Thursday, April 30, 2009

山寨

一直没有好好去想个译法。昨天开会,有一段时间不用翻译,脑子天马行空,咦,想到了:

cottage industry copycat...

这并不是唯一的译法,但在大多数语境中可以使用,只要在后面加上相应的名词就行了。

如果要强调贬义,不妨使用 copycat... cobbled up in the shed.

山寨春晚:a hammy, copycat version of the annual Spring Festival Variety Show (Gala)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009


I was doing my tie today when I realised that a nice tie, nicely tied, looks "tidy" only because...

It first creates creases on an otherwise uncreased piece of fabric, comes together in a complex knot and, finally, uses a large facade to cover up the CREASES AND COMPLEXITY!

However, a closer looks reveals the RESTRICTION (on the wearer's neck) and the TENSION (between the tight knot and the tendency of the fabric to return to its original width and uncreased state).

And that's what makes a man "respectable": Complexity, inner tension, restraint... and everything unsightly swept under the carpet!

Friday, April 10, 2009


朋友L上个星期问我是否可以将徐志摩的《偶然》翻成英文。当时没有灵感,就放了放。

昨夜看了一部电影叫Vacancy,男主角眼熟,但一定是二、三线的演员,不知道名字,女主角是Kate Beckinsale,是个才女,曾就读于牛津大学。我看过她出演的恐怖片Haunted(我很少看恐怖片,但这部我起码看过四遍)。Emma电视剧中,就是她演的Emma。当然还有Pearl Harbor,还有Underworld系列(我没看,因为她好像整过容隆过胸了,可能为了在好莱坞混,身不由己,很为她惋惜,有点悲哀)。

Anyway, Vacancy是惊悚片,讲的是Kate饰演的女主角跟他老公在一家黑店motel的遭遇,细节不说了,但Kate演得真好......哈,惊悚片还有什么演技可言?但她就是厉害。反正我是看得心惊肉跳,看完了知道不能就这么去睡觉,不是担心做噩梦,而是睡眠质量会打折扣。

于是,拿出《偶然》,硬着头皮翻成了英文,果然就不去想那部电影的情节了。先说明一下,开头的“云、心、影”,韵比较“松”,我用schwa音节跟它匹配。后面的都实实在在地对应了。另外,口语化的特点(以当时的语言风格相对而言)和略带俏皮(bordering on frivolity, but with some veiled pain, as I sense it)的语气,尽量复制。

偶然

徐志摩

我是天空里的一片云,

偶尔投影在你的波心--

你不必讶异,

更无须欢喜--

在转瞬间消灭了踪影。

你我相逢在黑夜的海上,

你有你的,我有我的,方向;

你记得也好,

最好你忘掉

在这交会时互放的光亮!


By Chance

Hsu Chih-mo

I am, up there, a feather of vapour,

By chance, mirrored in your heart's limpid water --

I don't mean to alarm,

Nor to charm --

When you look again, I'm gone like a goner.

Our paths cross in the night, in the deep,

You follow your course, I to mine keep;

Remember it you may,

Nay, you would do better to move away

Forget the meeting beams we flash that, unto us, sweep!