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曹雪芹的高超語(yǔ)言技巧,賦予了《紅樓夢(mèng)》中每個(gè)人物極具個(gè)性化的語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格,使每個(gè)人物的語(yǔ)言符合自己的性格特征、社會(huì)地位和社會(huì)關(guān)系,避免了“千部一腔,千人一面”的尷尬。

王熙鳳無疑是《紅樓夢(mèng)》中塑造最為成功的人物之一。王熙鳳八面玲瓏,非常善于揣摩別人的心理。對(duì)下她說話聲言俱厲、落地有聲、八面威風(fēng);對(duì)上她投其所好、甜言蜜語(yǔ)、恭迎奉承;對(duì)于賈府的公子小姐,她又能與其打成一片。而她的語(yǔ)言技巧,就是一大法寶。因此,在翻譯中如何體現(xiàn)這種言語(yǔ)策略,將是翻譯的一大難題。本文將對(duì)比分析楊憲益和霍克斯英譯本,希望給讀者帶來一些啟發(fā)。

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例1、“依我說,竟別去碰這個(gè)釘子去……”

楊譯:If I were you, I wouldn’t run my head against a brick wall……

霍譯:I don’t think?it’s worth trying. I think it would be merely asking for trouble……

解析:王熙鳳言語(yǔ)一直將“我”放在話語(yǔ)的突出地位,說話總以“我”開頭。此句開頭便是“依我說”,體現(xiàn)了王熙鳳以自我為中心的性格特點(diǎn)?;糇g開門見山,用“I don’t think……”言語(yǔ)擲地有聲,凸顯了人物的特點(diǎn)。而楊譯則為虛擬語(yǔ)氣,減弱了人物的說話力量。

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例2、“依我說,老太太今兒喜歡,要討,今兒就討去?!?/p>

楊譯:“As she’s in high spirits today,it seems to me now’s the time to make this request.”

霍譯:“As a matter of fact, Grandma is in rather a good mood today, so if you are going to ask her, it would probably be best to do so straight away.”

解析:此句和前一句雖然是兩種截然不同的主張,但都是以“依我說“開頭,再次體現(xiàn)了王熙鳳以自我為中心的性格。此句,霍譯并沒有提及“我”,減弱了話語(yǔ)的力量,而楊譯用了“it seems to me”。

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例3、“你是素日知道我的,從來不信什么陰司地域報(bào)應(yīng)的;憑什么事,我說要行就行。你叫他拿三千銀子來,我就替他出這口氣?!?/p>

楊譯:“You know me”, she replied. “I’ve never believed all that talk about Hell and retribution. I do what I please and am always as good as my word. Let them bring me three thousand tales and I’ll see to this for them.

霍譯:“You’ve known me for a long time,”she said. “You know that I’ve never believed all that talk about hell and damnation. If I decide that I want to do something I do it, no matter what it is. Tell them that if they are prepared to pay out three thousand tales of silver, I will undertake to relieve them of their trouble.”

解析:從此句可以看出王熙鳳說話絲毫不留余地,做人獨(dú)斷,盛氣凌人。兩種譯文翻譯得都很到位,相較而言,可能楊譯的譯文更為簡(jiǎn)潔,更加體現(xiàn)了王熙鳳不拖泥帶水,干脆利落的性格。

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例4、“誰(shuí)叫老太太會(huì)調(diào)理人?調(diào)理的水蔥似的,怎么怨得人要?我幸虧是孫子媳婦,我若是孫子,我早要了,還等到這會(huì)子呢!“

楊譯:“Who told you, madam, to train your girls so well? If you bring one up as fresh as a spring of young parsley, you can’t blame people for wanting her. It’s lucky I’m a grandson’s wife. If I were a grandson I’d have grabbed her long time ago. I shouldn’t have waited till now.”

霍譯:“You shouldn’t be so good at training your girls ,”said Xi-feng. “When you’ve brought up a beautiful young bulrush like Faithful, can you blame other people for wanting her? It’s a good job I’m only your granddaughter-in-law. If I had been your grandson, I should have asked you for her for myself a long time ago. I shouldn’t have waited till now, I can tell you!”

解析:賈赦想娶賈母的侍女鴛鴦為妾,惹得賈母大發(fā)雷霆,大家一個(gè)個(gè)噤若寒蟬,唯獨(dú)王熙鳳卻說怪不得別人,要怪只能怪賈母自己。明面上是怪賈母,實(shí)則確實(shí)夸贊賈母,投其所好,以甜言蜜語(yǔ)討賈母歡心。兩種譯文都顯現(xiàn)了原文隱含的意思,增加了贊美程度,再現(xiàn)了一個(gè)八面玲瓏、伶牙俐齒的王熙鳳的形象。

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不論是楊憲益譯本還是霍克斯譯本,都較好地展現(xiàn)了王熙鳳的潑辣利索,八面玲瓏的特點(diǎn)。小說中的人物語(yǔ)言是體現(xiàn)人物性格和形象的重要手段,翻譯時(shí)要深刻理解人物的個(gè)性,把握人物語(yǔ)言的風(fēng)格,不僅要領(lǐng)會(huì)人物語(yǔ)言表層的含義,更要挖掘隱含在這種形式下的思想。