中国运河的修凿历史悠久,基于目前的考证,可追溯至先秦时期(从大运河到大运河文化带:大运河景观保护利用建设路径与规划实践,张希等三人,2023,建筑实践:22页)。大运河历史的更迭累积了厚重而灿烂的运河文化,大运河从古流淌至今,是流动的文明,塑造了中国特色鲜明的传统沿运景观体系,尤以杭州西湖为典型,它本身是运河调蓄水利设施,因其风景优美又富有诗情画意蕴藏精神内涵的景观营建而让古往今来的游人念念不忘。这样的惦念可以在许多著名诗词作品中瞥见一二。
如宋代词人柳永所作《望海潮》,写出了杭州的非凡富丽。
东南形胜,三吴都会,钱塘自古繁华。烟柳画桥,风帘翠幕,参差十万人家。云树绕堤沙,怒涛卷霜雪,天堑无涯。市列珠玑,户盈罗绮,竞豪奢。重湖叠巘清嘉,有三秋桂子,十里荷花。羌管弄晴,菱歌泛夜,嬉嬉钓叟莲娃。千骑拥高牙,乘醉听箫鼓,吟赏烟霞。异日图将好景,归去凤池夸。
杨宪益将《望海潮》一词英译如下:A place of scenic beauty in the southeast,the metropolis in the region of the Three Wu’s,Qiantang has flourished since ancient times.Clouded willow trees and bright painted bridges,Windbreak window drapes and kingfisher-feathered curtains,a hundred thousand houses clustered high and low.Towering trees line the sandy bank,the raging tide rolls upward like frost and snow,the heavenly moat stretches to the horizon.The market filled with tiers of pearls and gems;Households overflowing with silks and satins,contend in wealth and luxury.The clear twin lakes and green hills offer picturesque views;The fragrance of sweet osmanthus lingers on the autumn air,lotus flowers bloom far and wide in summer.The sound of flutes soars up to the sunny skies,the singing of folk songs breaks the silence of night,happy are the old anglers and girls collecting water chestnuts.With a flag surrounded by a mounted retinue a thousand strong,to enjoy music while in my cups,to chant verses while admiring the mist and clouds at twilight.When, one day, you win promotion with glory,you will praise this place at Phoenix Pool profusely.
译文赏析:“cloud”“painted bridges”“windbreak window drapes and kingfisher-feathered curtains”写出了杭州自然风景之秀丽,景观之瑰丽。Towering trees line the sandy bank,the raging tide rolls upward like frost and snow,the heavenly moat stretches to the horizon.Towering, raging, stretch 三个词叠加往复,凸显了磅礴的水岸云树,运河沿岸的富丽恢宏跃然纸上。
翻译选词的妙处在于因循原文的词义的同时,风格、态势都一致。
The market filled with tiers of pearls and gems;Households overflowing with silks and satins,contend in wealth and luxury.市列珠玑,户盈罗绮,竞豪奢。英文译文选词fill,pearls,gems,overflow,silk,satin,contend,wealth, luxury均为白描式直译,这一处译文给我们一个重要的文化翻译启示,直给的翻译同样可以打动人,奏响文化交流的凯歌。
古典诗词翻译的课程思政意义。体现中国运河文化、古典景观文化的唐诗的英译,凸显了中国文化成就,通过翻译中的选词造句,体现了中西文化的对比,体现中国成就。将高校思想政治教育融入课程教学和改革的各环节和各层面,实现立德树人、润物无声(徐锦芬2021)。
《大学英语教学指南》(2020版)指出,大学英语的教学目标是培养学生的英语应用能力,增强跨文化交际意识和交际能力,发展自主学习能力,提升综合文化素养,使他们在学习、生活、社会交往和未来工作中能够有效地使用英语,满足国家、社会、学校和个人发展需求。通过学习中国古典诗词尤其是与特定文化背景、历史典故相关的诗词的外文经典译文,如与大运河文化带有关的古诗词的英文翻译,学生可以学习和了解优秀文化和文明,同时也有助于他们讲好中国故事、传播好中国声音,增强我国国际话语权,提升国家软实力。