“教子以义方”翻译

原文

鸿渐知道这些话虽然对自己说，而主要是记载在日记和回忆录里给天下后世看方遯翁怎样教子以义方的。（钱钟书 - 《围城》 ）

译文

Hung-chien knew that while these remarks were said to him, they were intended primarily to be recorded in a diary or in memoirs, so later generations could see how well Fang Tun-weng had brought up his son in accordance with truth and righteousness. (美 Jeanne Kelly, Nathan K.Mao <译> –Fortress Besieged)

翻译笔记

虽然

同学们表达“虽然”时似乎都较喜欢用though和although，现在我们再多掌握一个while。在句子中把while用作although的等价词是容许的，只要不在意义上造成含糊或荒谬。例如：

While I admire his energy, I wish it were employed in a better cause.

我钦佩他的精力，然而我愿他把精力用在更好的事业上。

话（儿）

作名词用时，有几个常用的单词可以表达“话”的意思，如word; talk; remark，译文中用了remark，该词常用来表示“有评论性质的话”。除了文中的用法，remark后面还常常可以接that引导的从句。例如：

He closed the discussion with the remark that "he who plays with fire gets burnt".

他以“玩火者必自焚”这么一句话结束了讨论。

in accordance with与according to

“教子以义方”用的“以”即“依照，依据”，而in accordance with与according to都能用来表达该意，究竟什么时候用哪个好呢？通常，说“依照法律”、“依照章程”、“依照规则、规范”、“依照惯例”等，用in accordance with语气重些，用according to往往语气轻些。例如：

The proprietor or operator of port facilities shall provide safe means for mooring, departing and changing to another berth, all in accordance with/according to the designed specifications of the port.

港口设施的业主或经营者应当按照港口设计规范，提供安全靠岸、离岸、移动泊位的条件。

说“依据某书说”、“依据某人说”、“依据某报告”、“依据某学说”等，只可用according to，不可用in accordance with。例如：

The players are speaking and moving according to the director's instructions.

演员们正按照导演的指示说台词，做动作。

说“依据……而不同，取决于”，只可用according to。如：

We pay him according to his contribution.

我们根据他的贡献付酬。

义方

“义方”即“行事应该遵守的规范和道理，做人的正道”，也可直接译为right way of conduct，但稍嫌平淡了，所以可以采取像译文中的译法译为truth and righteousness。