词语翻译与语言语境（5）

　　(8)鲁贵：他妈的!(兴奋地问着)你们想，你们哪一个对得起我?(向四凤同大海)你们哪一个不是我辛辛苦苦养大的?可是你们哪一件事做的对得起我?(对大海)你说?(对四凤)你说?(对侍萍)你也说说，这都是你的好孩子啊?……我跟你们一块饿着肚子等死。你们想想，你们是哪一件事对得起我?(对大海)……我要是饿死，你是哪一点对得起我?我问问你，我要是这样死了?

　　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》，王佐良译)

　　汉语中的词语重复现象比英语多。当作者有意使用重复手段时，便形成一种修辞格，称为“反复”。“反复”可加强语气。此例中，鲁贵一口气说了四个“对得起我”，表达了强烈的感情。王佐良先生遵照英美人倾向于以变化的方式表达同一概念的习惯，在充分领会它们之间细微差别的前提下，用不同的译法传达出鲁贵不同的语气和强调重点：There's not one of you who can look me in the face!(你们谁能坦然地面对我，问心无愧?);what have either of you ever done to show your gratitude?(你们拿什么来报答我?);what have you ever done for me that you can be proud of?(你们什么时候给我争光长脸啦?)If I did die, you'd have it on your conscience(我要是饿死了，你们良心上怎么过得去?)。出于同样的考虑，译者还将三个“你说”用不同的句式灵活地予以处理，充分表现了鲁贵在面对儿子、女儿和妻子时在态度、语气和情感上的细微差别。