《喬布斯傳》翻譯筆記:海盜船長的日本行
(Mac團隊成員Steve Capps幫喬布斯設計的海盜旗,骷髏所帶的眼罩是蘋果公司的標志。)
第十三章中Lisa電腦問世,喬布斯的Mac 團隊進展如何?麥金塔計劃繼續(xù),喬布斯每隔半年就會帶團隊成員與附近的度假勝地休息放松下(a two-day retreat at a nearby resort),每次的度假他都會分享不同的格言(maxim)主題,與麥金塔項目的發(fā)展緊密聯(lián)系。1983年1月底,團隊成員為了慶祝喬布斯28歲的生日,幫喬布斯制作了一面很酷的海盜旗(Jolly Roger)。這面海盜旗在蘋果新辦公大樓的樓頂高高飄揚了好幾個星期,后來被lisa團隊給偷走了。為了幫Mac電腦選硬盤驅動器(disk drive),喬布斯和同事飛往日本考察。喬布斯選中阿爾卑斯電子公司(Alps Electronics Co.)并中斷了與索尼的合作。然而到最后,由于阿爾卑斯電子無法按時供貨,蘋果公司還是采用了索尼的產(chǎn)品。喬布斯的日本之行表現(xiàn)如何?
【英語原文】
As they proceeded to visit other Japanese companies, Jobs was on his worst behavior. He wore jeans and sneakers to meetings with Japanese managers in dark suits. When they formally handed him little gifts, as was the custom, he often left them behind, and he never reciprocated with gifts of his own. He would sneer when rows of engineers lined up to greet him, bow, and politely offer their products for inspection. Jobs hated both the devices and the obsequiousness. “What are you showing me this for?” he snapped at one stop. “This is a piece of crap! Anybody could build a better drive than this.” Although most of his hosts were appalled, some seemed amused. They had heard tales of his obnoxious style and brash behavior, and now they were getting to see it in full display.(Chapter 13 Building the Mac: Let's Be Pirates)
【滬江譯文】
喬布斯一行接著又參觀了另外幾家日本公司,喬布斯也依舊舉止非常粗魯。日本的經(jīng)理們身著正式的深色西裝和喬布斯見面,他卻只隨便穿著牛仔褲和運動鞋。日本經(jīng)理會按照慣例鄭重地遞給他小禮物,但喬布斯經(jīng)常把這些禮物隨手丟在一邊,也從未準備禮物回贈。去工廠參觀,日本公司的工程師站成一排歡迎他,鞠躬并禮貌地遞上產(chǎn)品供他檢測,他則對這些嗤之以鼻。喬布斯討厭他們的產(chǎn)品,還有他們的諂媚奉承之態(tài)。在其中的一處工廠他厲聲問道:“你給我展示這個干嘛?簡直是一堆垃圾!隨便找個人做的驅動器都比這個好?!?大部分的日方東道主都對他的態(tài)度感到震驚,不過似乎還是有人被逗樂了。他們早就耳聞關于喬布斯作風招人嫌舉止傲慢無禮的種種故事,現(xiàn)在他們可是親眼見到充分感受了。
【翻譯筆記】
1. proceed to:proceed這個單詞很有趣,可以表示開始,也可以表示繼續(xù)進行。proceed to 可以表示開始進入或繼續(xù)下去,另外還可以表示改讀…學位。
2. in full display:充分發(fā)揮,全面展現(xiàn)。短語 in display 本意在展示,加上了形容詞full 后短語的引申義加強。類似的用法還有:in full blossom 全面發(fā)展;in full charge 負全責;in full sail 全力以赴;in full swing 全力進行。
3. 喬布斯的格言主題:
Don't compromise. 不要妥協(xié)。
It's not done until ships. 直到上市,產(chǎn)品才算完工。
The journey is the reward. 旅途就是收獲。
Real artists ship. 真正的藝術家能將產(chǎn)品上市。
It's better to be a pirate than to join the navy.? 寧做海盜,不當海軍。