《高级口译教程》教学中参考译文的灵活度

摘 要:《高级口译教程》的参考译文可根据不同的教学目的灵活使用.作者通过长期的教学实践,摸索出合理使用参考译文的方法：以参考译文为基准,把课文按主题分为具有不同灵活度的三个模块,对每一个模块采用不同的训练方法,循序渐进,使学生逐步掌握每类模块的翻译法,从而最终获得口译所必须的基本技能.本文中引用的具体例子为这种口译教学法作了最好的诠释.

关 键 词 ：灵活度 参考译文 模块 《高级口译教程》

Abstract: The reference, in the teaching of An Advanced Course of Interpretation, can be employed in a flexible way. The writer capitalizes on an adapted or unique way to teach from the textbook An Advanced Course of Interpretation: use the reference version as the standard, divide the units into three different modules based on their contents, adopt suitable flexibility to different modules. The examples demonstrated in this paper are indicative of the possible positive effects to this way of teaching from the textbook for this course.

Key words: flexibility, reference version, modules, An Advanced Course of Interpretation

近几年来,口译教学在高校英语专业中的地位越来越重要, 然而, 各高校采用的口译教材却各不相同.根据笔者的初步调查, 由上海外国语大学梅德明先生主编的《高级口译教程》是目前上海地区高校最广为使用的口译教材.首先,它作为“英语高级口译资格证书考试系列教程”之一,具有无可置疑的权威性和实用性；其次,该教程对于提高英语学习者的口译技巧、综合能力、整体素质和专业水平等确实大有帮助.笔者在高校执教英语口译九年,始终使用这本教材,对如何使用这本教材颇有心得,本文主要探讨如何指导学生灵活使用参考译文.

翻译作为一种跨语言的信息传播活动,必然会涉及与信息传播活动有关的各种客观因素和主观因素.在翻译活动中,不管是客观因素还是主观因素,都会影响翻译的效果.译者作为主体,其受教育的程度、文化的背景和知识面等因素均会影响译文的效果,况且人类的跨语言表现能力也是无穷尽的；所以, 在教学过程中,如何引导学生真正理解原文,发挥自己的所长,举一反三,主动寻找合适的表达方式,是教学的主要目的.如果学生只会死记硬背,受制于参考译文,缺乏应变能力,仅靠机械式训练来获取技能,他们是难以成长为成功的译员的.

笔者的教学原则是：执教口译应以教程的原文作为底线（中文或英文）,以参考译文作为参照基准,根据不同的模块充分鼓励学生用自己的思路与方法,发掘出合理而恰当的翻译.口译的“标准化”程度,应以课文的内容和性质确定；不同的篇章可以用不同的方法作处理.有些课文具有较大的译文灵活性,这时可以尽量调动学生的主观能动性,从他们的知识库里挖掘出信达雅的译文.

翻译界流行的等同翻译法,即对应翻译,在理论和实际操作上,强调汉英或英汉翻译时的等效作用：在意义层要神合,在表现层要貌合.刘宓庆在介绍口译笔译理论研究中阐明：“对应”是个范畴.（刘宓庆,2006：193）.换言之,在许可的范围之内,针对原文可以用不同方法处理,以找到同等有效的译文.由于场景不同,或课文内容不同,甚至个人的背景不同,使用不同的语言表达法,可以达到同样的交流目的,有时很难分出高下.在执教口译教程中,笔者常遇到这样的现象：同一句话,甚至同一个单词,学生会采用不同的译文.这时,中译英或英译中的两种不同语言的对接,“不仅只能要求对应”,更应该留给学生以较大的空间,以求得在对等的层面上扩大并在内容上增加“幅度和容限的对应（尤其是口译中）.”（同上：193页）.

由此看来,高级口译教学的成功,取决于两个因素.一是要针对原文,引导学生对已有知识加以充分发挥,因为口译是一瞬间思维过程的结果,也是汉英知识的即刻集中表现.二是要求学生积累丰富的词汇,扩展表达法,厚积薄发,用词精准,以达到理想的口译境界： 正确、自然、流畅.

长期的实践和研究口译教学使笔者对执教《高级口译教程》时作了以下的分类：

教程的课文内容按主题分为３个模块,凡涉及政策、政治、外交的主题为第一模块；涉及各种专业的主题为第二模块；而文化与生活的主题被分为第三模块.

低／中／高的灵活度.

由于这三个模块的课文性质和内容不同,在讲解课文时针对参考译文所使用的灵活度也用三个模块作对应的处理.即灵活度低的政策/政治/外交主题为第一模块；灵活度中等的专业主题为第二模块；灵活度高的文化与生活主题为第三模块.

具体的教学过程举例如下：

第一模块：灵活度低的政策/政治/外交主题.

在教授这类主题的课文时,我的态度是慎而又慎,我要求学生务必熟记常用的术语和表达方式,因为其内容的严肃性容不得半点差池.我要求学生必须紧扣原文,不能随意流露个人感情,因为翻译时涉及的是国家的政策,内容严肃,严格的选词字字千斤.“政治翻译不能任意删字,当然也不能任意加字,或离开原文自由发挥”（程镇球,2002：101）.无论是中译英或英译中,其“对应等级”应该是“基本对应”.在“概念”、“表现”和“功能”三个方面则要求全面的吻合.口译这一模块的课文务必实现三位一体,高度忠实于原文.下面试用第十四单元外交政策中的课外练习第一篇为例：

原文：⑴我们愿以最大诚意,尽最大努力争取和平统一的前景,但决不容忍“”,决不允许任何人以任何方式将台湾从中国分割出去.

参考译文：We are ready to do our utmost with maximum sincerity to secure the prospect of a peaceful reunification. But we will never put up with “Taiwan independence”, nor will we allow any one to make Taiwan secede from China by any means.

笔者评注：在这一段文字中,“以最大诚意,尽最大努力”译成 “do our utmost with maximum sincerity”.显然句子的着重点在“尽”,即“do”之上.“Utmost” 和“maximum”的选字与原文的两个“最大”完全合拍.用secede表示“分割”,也是最为合适的用词,其他词汇较难体现这一定义.随后的“nor will we 等”倒装句式是英语中表示强调的常用句式,传神地显示了中国人民强烈反对的决心.

第六单元课外练习第一篇介绍了宗教方面的一些表达方式.在口译其中的一些专用名词时不仅要字斟句酌,而且要精准传神.由于学生对宗教的知识比较有限,因此在传授这方面的内容时,选词必须十分严谨.任何错译都会使宗教信仰者产生不满情绪,甚至会造成政治问题.例如：

原文：⑵各宗教都倡导怎么写作社会,造福人群,如佛教的“庄严国土,利乐有情”,天主教、基督教的“荣神益人”,道教的“慈爱和同、济世度人”,伊斯兰教的“两世吉庆”等.

参考译文：The religions all advocate serving society and promoting people’s well-being, such as the Buddhists’“honoring the country and benefiting the people”, the Catholics and Protestants’“glorifying God and benefiting the people”, the Taoists’ “being benevolent, peaceful and harmonious, sing the world and benefiting the people”, and the Islam’s “praying to Allah to give great reward in this world and hereafter”.

笔者评注：其中“利乐有情”,“益人”和“度人”均译为“benefiting the people”.这表明了译者对其中文内涵的正确理解.“两世吉庆”从字面着手,很难达意译出其内涵,甚至可能会漏译,这儿的“两世”指的是“今世”与“来世”,参考译文则译得形神兼备：“Praying to Allah to give great reward in the world and hereafter”.

再以这单元的另一篇文章中的一个句子为例：

原文：⑶为此,我们正在积极地落实科学发展观,以人为本,执政为民,推动经济建设、政治建设、文化建设与和谐社会建设全面发展.

This is why we talk about following a scientific approach of development, put people first in administration, and promote simultaneously our economic development, political development, cultural development and development of a harmonious society.

笔者评注：原文中的“积极落实”在译文中用了一个口语化的动词短语“talk about following”.Talk about等同于talk of, 其义为：propose, consider, a possible course of action (Cowie, Mackin, 1975: 331-332).Talk about在这里显然带有双层的含义,在字面上传递宣扬或宣传的目的,但深层却呈现出“科学发展观”的一条途径.

“以人为本,执政为民”的译文：“put people first in administration”.中文为8个字,有两层含义,而英文却译成了5个字,也表现出两层的意思.英译相当达意,上口也雅.虽然少了中文句中第二个动词“为”,但译文动的感应覆盖层也在不言之中.介词短语“in administration”恰到好处体现出“执政”.

总之,这一模块的参考译文具有较低的灵活度,学生最好的学习策略是通过背诵,烂熟于心,以便信手拈来.排列在这一模块中的各单元,授课时均要注重并强调译文的神貌并合.双语之间的意义要准确诠释；表达要确切无误.

第二模块：灵活度中等的各种专业主题.

在讲授这一方面的材料时,我觉得关键在于引导学生寻找最地道的表达法,这时的参考译文应被视作是可供选择的译文.显然,不需对参考译文作较大的变动,但如有更佳的表达方式,则值得鼓励和发挥.例如：在教授第十单元科学报告, 我的感觉是“戴着镣铐跳舞”：既要鼓励学生用自己的瞬间思路来翻译,又不能违反原文严格的科学定义.口译这一模块的课文,在“概念上契合；双语在表现上相异”,显然是由于“语境决定选词”.下面试用第十单元第一篇和第三篇汉英口译中国传统医学,即中医TCM文章中的一些表达法为例：

原文：⑷万物人为贵：

参考译文：Nothing pares to a human life.

自译译文：① Nothing is more valuable than human life.

② Man is the most valuable among all the things that heen fosters.

③ People are the most important.

笔者评注：自译译文与参考译文在意思基本上等同.类似的译文,可以要求学生尝试各种译法,达意即可.

原文：⑸中医注重无病防病,强调以食补保健来延缓衰老,减少疾病.

参考译文：TCM places emphasis on the early prevention of diseases, advocating the food treatment approach, that is, efforts should be focused on maintaining good health through the intake of nourishing food to defer senility and reduce the risk of contracting diseases.

笔者评注：为了更佳地口译原文,同时也体现出这一模块译文的中等灵活性.译此句前,笔者要求学生针对句中的短语先作一番试译,同时也介绍并评论试译的各种版本.

a.中医注重无病防病：

参考译文：TCM places emphasis on the early prevention of diseases.

自译译文：TCM pays great attention to/attaches great importance on prevention better than cure.

b.强调以食补保健：

参考译文：等advocating food treatment approach, that is, efforts should be focused on maintaining good health through the intake of nourishing food

自译译文：①等emphasizing good health through a healthy, balanced diet

②等suggesting/proposing keeping a nutritious/healthy diet/hing a nutritiously balanced diet for the promotion of good health/for maintaining good health

c.延缓衰老：

参考译文：defer senility

自译译文：①defer aging

②slow the aging process

③delay aging and increase longevity

④reduce the signs of aging

d.减少疾病：

参考译文：reduce the risk of contracting diseases

自译译文：①reduce/minimize the chance/risk of contracting/catching diseases

②minimize the frequency of catching/contracting diseases

自译译文：TCM pays great attention to/attaches great importance on prevention better than cure, and suggests/proposes keeping a nutritious / healthy diet for the promotion of good health / for maintaining good health, deferring aging and reducing the risk / chance / frequency of contracting / catching diseases.

自译译文：TCM pays great attention to / attaches great importance on prevention better than cure,and stresses / emphasizes a nutritious / healthy diet / a nutritiously balanced diet for the promotion of good health / for maintaining good health, deferring aging and minimizing the risk / chance / frequency of contracting / catching diseases.

笔者评注：“无病防病”的参考译文为 “the early prevention of diseases”, 这里体现出一个时间的轮廓. “Prevention better than cure” 相比较之下,偏重了现象.就“无病防病”的说法,可直接译成“Prevention is better than cure”或“Prevention is the best medicine”. 这一句的另一个焦点是在“强调”这两个字.学生一般都直接译出“suggests / proposes keeping a nutritious / healthy / proper diet等”此译法根据上下文,可确立.参考译文中的“effects should be focused on 等”,紧扣了中文,有着一层着重“强调”的色彩.“衰老”译成为“aging／ageing”的为多.“Aging / ageing”为变老的过程,以及随之而来的健康、衰老等方面的问题.Senility指年迈的昏庸、糊涂等.在选用 “risk”和“chance” 两词间,用“chance”的居多.所不同的是,“risk”包含有患病的“danger”之意,而“chance”指患病的“possibility”.根据上下文,笔者还建议用“frequency”这个字.其意指不常患病,或减少病的出现率.

原文：⑹最后,中医认为人体内的系列运动贯穿于人的一生,这种系列运动在西医叫做“新陈代谢”.

参考译文：Last but not least, TCM believes that a series of movements, called the superseding of the old by the new, or metaboli in western medicine, exist within the human body throughout its life.

a.新陈代谢：

参考译文：a series of movements, called the superseding of the old by the new, or metaboli in western medicine

自译译文：①a series of movements / digestive movements, which means physical and chemical changes / activities known as metaboli in western medicine

②a continuous set of processes of change and assimilation / absorption, known as metaboli in western medicine

③ “All living matter undergoes a process of meta－boli: it grows, reproduces and perishes.”

④ All living things undergo a process of metaboli or change.

自译译文：Last but not least, TCM believes that a series of movements / digestive movements, which means physical and chemical changes / activities known as metaboli in western medicine, exist within the human body throughout its life.

自译译文：Last but not least, TCM believes that a continuous set of processes of change and assimilation / absorption, known as metaboli in western medicine, exists within the human body throughout its life.

笔者评注：这句中文句子容易产生歧义,问题在于如何解读此句中的“运动”.学生常会发问,“movements” 具体指的是什么.参考译文中规中矩地忠实于原文,按意译出“movements”, 但movements 与metaboli 之间,在意思上最好作个释义,以方便学生理会接受这句的原意.笔者建议：在a series of movements 后,紧跟解释which means physical and chemical changes /activities, 其意思会更明了一些.

b.这种系列运动在西医叫做“新陈代谢”.

自译译文：等a continuous process / a continuous set of processes including the absorption of nutrients and other vital / essential elements as well as the discarding of waste products known as metaboli in western medicine.

笔者评注：笔者也尝试暂弃这句中文的前半句,针对后半句,要求学生正确理解英文中metaboli 这个字.其实,metaboli由anaboli 和cataboli组成的.前者称为“同化作用”（或“组成代谢”）.后者称为“异化作用”（或“分解代谢”）.

原文：⑺几百年来,中国向全世界传播了其在五千年的历史长河中所积累的医疗保健知识.

参考译文：For hundreds of years China has spread across the globe its knowledge of traditional medicine and health care, acquired over 5,000 years of history.

a.传播：

自译译文：convey / disseminate / introduce / distribute

b.五千年的历史长河中：

自译译文：①in the 5,000 year-long river of history

②in a long history of 5,000 years

③5,000 year-long stream of history

c.积累：

自译译文：accumulate / obtain / gather / collect

d.医疗保健知识：

自译译文：medical treatment / health care

④For several hundred years, all across the globe, China has spread / conveyed / disseminated /introduced / distributed its knowledge of traditional medicine / medical treatment and health care acquired / accumulated / obtained / gathered / collected in its 5,000 year-long river of history.

笔者评注：①和④对“长河”的译法难于确立.教程中没有译出看似简单的“长河”这两个字,其道理可见一斑.所以,似乎⑤和⑥的译法更好.

⑤China has spread / conveyed / disseminated / introduced / distributed the / its knowledge of traditional medicine / medical treatment and health care, acquired / accumulated / obtained / gathered / collected over China’s / its / her 5,000 year-long stream of history, across the globe for hundreds of years / for several hundred years.

⑥For hundreds of years/for several hundred years, all across the globe, China has spread / conveyed / disseminated / introduced / distributed its knowledge of traditional medicine / medical treatment and health care acquired / accumulated / obtained / gathered / collected over its 5,000 year-long stream of history.

从参考译文和自译译文的示范和比较中可以发现,这一模块的参考译文具有中等的灵活度.在不能偏离原文的前提下,可以做不同的灵活处理.表现上虽相异,但译文与主旨则需要相互吻合.

第三模块：灵活度高的文化和生活主题.

这一方面的英语译文具有较大的灵活性,这时可以充分调动学生的主观能动性,挖掘出接近信达雅的译文,而不必拘泥于参考译文.学生的潜力在这儿得到了最大的发挥,教师应使每一个学生都学会主动思考,积极地利用自己的资源,找出最佳的译文.双语在“交际功能上有契合”便能达意,起到交流与沟通的作用和功能.本书的大量例句均属这一范畴.教师应根据课文或相关内容,尽可能地延伸和拓宽学生的思路.在实际的教学中,这种例子举不胜举, 下面的具体例子应能充分说明这一点：

原文：⑻壮观的自然风景以及不可计数的历史名胜,激发了古代文人墨客为之舞文弄墨,创作了无数经典佳作.

参考译文：Its landscape and numerous historical sites he inspired many great classics of ancient writers, scholars and calligraphers.

a.激发.

自译译文：moved / encouraged / stimulated

b.为之舞文弄墨.

自译译文：roll out / lay out / set out scrolls and dip their brush in the ink

自译译文：Its spectacular natural landscape and numerous historical sites he moved many ancient writers, scholars and calligraphers to roll out/lay out/set out scrolls and dip their brush in the ink and create many great classics.

笔者评注：这一句难译之处在于原文的“舞文弄墨”.参考译文作一笔带过的处理.笔者在解释此句时,尝试用roll out / lay out / set out scrolls and dip their brush in the ink的译文.Scrolls作卷轴解释,为“舞文”作伏笔；而dip their brush in the ink作“弄墨”的译文.

原文：⑼五千年的灿烂文化把这如诗如画的江山打扮得分外妖娆.

参考译文：Five thousand years of splendid Chinese civilization he contributed to the extraordinary enchanting beauty of this poetic and picturesque land.

a.如诗如画的江山.

参考译文：this poetic and picturesque land

自译译文：this poetic and picturesque land and culture

b.打扮得分外妖娆.

参考译文：contributed to the extraordinary enchanting beauty

自译译文：added extraordinary charm to

自译译文： Five thousand years of splendid Chinese civilization he added extraordinary charm to this poetic and picturesque land and culture.

笔者评注：参考译文在原句的地理景观上增添了一层浓重的文化色彩.之所以“分外妖娆”是由“五千年的灿烂文化”的促成.原句中的“打扮”也可试译成“add”.即“五千年的灿烂文化”为“江山”抹上了“妖娆”.笔者建议在“江山”land后可加个culture,从而突出自然和人文的含义.

原文：⑽古代帝王择泰山登临,供以祭品,祭祀天地,为国家的繁荣与祥和而祈祷.

参考译文：Ancient emperors prayed for the country’s prosperity and peace by offering sacrifices to Heen and Earth on Mount Tai.

a.古代帝王.

参考译文：ancient emperors

自译译文：past emperors / emperors past

b.择泰山登临.

参考译文：on Mount Tai

自译译文：made the pilgrimage to Mount Tai

c.祭祀天地.

参考译文：by offering sacrifices to Heen and Earth

自译译文：pay homage to Heen and Earth

自译译文：Ancient emperors / past emperors / emperors past made the pilgrimage to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices and pay homage to Heen and Earth, praying for the country’s prosperity and peace.

笔者评注：自译译文对整句的翻译烘托出一气呵成感.对这一句可依照时间与空间顺序,根据原文作排列式译出.“择”made the pilgrimage,“供”offer sacrifices,“祭”pay homage to, 连贯动作的最终是为“祈祷”praying for the country’s prosperity and peace.

从自译译文的范例中不难看出,这一模块展示出最高的灵活度.教师可以在原文基础上,让学生在广袤的思维空间中飞翔,任凭他们自由地找到理想的对应译文,以实现两种语言相互转换的目的.

显然,教授英语《高级口译教程》与教授其他课程有很大的不同,一来是教师根本不可能照本宣科,完全按照参考译文讲课；二来是口译的教学由讲授和训练两部分组成,这两种方法各不相同.在上课的过程中,教师同时扮演着双重的角色,有时是全神贯注的听众,极力捕捉学生翻译时的差错,指出其不足之处, 提出改进的方法；或针对学生的正确翻译,加以鼓励和发挥；有时是滔滔不绝的讲师,旁征博引,从容论证,引导学生掌握口译的技巧,逐步完善,以进入新的境界.而在上课的过程中,如何灵活使用书中原有的参考译文至关重要, 是口语教学能否取得成功的关键环节之一.