Interpretersky

汉语民族“天人合一”的思想侧重从整体把握事物，人们在长期的语言使用中积累下来很多笼统词或概括词，而英语民族有主客体分离的思维倾向，他们思维严谨、注重个体和差别，所以英语中有较多具体词。举一个简单的例子，“树”。树有很多种类，基本上，中文的“树”作为一个上义词，在它前面加一个下义词就可以表达差不多所有种类的树了，如：松树，柏树，杨树，橡树，栎树，柳树，杉树等，但用英文表达，就是相互间没有联系的词语了，如把以上的几种树分别用英语译出就是：pine, cypress, poplar, oak, robur, willow, China fir. 英语中这种类似的“个体户词语”俯拾皆是，这里就不一一列举了。那么我们也不奇怪学者们的感慨了：“难怪英语中有多达一百万的单词，而汉语约一二万字（识得汉字3700个，覆盖率为99。9％）， 仅占英语词汇的1－2％。”[1] 这也给我们一种意识：在翻译时，尽量避免一一对应，不要看到“操场”就全译 “playground”, 看到 “酒”就都译 “wine”, 因为英语词不像汉语词那样覆盖面广，所以汉英词语对译要谨慎细心。

 

汉语的感性和英语的理性

 

汉语民族的思维模式呈现出主客体一致的特点，叙述事物时将认识和情感融为一体，有“动之以情，晓之以理”的说法。行文造句时，融情于景、情景交融；为加强感染力，还极力铺陈渲染，堆砌华丽词藻，重复同义近义，再辅以夸张、排比、拟人等修辞手法；追求平衡对称和节奏韵律美，处处流露出感性思维的特点。而英语民族长期以来客观冷静、富于逻辑的思维方式，使得英语表达客观严谨，少用夸张排比修辞，句子简洁凝练，行文庄重冷静。所以，如果把下面这段话直译为英语时，可以想象英美读者的反映，怪不得有英语读者觉得这篇译文可笑，批评全文充斥着极度夸张。

“中华大地，江河纵横；华夏文化，源远流长。。。[然后才讲到本地，再讲到龙舟节]轻快的龙舟如银河流星，瑰丽的彩船似海市蜃楼，两岸那金碧辉煌的彩楼连成一片水晶宫，是仙境? 是梦境? 仰视彩鸽割飞，低眸漂灯留霓，焰火怒放，火树银花，灯舞回旋，千姿百态，气垫船腾起一江春潮，射击手点破满天彩球，跳伞健儿绽空中花蕾，抢鸭勇士谱水上凯歌… 啊，××城是不夜城，龙舟会是群英会！

(译文如下)：

The divine land of China has its rivers flowing across; the brilliant culture of China has its roots tracing bake long…

The light-some dragon-boats appear on the river as though the stars twinkle in the milky way. The richly decorated pleasure boats look like a scene of mirage. The splendent awnings in green and gold chian into a palace of crystal. Is this a fairy-land or a mere dream? Looking above, you can see the beautiful doves flying about. Looking below, you can see the sailing lamps glittering. Cracking are the fireworks, which present you a picture of fiery trees and silver flowers. Circling are the lantern-dancers, who present you a variation of exquisite manner. Over there the motor-boats are plowing the water, thus a tide stirs up. Over there, the marksmen are shooting to their targets; thus colorful beads whirl around. Besides, the birds’s chirping, the potted landscape’s charm, the exhibition of arts and painting, all claim a strong appeal to you. Therefore, we should say: ×× is a city of no light; its Dragon-Boat Festival a gathering of heroes.

Come on, Dear Friends! Come on, Honourable guests!…”[2]