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2012/03/15 09:45:37瀏覽1138|回應2|推薦45 | |
翻譯小說,無可避免地一定會碰到作者摘錄引述的詩句,甚至一整首詩,或是歌詞、寫情寫景的詩意散文……等等。英詩是最能考驗翻譯功力的試金石,所以平日就要經常讀詩、寫詩,聆聽英文中文詩詞的朗誦,習慣英文詩的頭韻、尾韻、步格,中文詩詞的平仄對仗和押韻。 寫作最難培養的就是自然天成的意境、語感和韻律節奏感。這些特質在詩詞中更是達到了極致;詩情意境和一氣呵成的文氣,若沒下過功夫的話,翻譯出來的詩詞,很容易變成零散瑣碎的句子,唸起來索然無味,讀起來也體會不到作者要表達的精髓。 由於英詩極為優雅簡潔,有時候甚至非常晦澀,翻譯之前得詳查時代背景,宗教意涵,此詩與那本小說的關聯性,了解為什麼作者要摘錄引述這段詩文,或這首詩。在《咖啡神之雫》一書中,男主角自稱是詩人,書中自然會出現很多作者摘錄的詩句和充滿詩意的散文。在《吉姆情人》中,男主角像古代的吟遊詩人那樣,擅長講故事,所以內容有古代戰爭的故事,也有現代神祕懸疑的情節,整本書都帶著濃濃的愛爾蘭風。《亡靈的頌歌》場景設在愛爾蘭,作者也是愛爾蘭人,想當然爾,一定有許多「頌歌」了。作者喜愛唱歌,寫景的筆法也很詩意,整本小說更是充滿古典式的歌德風。 舉例來說,我翻譯《西班牙大流感:絕望邊際》時,作者就摘錄了喬治•紐曼爵士,一九一八年九月刊登在貴格會教友季刊中的兩首詩。說真的,翻譯這兩首詩遠比我翻譯十頁小說的時間還長。不僅查了許多貴格會的教義,還詢問有哲學學術背景的台大外籍教授,好不容易才了解第一首詩所要表達的涵意。所幸我大學時修過宋詞和現代詩的課程,自己也練習寫了幾十首英文和中文詩詞,所以翻譯起來還不至於太掙扎。我把這兩首詩的英文版放到下面供大家參考,至於我的譯文,礙於不能洩漏內容,觸犯譯者合約條例,所以有興趣的人,請去購買或翻閱這本繁星多媒體出版的小說。 I. I am in deep woods, Between the two twilights. Whatever I am and may be, Write it down to the Light in me; I am I, and it is my deed; For I know that the paths are dark Between the two twilights. I have made my choice to proceed By the Light I have within; And the issue rests with me, Who might sleep in a chrysalis, In the fold of a simple prayer, Between the two twilights. Having nought but the Light in me, Which I take for my soul in arms, Resolved to go unto the wells For water rejecting spells, And mouthings of magic for charms, And the cup that does not flow. I am in deep woods Between the two twilights: Over valley and hill I hear the woodland wave, Like the voice of Time, as slow, The voice of Life, as grave, The voice of Death, as still. II. The stars are with voyager wherever he may sail, The moon is constant to her time, the sun will never fail, But follow, follow round the world, the green earth and the sea, So Love is with the lover’s heart wherever he may be. 博客來書店網站連結: http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010488638 |
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