首页 世界杯 新闻 搜索 短信 聊天 企业


新浪首页 > 教育天地 > 《英语学习》2002年4期 > 从Internet说起

Reflections on the Proposal to Censor the Internet
http://www.sina.com.cn 2002/06/05 10:01  《英语学习》

  王小波/文 David Moser/译 国华/注

  我的电脑还没联网,也想过要和Internet联上。据说,网上黄毒泛滥,还有些反动的东西在传播,这些说法把我吓住了。前些时候有人建议对网络加以限制,我很赞成。说实在的,哪能容许信息自由地传播。但假如我对这件事还有点了解,我要说:除了一剪子剪掉,没有什么限制的方法。那东西太快,太邪门了。现代社会信息爆炸,想要审查太困难,不如禁止方便。假如我作生意,或者搞科技,没有网络会有些困难。但我何必为商人、工程师们操心?在信息高速网上,海量的信息在流动。但是我,一个爬格子的,不知道它们也能行。所以,把Internet剪掉罢,省得我听了心烦。

  Internet是传输信息的工具。还有处理信息的工具,就是各种个人电脑。你想想看,没有电脑,有网也接不上。再说,磁盘、光盘也足以贩黄。必须禁掉电脑,这才是治本。

  除了电脑,电影电视也在散布不良信息。在这方面,我的态度是坚定的:我赞成严加管理。首先,外国的影视作品与国情不符,应该通通禁掉。其次,国内的影视从业人员良莠不齐,做出的作品也多有不好的。我是写小说的,与影视无缘,只不过是挣点小钱。王朔、冯小刚,还有大批的影星们,学历都不如我,搞出的东西我也看不入眼。但他们可都发大财了。应该严格审查——话又说回来,把Internet上的通讯逐页看过才放行,这是办不到的;一百二十集的连续剧从头看到尾也不大容易。倒不如通通禁掉算了。文化大革命十年,只看八个样板戏不也活过来了嘛。我可不像年轻人,声、光、电、影一样都少不了。我有本书看看就行了。说来说去,我把流行音乐漏掉了。这种乌七八糟的东西,应该首先禁掉。年轻人没有事,可以多搞些体育锻炼,既陶冶了性情,又锻炼了身体。

  这样禁来禁去,总有一天禁到我身上。我的小说内容健康,但让我逐行说明每一句都是良好的信息,我也做不到。再说,到那时我已经吓傻了,哪有精神给自己辩护。电影电视都能禁,为什么不禁小说?我们爱读书,还有不识字的人呢,他们准赞成禁书。好吧,我不写作了,到车站上去扛大包。我的身体很好,能当搬运工。别的作家未必扛得动大包。

  (摘自王小波《我的精神家园》,北京:文化艺术出版社,1997,略有删节。)

从Internet说起:如果把它理解为‘关于建议限制Internet的思考,可以译为Reflections on the Proposal to Censor the Internet;也可以把它理解为‘从限制Internet开始’Starting from the Internet。

第1段:

联网:online有connected to or controlled by a central computer的意思(见OALD和Longman)。

也想过:这里的“想”是‘考虑’consider的意思。

和Internet联上:这里的“联上”可以译为get connected to ...。

据说:这篇文章比较口语化,因此I've heard比It is said that好。

黄毒泛滥:只要说出‘有许多黄色的东西’there's a lot of pornography即可,英文里pornography和poison不搭配。

有些反动的东西:最好点明是‘政治上反动的东西’reactionary political stuff。

在传播:说“网上有些反动的东西”,这些东西自然就在传播,因此不用把这三个字译出来。

这些说法:实际就是“这”,不过由于讲的是过去的事,英文倾向于用that。

把我吓住了:意思是‘吓得我没有去联网’,英文可以说scares me stiff。

前些时候:Not long ago或Recently。

建议:就是‘说应该......’are saying that we should...;这种译法比propose更口语化。对网络加以限制:即‘限制对网络的使用’limit the use of the Net。

我很赞成:也就是‘我太赞成了’I couldn't agree more.

说实在的:Surely或honestly。

哪能容许信息自由地传播:原句无主语,可以译成被动句,但那样听起来比较正式,不如补出主语we,译成we can't permit the free flow of information/ allow information to flow freely, can we?或how can we permit the free flow of information/ allow information to flow freely?

对这件事还有点了解:这里的“点”是‘任何’的意思,即understand the situation at all或know anything about the Internet.

我要说:可以理解为‘我看’it would seem to me that...。

除了:中国学生一看见“除了”,就会想到用except,这里用other than更好。一剪子剪掉:就是‘全部干净地剪掉’cutting it all off clean,当然,不加后面的clean也可以。

没有什么限制的方法:也就是‘没有什么方法限制它’There's really no way to put limits on it,用really传达“什么”的意思。

太快:这里的“太”不是‘过于’的意思,因此不应译为too,而应译为so。太邪门:各种汉英词典给的对应词没有一个合适,这里的意思其实是‘不可思议’amazing, incredible。

现代社会信息爆炸:这里的意思是‘由于信息爆炸’With information explosion,不必说“现代社会”。

审查:这里是‘监控’monitor的意思。

不如禁止方便:意思是‘干脆把它取缔倒容易得多’banning it outright would be a lot easier,也可理解为‘干脆把它取缔算了’better to just ban it outright。

假如我作生意:If I were in business或If I were a businessman。

搞科技:doing scientific or technological work或a scientist or engineer。

会有些困难:couldn't very well get along,也可以说I would have some difficulty doing my job.

为商人、工程师们操心:worry about businessmen, scientists and engineers,这里最好补出‘科学家’,因为前面说的是“科技”。

信息高速网:即‘信息高速公路’information superhighway。

海量的信息:a vast ocean/ sea of information。

但是我:这里的“我”代表不同于商人、科学家、工程师的另一类人,因此最好说But for someone like me。

爬格子:即‘以写作谋生’writes for a living。

也能行:这里的“能行”与上面的“有些困难”相对,可以说can get along。

省得我听了心烦:so that I don't have to be bothered with it.也可以理解为‘关于这方面的

事,我已经听腻了’I'm sick of hearing about it.

第2段:

就是:“那就是”namely/ that is。

你想想看:Just think.汉语表示请求、命令的句子,经常加第二人称代词作为主语,英语通常不加。

没有电脑:这里是假设句,英文要通过时态后移(即通常用现在时的地方改为用过去时,通常用过去时的地方改为用过去完成时)表示假设。

有网也接不上:意思是‘即使互联网仍然存在,也没有办法跟它接上’even if the Internet still existed, there'd be no way to connect to it.

磁盘、光盘也足以贩黄:可以理解为‘黄色作品的贩卖/交易仍可以凭借磁盘和光盘进行’the sale of/ trade in pornography can still go on with floppy disks and CDs;或‘黄色作品仍可以通过磁盘和光盘传播’pornography can still spread through floppy disks and CDs。

必须......这才是:意思是‘要想......必须’We must...if we want to...。

治本:汉语的本原义是‘根’,治本就是‘从根本上解决问题’get to the root of the problem。

第3段:

散布:propagate/ spread/ disseminate。

不良信息:即‘不健康的信息’unhealthy information。

在这方面:即‘在这个问题上’on this matter。

我的态度是坚定的:可以说I'm resolute,也可以说I'm clear,“态度”不必译。

赞成:这里最好用in favor of。

严加管理:这里的意思是‘严格控制’strict control。

影视作品:即‘电影和电视节目’films and television programs。

与国情不符:即‘不适合中国国情’not appropriate to the conditions/ situation in China。其实所谓“国情”,在这里就是‘中国人的生活方式’Chinese way of life。

通通:即‘无一例外’with no exception。

国内的:这里的国内的其实就是‘中国的’in China。

影视从业人员:即‘制作电影和电视的人’movie makers and television producers

良莠不齐:说得婉转一点就是‘并不总是最优秀的人’not always the finest individuals,说得直一点就是‘品位参差不齐’of mixed quality。

做出的作品也多有不好的:即‘出了许多不好或无价值的东西’There is a lot of junk that gets produced.

与影视无缘:即don't have anything/ have nothing to do with the movies or TV。

大批的影星们:可以理解为‘那些影星们’all those movie stars。

学历都不如我:即‘他们谁也没有我所拥有的学历’none of them has the academic credentials

I do;也可译为none of them has had as much education as I have。

搞出的东西:what they produce。

我也看不入眼:可以理解为‘达不到我的标准’is not up to my standard或doesn't do much for me。

发大财:这句话较俗,所以译为do make big bucks,也可以说make big money;文雅一点的译文是make a fortune。

话又说回来:可以理解为‘可是仔细想一想’But when you think about it或‘另一方面’On the other hand。

把Internet上的通讯逐页看过:这里的“通讯”可以不译,monitoring/ going over every page on the Net。

放行:approving it for distribution或letting it pass。

办不到的:即‘不可能’impossible或‘不实际’impractical。

集:电视连续剧的“集”是episode,电影或小说的“上、下集”是part。

连续剧:TV series。

从头看到尾:from start to finish或from begining to end,注意不加冠词。

倒不如通通禁掉算了:Might as well just ban it all.

文化大革命十年:during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution或during the ten-year Cultural ]Revolution

样板戏:Model Operas,其实其中有的并不是‘戏’operas,不过当时人们习惯于这样叫。

不也活过来了嘛:we got by okay, right? we came through all the same, didn't we?

声、光、电、影一样都少不了:they simply must have a CD, a VCD, a TV, and a VCR;或a CD, a VCD, a TV, and a VCR are simply indispensable to them.“影”很可能指‘电影’,但为了与前面缩写代表的新玩意儿配合,所以译为VCR。

我有本书看看就行了:意思是‘给我本书看我就满意了’Just give me a book to read and I'm happy.

说来说去:意思是‘说了这么多’Butshavingssaid all this。

漏掉:overlooked或forgot to mention,“漏掉”之前最好加上realize,以表示‘发现’、‘意识到’的意思

这种乌七八糟的东西:That filthy racket,注意中英使用不同的指示代词。

年轻人没有事:即‘假如年轻人没有事干’If young people don't have anything to occupy themselves。

既陶冶了性情,又锻炼了身体:“陶冶”和“锻炼”可以用一个英文词译,to develop their character along with their bodies。

第4段:

这样禁来禁去:可以理解为‘假如我们这样不停地禁下去’If we continue to ban things like this。

禁到我身上:come around to me。

我的小说内容健康:直译是The content of my novels is healthy,但译为There may be no unhealthy content in my novels‘我的小说里或许没有不健康的内容’似乎更好。

让我逐行说明:If you ask me to go through them line by line and demonstrate that...。

每一句都是良好的信息:it's all good-quality information或every sentence is nothing but good-quality information。

我也做不到:I wouldn't be up to it.

再说:And anyway/ besides。

我已经吓傻了,哪有精神给自己辩护:I'd be too terrified to defend myself,‘哪有精神’的

意思已经隐含在too ... to结构里了。

不识字的人:illiterates/ illiterate people。

赞成禁书:have no problem/ be in favor of banning books。

我不写作了:I'll quit/ stop writing.

到车站上:这里不能用与“上”对应的on,而要说at the railway station。

去扛大包:即‘当搬运工’get a job as a porter。

我的身体很好:I'm in pretty good shape或I'm in good health。

别的作家:意思是‘并不是所有的作家……’not every writer。

扛得动大包:could lift heavy bags。注意这里说的情况是假设的,所以要用could。

  译文:

  By Wang Xiaobo

  My computer is still not online, and I've considered getting connected to the Internet. But I've heard there's a lot of pornography on the Net, as well as some reactionary political stuff. That scares me stiff. Recently some people were saying we should limit the use of the Net. I couldn't

  agree more. Surely, we can't permit the free flow of information, can we? But if I understand the situation at all, then it would seem to me that, other than just cutting it all off clean, there's really no way to put limits on it. That stuff is just so fast, so amazing. With the information explosion, it's just too difficult to monitor it all—banning it outright would be a lot easier. Of course, if I were in business, or doing scientific or technological work, I couldn't very well get along without the Internet. But then why should I worry about businessmen, scientists and engineers? There is indeed a vast ocean of information flowing out there on the information superhighway. But for someone like me who writes for a living, I can get along without it. So I say: cut off the Internet completely so that I don't have to be bothered with it.

  The Internet is just a tool for transmitting information. There are also tools for processing information, namely, the various personal computers. Just think, if there were no personal computers, even if the Internet still existed, there'd be no way to connect to it. Besides, the sale of pornography can still go on with floppy disks and CDs. We have to ban personal computers if we want to get to the root of the problem.

  In addition to computers, you have TV and movies, which also propagate unhealthy information. I'm very clear on this matter: I am in favor of strict control. First of all, foreign films and television programmes are simply not appropriate to conditions in China; they should all be prohibited without exception. Secondly, movie makers and television producers in China are not always the finest individuals, and there is a lot of junk that gets produced. I'm a fiction writer, I don't have anything to do with movies or TV, and I don't make much money. Wang Shuo, Feng Xiaogang and all those movie stars—none of them has the academic credentials I do and what they produce is not up to my standard, yet they do make big bucks. There should be a strict monitoring of all this. But when you think about it, monitoring every page on the Net before approving it for distribution would be impossible. Nor would it be an easy task to watch a 120-episode TV series from start to finish. We might as well just ban it all. During the ten years of the Cultural Revolution we only had the eight "model operas" and we managed alright, didn't we? I'm not like today's young people who simply must have a CD, a VCD, a TV and a VCR. Just give me a book to read and I'm happy.shavingssaid all this, I overlooked pop music. That filthy racket should be the first thing we ban. If young people don't have anything to occupy themselves, they can do more physical exercise to develop their bodies along with their character ...

  If we continue to ban things like this, eventually it's going to come around to me. There may be no unhealthy content in my novels, but if you ask me to go through them line-by-line and demonstrate that it's all good-quality information, then I wouldn't be up to it. And anyway, at that point I'd be too terrified to defend myself. If movies and TV can be banned, why not novels? We may like to read, but there are also plenty of illiterates, and they would certainly have no problem banning all books. Okay, so I'll quit writing. I'll get a job as a porter at the railway station. I'm in pretty good shape, I could do the work of a porter. Yet not every writer could lift heavy bags like I could...-

  (Translated by David Moser)




发表评论】【关闭窗口
 相关链接
German Notes(2002/06/04/ 08:53)
汽车(2002/06/04/ 08:51)
架起心灵之桥(2002/06/03/ 09:30)
不对称的欧元(2002/06/03/ 09:22)
2001年大学英语六级考试阅读理解题型分析及命题思路(2002/05/31/ 08:46)
《英语学习》2002年4期 专题

Annotation

新闻查询帮助



文化教育意见反馈留言板电话:010-62630930-5178 欢迎批评指正

新浪简介 | 用户注册 | 广告服务 | 招聘信息 | 中文阅读 | Richwin | 联系方式 | 帮助信息

Copyright © 1996 - 2002 SINA.com, Stone Rich Sight. All Rights Reserved

版权所有 四通利方 新浪网

本网站由北京信息港提供网络支持