秋千影
字面上看,“著力點(diǎn)”當(dāng)是“用力的地方”或“致力的方向”,英文應(yīng)該是the focus of ones effort,正巧focus的英文釋義是an act of concentrating interest or activity on something,頗為匹配。然而,在具體翻譯實(shí)踐中,往往無(wú)法用此了之。試看以下各例:
原文:找準(zhǔn)工作切入點(diǎn)和著力點(diǎn)
譯文:map out plans with focus on priorities
點(diǎn)評(píng):譯者巧妙結(jié)合英文中的兩個(gè)單詞focus和priority,不著痕跡地傳達(dá)了“切入點(diǎn)和著力點(diǎn)”之義:從哪里入手,以什么為優(yōu)先。
原文:把堅(jiān)持和發(fā)展中國(guó)特色社會(huì)主義作為學(xué)習(xí)黨的十八大精神的聚焦點(diǎn)、著力點(diǎn)、落腳點(diǎn)
譯文:We must always stick to this theme, continue to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, and work hard to reach the goal.
點(diǎn)評(píng):漢語(yǔ)中的三個(gè)“點(diǎn)”,共同強(qiáng)調(diào)學(xué)習(xí)十八大精神的終極目標(biāo),因而英語(yǔ)譯文凝結(jié)為了一個(gè)短語(yǔ):work hard to reach the goal。
原文:找準(zhǔn)突破的方向和著力點(diǎn)
譯文:pinpoint the direction of our effort to break down the barriers
點(diǎn)評(píng):仿佛演員本色出演,這個(gè)譯法大概也是本色翻譯。
原文:中國(guó)將把推動(dòng)發(fā)展的著力點(diǎn)轉(zhuǎn)到提高質(zhì)量和效益上來(lái)。
譯文:China will shift its development focus to improving the quality and efficiency of growth.
點(diǎn)評(píng):這句漢語(yǔ)中,“著力點(diǎn)”頗似“工作重心”,譯文得“意”忘“形”。
原文:我們?yōu)榇俗鞒鋈嫔罨母锏目傮w部署,著力點(diǎn)之一就是……
譯文:To do so, we have made overall plans for driving our reform to a deeper level. A key focus of this drive is to…
點(diǎn)評(píng):英文對(duì)應(yīng)詞focus容易想到,但見到“之一”也要敢于適時(shí)地直接使用不定冠詞,而不是動(dòng)輒使用“one of…”。
原文:中央提出抓作風(fēng)建設(shè),反對(duì)形式主義、官僚主義、享樂主義,反對(duì)奢靡之風(fēng),就是提出了一個(gè)抓反腐倡廉建設(shè)的著力點(diǎn),提出了一個(gè)夯實(shí)黨執(zhí)政的群眾基礎(chǔ)的切入點(diǎn)。
譯文:The CPC Central Committee has called upon us to improve our working practice by opposing the Four Malfeasances. This serves as a focus for combating corruption and upholding integrity, as well as a starting point for consolidating popular support for the Partys governance.
點(diǎn)評(píng):從這一譯例,讀者可以得出結(jié)論:漢語(yǔ)中常說(shuō)的“工作中的抓手”,其實(shí)在英語(yǔ)中也可使用focus。漢英翻譯,很多情況下,很難找到完全對(duì)應(yīng)的詞匯,能否清楚而且準(zhǔn)確地表達(dá)原義,完全取決于我們對(duì)兩種語(yǔ)言的宏觀把握。