看到up and down許多童鞋會下意識地反應(yīng)為“上上下下”，其實它也有“來來往往”之意
3，“在那里坐木船”譯為中的“那里”一定要講明是川江，即the Sichuan section（地區(qū)地段） of the Yangtze River，之前《背影》中的“那年冬天”也譯為“In the winter of more than two years ago”，隨時都要有身為一個譯者的自覺~
4，statistic will invariably show=“據(jù)統(tǒng)計”，新說法~換掉你的according!
5,“（數(shù)量）比…多”=“（比率）比…高”，譯為a higher percentage (of)…than…，又是一個新表述，如According to the table above , compared with volleyball, basketball has a higher percentage.
（與排球相比，籃球的比例更大）

綜述：本段著重注意幾個新表述，積累起來哦~

人家可以坐，我就不能坐嗎？我又不比人家高貴。至于危險，不考慮也罷。輪船飛機就不危險嗎？安步當(dāng)車似乎最穩(wěn)妥了，可是人家屋檐邊也可以掉下一張瓦片來。要絕對避免危險就莫要做人。
Why shouldn't I do the same? Why should I think it beneath myself to travel by wooden boat? As for safety, is it less dangerous to travel by steamer or aircraft? Going on foot seems to be the best choice, but a tile falling off the eaves of somebody's house might prove equally disastrous to foot passengers. Enjoying absolute safety is humanly impossible.

1，“人家可以坐，我就不能坐嗎？”是一個反問句，根據(jù)意思譯為Why shouldn't I do the same?
2，“輪船飛機就不危險嗎？”是另一個反問句，譯為is it less dangerous to travel by steamer or aircraft?它的意思等同于Isn’ it dangerous to travel by streamer or aircraft?
3，“要絕對避免危險就莫要做人”譯為Enjoying absolute safety is humanly impossible. humanly意為“從做人的角度看”，我等平民一定會將這句話當(dāng)做一個條件句來處理，然而譯者轉(zhuǎn)換說法，讓這句話譯得很妙，嬸嬸地感受到了自己和大師的差距~

綜述：本段積累反問句的譯法，反問句在翻譯時有時譯為一般疑問句，有時譯為特殊疑問句，還有時譯為陳述句。

要坐輪船坐飛機，自然也有辦法。只要往各方去請托，找關(guān)系，或者干脆買張黑票。先說黑票，且不談付出超過定額的錢，力有不及，心有不甘，單單一個“黑”字，就叫你不愿領(lǐng)教。
It stands to reason that I can go by steamer or aircraft if I care to. I can simply go around fishing for help or personal connections, or just buy a "black" ticket. But I'll have to pay more than the regular price for a "black" ticket, which I can ill afford and which I disdain to do. And the very word "black" generates in me a feeling of repulsion.

要點：
1，“自然也有辦法”譯為it stands to reason that…(自然)
2，“請托，找關(guān)系”譯為fish for help or personal connection,本文關(guān)于“請托”的表述很多，童鞋們注意積累
3，“且不談付出超過定額的錢，力有不及，心有不甘?！备鶕?jù)意思翻為But I'll have to pay more than the regular price for a "black" ticket, which I can ill afford and which I disdain to do.意為“我不得不付超過定額的錢，這些錢我付不起也不愿意付”。這種將三個分句融進(jìn)一個句子的手法值得學(xué)習(xí)。
4，Can ill afford 意為“難以提供”，如：I can ill afford it.
這我辦不到。（又是一個can’t 的進(jìn)階版~
5，四字短語，一般是根據(jù)意思翻譯的，文中“心有不甘”意即“不屑一顧”，譯為disdain to do。Disdain意為“蔑視，(￣_,￣ )不屑”常和for搭配，如：I have nothing but disdain for such a person.
對這種人我只是蔑視。
6，“the very word "black" generates in me a feeling of repulsion”中g(shù)enerate in sb a feeling of有木有很熟悉，之前在《艱難的國運與雄健的國民》中這個表述也有出境哦~
7，very word 中的very 無實際意義，這哥們兒就是來加強加強語氣的，有時可以譯為“正是，恰恰”，如：Soft, is the very word for her eye.（柔媚正是描寫她眼神的字眼。）

綜述：本段譯起來的確有些燒腦，原因就在于其語言的文學(xué)性高，譯時要不斷推敲~大家注意積累高級表達(dá)

“黑”字表示作弊，表示越出常軌。你買黑票，無異同作弊，贊助越出常軌。一個人既不能獨立轉(zhuǎn)移風(fēng)氣，也該在消極方面有所自守，邦同作弊，贊助越出常軌的事兒，總可以免了吧，——這自然是書生之見，不免通達(dá)的人一笑。
"Black" signified fraud or illegal practice. Buying a "black" ticket is as good as getting involved in a fraud or an illegal practice. If it is beyond one's capacity to single-handedly stem the prevailing social evils, one should at least be self-disciplined so as not to make matters worse. All this is undoubtedly the pedantic view of bookish person—a view which must sound ridiculous to all sensible gentlemen.

要點：
1， signify=表明，說明；預(yù)示，表達(dá)~他的小伙伴還有： mean indicate show imply suggest denote（表示，偏重字面上） connote（意味著，暗示，偏重隱含義）
2， “無異同”=“無異于”譯為as good as
3， “不能夠做某事”=beyond one’s capacity to do, 此外還有“be in no position to do”等表述也可以表示“不能”，不要給我說can’t不要跟我說can’t~（還記得之前有個類似的can ill afford嗎,把它叫出來我們談?wù)?(～ o ～)~
4， single-handedly意為“單獨地，單槍匹馬地”
5， “風(fēng)氣”這個詞在翻譯時也很常見，可以根據(jù)語境譯為ethos，fashion, climate等詞，此處譯者將其譯為social evils,(社會弊病)
6， “書生之見”譯為the pedantic view of bookish person，其中pedantic=impractical,作“不現(xiàn)實的”解
7， “通達(dá)”即“明事理的”，譯作sensible

綜述：
本段的重點依舊在理解和積累高級表達(dá)~

再說請托找關(guān)系，聽人家說他們的經(jīng)驗，簡直與謀差使一樣的麻煩。在傳達(dá)室恭候，在會客室恭候，幸而見了那要見的人，他聽說你要設(shè)法買船票，或是飛機票，愛理不理的答復(fù)你說，“困難呢……下個星期再來打聽吧……”于是你覺得好像有一線希望，又好像毫無把握，只得挨到下星期再去。
Some people have told me from their own experience that soliciting help or speaking personal connections is something as difficult as hunting for a job. You may be kept cooling your heels in a janitor's office or a reception room before an interview is granted. Hearing that you are trying to get a steamer or air ticket, the much sought-after interview may reply in a cold and indifferent manner, "Ah, that's difficult...Come see me next week..." Thereupon you seem to see a ray of hope, and you may also feel totally uncertain of success. All you can do is wait until then.

要點：
1，注意“請托關(guān)系”又粗現(xiàn)啦，這次譯者用了soliciting help or speaking personal connections，其中solicit意為“征求，索求，請求…給與”如：We solicit a continuance of your confidence and support.
我們尋求你的持續(xù)信任和支持
2，“在傳達(dá)室恭候，在會客室恭候”譯為You may be kept cooling your heels in a janitor's office or a reception room before an interview is granted.其中cool your heels意為“長等，空等”。
3, sought-after意為“吃香的，緊俏的，廣受歡迎的”如：There is no doubt that the Ford Mustang is one of the most highly sought after vehicles in automotive history.
毫無疑問，福特野馬是其中最高度追捧的車輛在汽車的歷史。
4，“愛理不理的”譯為in a cold and different manner

綜述：本段可以給“請托關(guān)系”的相關(guān)表述做個總結(jié)啦~

跑了不知多少趟，總算有眉目了，又得往這一處簽字，那一處蓋章，看種種的臉色，候種種的傳喚，為的是得一份充分的證據(jù)，可以去換張票子。
After making you don't know how many visits, there eventually appear signs of positive outcome. Then you have to go here and there to get a signature or a seal, meet with all sorts of cold reception and wait for all sorts of summonses—all for the purpose of obtaining a useful certificate to buy a ticket with.

要點：
1，“跑了不知多少趟，總算有眉目了”譯為After making you don't know how many visits, there eventually appear signs of positive outcome.
注意其中的you don’t know how是插入語，修飾many。
2，“眉目”即“積極的結(jié)果”=sign of positive outcome
2,“這一處簽字，那一處蓋章”=“跑東跑西地到處簽字蓋章”，譯為go here and there to get a signature or a seal~
3，“為的是”譯為all for the purpose of，其中for the purpose of意為“為了”，同義的還有with a view to, with the purpose of,關(guān)于目的的表述在翻譯中十分常見，童鞋們要注意積累不同表述，避免翻譯時千篇一律。

綜述：注意本句沒有主語哦，翻譯時一定要尋找隱藏的主語~
聲明：本雙語文章的中文評析系滬江英語原創(chuàng)內(nèi)容，轉(zhuǎn)載請注明出處。中文評析僅代表作者個人觀點，僅供參考。如有不妥之處，歡迎指正。