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成语翻译中的处理

  英语和汉语一般都有对应的语汇或习语,然而在处理具体问题时,常常不能完全对应。下面我们来看看一些例子。

  比如汉语习惯称亚洲“四小龙”,英语虽然可译成the Asian “four dragons”,但西方人大都叫the Asian “four tigers”或“four tigers” in Asia,因为在西方人的眼里,dragon是一种类似鳄鱼或蛇、长有翅膀而且会喷火、常常看守着金银财宝的怪物。

  成语和谚语更难对应了,有时甚至连原文的踪迹都没有了,如 “Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs”,如果按照字面直译成“不要教你的奶奶磕鸡蛋”,让人看了会莫名其妙。要是意译为“不要班门弄斧”,就既表达了原意,也符合汉语习惯。

  和汉语一样,英语的成语也很多,但其中大部分都很难对译成汉语成语,这时一般采取意译。如:

  1.Like talking to a brick wall(对牛弹琴,瞎子点灯白费蜡),意为to waste one's breath trying to persuade someone who is so obstinate to listen to reason;例句:He is so dogmatic; it's like talking to a brick wall arguing with him.

  2.To make bricks without straw(巧妇难为无米之炊),意为to try to achieve some result with inadequate means;例句:We were unable to give you an opinion because you didn't give us the information we needed. We can't make bricks without straw.

  3.The rotten apple(害群之马,败家之子)意为the one bad person among a number of good ones;例句:His youngest son was the rotten apple.

  4.To pay back in the same coin, to pay sb. back in his own coin, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,(以眼还眼,以牙还牙,以其人之道还治其人之身)意为to retaliate by using the same method;例句:Jukes has attacked us in his advertisement overseas; we will pay him back in the same coin.

  5.To have a heart of gold(有一副菩萨心肠)意为to be a kind, generous, forgiving person whose qualities are much appreciated.

  6.Walls have ears(隔墙有耳)意为You must be very careful what you say because someone may be eavesdropping.

  在汉译英时同样应注意这一点。1992年北京国际拍卖会手册上有一位领导人的题词是:一锤定音,双方买卖即成。我的译文是:A hammer gives the final word, and a deal is concluded between the buyer and seller.“一锤定音”几个字很形象,但比较难处理。拍卖的实际操作是由拍卖主锤师用木锤敲桌梆的形式来决定交易,而不是“成交”之类的话语。因此同时采用了直译和意译两种手法,即:一(A hammer)、双方买卖即成交(a deal is concluded between the buyer and seller)和定音(gives the final word)。这里用“final word”(或final say)指“拍板”,“敲定”,即决定下来,这样处理既忠实原文又生动贴切。


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