詞語翻譯與語言語境（5）

　　(8)魯貴：他媽的!(興奮地問著)你們想，你們哪一個對得起我?(向四鳳同大海)你們哪一個不是我辛辛苦苦養(yǎng)大的?可是你們哪一件事做的對得起我?(對大海)你說?(對四鳳)你說?(對侍萍)你也說說，這都是你的好孩子啊?……我跟你們一塊餓著肚子等死。你們想想，你們是哪一件事對得起我?(對大海)……我要是餓死，你是哪一點對得起我?我問問你，我要是這樣死了?

　　Lu Gui: God almighty! (Heatedly) Just look at you. There's not one of you who can look me in the face! I've worked my fingers to the bone to bring you two up, both of you, but what have either of you ever done to show your gratitude? (To Ta-Hai) Eh? (To Si-Feng) Answer me that! (To Lu-Ma) Or perhaps you can tell me saying that they're your precious children? ... I've just got to say here and starve to death with you! Now just ask yourselves: What have you ever done for me that you can be proud of? ... If I did die, you'd have it on your conscience, now wouldn't you? Eh, if I did die like this?

　　(曹禺《雷雨》，王佐良譯)

　　漢語中的詞語重復現(xiàn)象比英語多。當作者有意使用重復手段時，便形成一種修辭格，稱為“反復”。“反復”可加強語氣。此例中，魯貴一口氣說了四個“對得起我”，表達了強烈的感情。王佐良先生遵照英美人傾向于以變化的方式表達同一概念的習慣，在充分領會它們之間細微差別的前提下，用不同的譯法傳達出魯貴不同的語氣和強調(diào)重點：There's not one of you who can look me in the face!(你們誰能坦然地面對我，問心無愧?);what have either of you ever done to show your gratitude?(你們拿什么來報答我?);what have you ever done for me that you can be proud of?(你們什么時候給我爭光長臉啦?)If I did die, you'd have it on your conscience(我要是餓死了，你們良心上怎么過得去?)。出于同樣的考慮，譯者還將三個“你說”用不同的句式靈活地予以處理，充分表現(xiàn)了魯貴在面對兒子、女兒和妻子時在態(tài)度、語氣和情感上的細微差別。