今日推送文章的原素材取自2月翻译群日常翻译练习的其中两句,和大家分享一点处理思路。
译文和解析均为原创,抛砖引玉,欢迎交流。
第一句
因为要“会来事”,就得不断揣摩上级意图,时刻观察领导脸色,还要到处去“活动”,广结关系网……这就必然牵扯大量的精力,所以很难专注于做事。
先挑几个词重点讲。
“揣摩”,fathom (out), try to figure out; elicit sth. by unceasing consideration
“不断”和“时刻”这两个词是一个意思,合并翻译即可。Always, constantly, unceasingly, keep doing sth.都可以。
“观察脸色”,就是察言观色,watch/read one’s face
“看脸色、观察脸色”做什么呢?看脸色调整自己的行为决策,因此可作为一个整体,处理为“唯命是从,见机行事”:
attend to sb.'s implicit orders, dance to sb.'s tune, take sb’s cues from sb.
“活动”不是activity,而是走动的意思,也就是搞社交、搞关系:
Move about, get around, Network, Mingle, socialize
“广结关系网”,就是扩大人际网络,extend the social network,make more social contacts。
“广结”也可以理解为“走动”的目的状语,用介词for,从而将动词介词化处理:for a well-connected social network
“牵扯”可以是requires, consume, encroach, be a huge burden, entail.
“牵扯大量的精力,所以很难专注于做事”,这两句也可以脱离字面,合并在一起翻译,运用到词组:
spread yourself too ˈthin:to try to do so many different things at the same time that you do not do any of them well 样样都抓哪样都抓不好
一个词组搞定所有。
挑好词之后,可以在脑海中大致勾勒出译句结构:
因为/要“会来事”(目的状语),(补充主语)就得不断揣摩(谓语1)上级意图(宾语1),时刻观察(谓语2)领导脸色(宾语2),还要到处去“活动”(谓语3),广结关系网(谓语3 的目的状语)……这(可另起一句,或,非限制定从)就必然牵扯大量的精力,所以很难专注于做事。
根据以上结构划分,大概可以写出这样的句子:
“你”做主语:
To flatter smart, you need to keep figuring out the superior’s intention, watch every bit of his expression, and get around to make more social contacts/extend your social network... That entails a lot of vigor, so much as to distract you from work.
“会来事的人”做主语:
Those who flatter smart have to always weigh the superior’s intention and every bit of his hint, and move about for a well-connected social network... which will spread themselves too thin.
第二句
“会来事”的一旦得势和获利,“会做事”的就会受到冷落、遭到排挤。
还是先抠词。
“得势”,Be in power, be dominant, gain supremacy, get the upper hand, 也可以理解为到了一个比较优越的地位:get to a privileged position。还有Rule the roost: be in complete control.
“冷落”,Neglect, Marginalize, Have their voice muffled, Get the cold shoulder。
“排挤”,Leave out, Edge out, Elbow out, push aside; push out; squeeze out应该都是可以的。
接着对照原文句子,划分一下译文的结构:
“会来事”的一旦得势和获利(条件状语从句),“会做事”的(主语)就会受到冷落、遭到排挤(谓语)。
“一旦”是个表示假设的词,因此看到它就首先考虑用条件状语从句。
由此,大概可以写出以下译文:
Once those lickspittles get in power/gain supremacy and profit, those diligent doers will be left out in the cold/neglected and even squeezed out/elbowed out of the way.
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