北京這座千古名城是中國古代科學技術(shù)和文化藝術(shù)高度發(fā)展的杰作。歷朝歷代帝王在這凝聚中華文明精髓的龍脈寶地 (precious royal place)君臨天下,陸續(xù)修建了雄偉壯觀的八達嶺長城,集天下園林之大成、被譽為萬園之園的圓明園 (the Old Summer Palace),集全國的能工巧匠而修建的故宮以及保留最完整的古代祭天建筑群 (complex of sacrificial buildings)、舉世聞名的藝術(shù)珍品——天壇。北京這座歷史文化名城是中國皇家園林與宮殿建筑的代表,是凝聚中華文明精髓的世界文化遺產(chǎn)。
翻譯點撥
1. 歷朝歷代帝王:譯為emperors of many dynasties。
2. 凝聚:譯為embody,意為“包括或含有(某物)”。
3. 君臨天下:譯為establish their administrative power即可。establish意為“建立”,administrative power意為“行政權(quán)力”,“建立行政權(quán)力”較為書面和正式的說法即“君臨天下”。
4. 雄偉壯觀的八達嶺長城……天壇:涉及中國著名景點的名稱,有關(guān)這些名稱的譯法考生需要平時注意積累。其中“集天下園林之大成被選譽為萬園之園”可翻譯為由which引導的定語從句:which collects the merits of the gardens all over the country and is credited with the honor of“the garden of all gardens”。此處“天下”限于中國,而非世界。
5. 北京這座歷史文化名城是中國皇家園林與宮殿建筑的代表,是凝聚中華文明精髓的世界文化遺產(chǎn):“中國皇家園林與宮殿建筑”可譯為Chinese royal gardens and palaces;“世界文化遺產(chǎn)”譯為the world cultural heritage。此句是對前面內(nèi)容的總結(jié),可增譯短語in a word,使上下文連接更緊密。
參考譯文
Beijing
As a famous city with a long history, Beijing is a masterpiece of the highly developed science, technology, culture and art of ancient China. Emperors of many dynasties established their administrative power in this precious royal place, which embodies the essence of Chinese civilization. In succession, many famous constructions were built, such as the grand Badaling Great Wall, the Old Summer Palace, which has the merits of the gardens all over the country and is credited with the honor of“the garden of all gardens”, the Forbidden City, which was constructed by the skillful craftsmen all over the country, and the Temple of Heaven—the best preserved ancient complex of sacrificial buildings and also the world-famous art treasure. In a word, as a city renowned for its history and culture, Beijing not only stands for the Chinese royal gardens and palaces, but also is a world cultural heritage that embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.
知識小貼士
四合院(quadrangle)不但是北京傳統(tǒng)民居形式,也是一種文化形態(tài)。四合院封閉卻不失親和,一家人生活在其中,隱忍謙恭,尊卑有序,其樂融融。盡管這種傳統(tǒng)的生活方式正走向瓦解和衰亡,但其文化精粹卻深深地植入到北京人的血液中,揮之不去。
北京的文化生活豐富多彩,各種曲藝形式精彩紛呈,評書、相聲、大鼓、雜技無不各盡其妙。其中最著名的就是京?。˙eijing Opera)。京劇被譽為中國的“國粹(quintessence of the Chinese culture)”,有200余年的歷史,華麗的戲服、動聽的唱腔、百變的臉譜,令人印象深刻。
北京也是許多年輕人的理想圣地,以致今天有“北漂”一說。在三里屯,在798,在各大高校附近,在地鐵口、馬路邊,追求自己夢想的人無處不在。也許,這也是新北京的獨特一景。