不要跟清教徒学英语|翻译必须是一种再创作

in cn •  5 years ago 


《成圣的福音奥秘》。

A willingness to be saved according to Christ’s terms, or a consent that Christ should be our Lord, or a resolution to obey His commandments (which is little more than ignorant men trust on, when they say they hope God will save them because they have a good meaning, though they live in the neglect of all religion) without any further practice of holiness, shall pass with many for enough of sincere obedience, both to enter them into a state of salvation, and to continue them in it; so that they shall never be accounted breakers of the gospel covenant, while so much can be pretended.

我就不拿校对前的译文来讨论了。这句话的主语太长,以至于找不到谓语在哪里了。

看起来“... shall pass with many ...” 才是谓语,而且是用的英语习惯的被动形式,汉语的习惯是“许多人认为...”,而英语则采用“ willingness shall pass with many..."。因为句子这么长,在读到“Many”的时候,也很容易忽略这个词是个代词,指的是“许多人”。


翻译这样的文字实在是一种折磨,清教徒的脑容量大概的确和常人不一样。我看不出将这句话直译出来,对现代的读者有什么太大的益处,一本艰深难读的书,即使内容再好,大概也难以吸引太多的读者吧。

从这个意义上说,翻译必须是一种再创作,将一种异文化、异时代的文本,转换为当代的另一种文化处境可以容易理解的表述。

上面这句话,即使是现代的英美读者也不容易理解,也是需要现代白话英文译本才能让当代的大学生能读得下去吧。


参考译文:

许多人所认为的真诚顺服,不过是愿意按照基督给出的条件得救,承认基督是我们的主,或者定意顺服他的诫命(其实他们所依靠的,与无知之人尽管完全没有信仰,却说自己存心良善,因此在神的拯救上大有盼望一样);他们认为无需进一步的圣洁行为,就可以让他们得救或者维持得救的身份;于是,他们可以心安理得地假装自己从未违背福音的新约。


不要跟清教徒学英语!——多么痛的领悟。

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!