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请教:if at all
Thread poster: Seaguest
Seaguest
Seaguest  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
Nov 2, 2005

刚看到一句话:
We need to act first and ask questions later, instead of think first and acting much, much later, if at all.

对于句中“if at all”这个短语的意思觉得难以理解。请大家指点一下。谢谢!


 
Denyce Seow
Denyce Seow  Identity Verified
Singapore
Local time: 01:09
Member (2004)
Chinese to English
Try Nov 2, 2005

Seaguest wrote:

刚看到一句话:
We need to act first and ask questions later, instead of think first and acting much, much later, if at all.

对于句中“if at all”这个短语的意思觉得难以理解。请大家指点一下。谢谢!


"If at all" here refers to the "acting much, much later" part. It implies that this "acting" part MIGHT not happen.

I know my explanation is not clear enough, so here is one more example for you:

"In view of the changing circumstances, I would like to ask if we still need Deaf clubs and what new roles should they fill (if at all)"
- implies that the Deaf clubs MIGHT not have new roles


 
David Shen
David Shen  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:09
English to Chinese
+ ...
就算是有(要,行,做...), 也只是(...)而已. Nov 2, 2005

Q: if at all.

A: 海客兄: if at all. 是个缩略了的句子. 是指:
1) 可有可无的东西,
2) 可做可不做的事,
3) 或可能成,也可能成不了的事.

中译可在这个结构上变化: 就算是有(要,行,做...), 也只是(...)而已.

让我试举几例,看能否有帮助.
eg.1.(去菜场买菜)
We are out of vegitables so we need to buy vegitables. But we still have lots of frozen meat in the refrigerator
... See more
Q: if at all.

A: 海客兄: if at all. 是个缩略了的句子. 是指:
1) 可有可无的东西,
2) 可做可不做的事,
3) 或可能成,也可能成不了的事.

中译可在这个结构上变化: 就算是有(要,行,做...), 也只是(...)而已.

让我试举几例,看能否有帮助.
eg.1.(去菜场买菜)
We are out of vegitables so we need to buy vegitables. But we still have lots of frozen meat in the refrigerator, so we will just get a few lbs., if at all.
蔬菜是要买了.可冰箱里肉还有很多,要买,也稍为买几磅就行了. (这个 "all" 还意犹未尽, 如到时再说,看价格好又新鲜等等因素,尽包括在"all"里头了.) "If (we are going to get any meat) at all."

eg.2.(去北京玩)
We only have two days in Beijing, so we must see the Great Wall (which takes one day) and the Forbidden City (which takes another). As for shopping, we only have time for Wangfujing next to our hotel, if at all.
就算有时间购物,也只能在附近的王府井转一转了.
"If (we have time to shop) at all." [ Even if we have time left for shopping after all the places we want to see first.]

你上面的这句大致可这样译:
"我们先得行动(做)起来,有问题再问,别三思而后行,顾这顾那,到时也许就不了了之."

Hope this helps. By the way, I never learned any Russian after one week of try. It was just too much obstruction in the mouth. The guys next to my class were sent to the Sino-Soviet border after graduation. They were nice, tall and handsome guys from the north. May be you are one of them, if you tell me where you spent you college years. I wonder where they are now, and how many of them are translating in Russian, if at all.
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Angus Woo
Angus Woo
Local time: 01:09
Chinese to English
+ ...
if at all 假使還會有任何行動的話. Nov 2, 2005

Weiwei is right about this. "If at all" means if there will be any actions after all.

 
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Wenjer Leuschel (X)  Identity Verified
Taiwan
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
+ ...
若還真有其事 Nov 2, 2005

Seaguest wrote:

刚看到一句话:
We need to act first and ask questions later, instead of think first and acting much, much later, if at all.

对于句中“if at all”这个短语的意思觉得难以理解。请大家指点一下。谢谢!


我們要先動而後問,非先思又思而後再動,若還真動起來。

我們要先動而後問,非先思又思而後也許再動。

[Edited at 2005-11-02 23:57]


 
Seaguest
Seaguest  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
TOPIC STARTER
谢谢! Nov 3, 2005

谢谢大家的热情帮助。根据大家的提示,结合我对原句的理解。我想把这句话翻译成这样,大家觉得可以吗?

“我们应该先做后问,而不是思前想后,迟迟才采取行动——如果还能动得起来的话。”


 
Seaguest
Seaguest  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
TOPIC STARTER
理解 Nov 3, 2005

David Shen wrote:

Hope this helps. By the way, I never learned any Russian after one week of try. It was just too much obstruction in the mouth. The guys next to my class were sent to the Sino-Soviet border after graduation. They were nice, tall and handsome guys from the north. May be you are one of them, if you tell me where you spent you college years. I wonder where they are now, and how many of them are translating in Russian, if at all.


沈先生:我想我与您认识的那些朋友是两代人了。我在南方长大,大学里读的是政治学专业,但从未当过兵,也没有学过俄语。很理解您怀念故友的心情。我现在只身在外地漂泊,有时也非常怀念学校里的师长与学友、怀念那段满怀憧憬与激情飞扬的校园生活。衷心祝您能与他们取得联系,得偿夙愿。


 
chica nueva
chica nueva
Local time: 06:09
Chinese to English
if in fact we act at all Nov 3, 2005

Seaguest wrote:

刚看到一句话:
We need to act first and ask questions later, instead of think first and acting much, much later, if at all.

对于句中“if at all”这个短语的意思觉得难以理解。请大家指点一下。谢谢!


要先动手后考虑,而不先考虑然后不动手或者迟很久很久才动手.

if at all = if we act at all = 如果动手的话 -> 很有可能根本不动手 -> 迟到什么都不做...


 
David Shen
David Shen  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:09
English to Chinese
+ ...
New topic on style of translation Nov 3, 2005

Wenjer Leuschel wrote:

Seaguest wrote:

刚看到一句话:
We need to act first and ask questions later, instead of think first and acting much, much later, if at all.

对于句中“if at all”这个短语的意思觉得难以理解。请大家指点一下。谢谢!


我們要先動而後問,非先思又思而後再動,若還真動起來。

我們要先動而後問,非先思又思而後也許再動。

[Edited at 2005-11-02 23:57]



文哲兄,读你此译,比之拙作,使我感慨系之。并想借此与你聊聊,限于篇幅,容我另起一题。 (请见:中文会形成象英语和美语这样的格局吗?)


 
Xiaoping Fu
Xiaoping Fu  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 10:09
Chinese to English
+ ...
凑个热闹 Nov 6, 2005

Seaguest wrote:

谢谢大家的热情帮助。根据大家的提示,结合我对原句的理解。我想把这句话翻译成这样,大家觉得可以吗?

“我们应该先做后问,而不是思前想后,迟迟才采取行动——如果还能动得起来的话。”


这段话,看上去颇有格言味道,拽拽文字可以译为:

吾辈须先行而后问,而非久思而迟行,甚或枉思而无行。

但这样译对吗?原文的意味表达完整了吗?大可商榷。


 
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Wenjer Leuschel (X)  Identity Verified
Taiwan
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
+ ...
漂亮! Nov 6, 2005

Xiaoping Fu wrote:

Seaguest wrote:

谢谢大家的热情帮助。根据大家的提示,结合我对原句的理解。我想把这句话翻译成这样,大家觉得可以吗?

“我们应该先做后问,而不是思前想后,迟迟才采取行动——如果还能动得起来的话。”


这段话,看上去颇有格言味道,拽拽文字可以译为:

吾辈须先行而后问,而非久思而迟行,甚或枉思而无行。

但这样译对吗?原文的意味表达完整了吗?大可商榷。


這個譯法更像中文,更加漂亮!


 
Xiaoping Fu
Xiaoping Fu  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 10:09
Chinese to English
+ ...
谬赞了! Nov 6, 2005

Wenjer Leuschel wrote:

Xiaoping Fu wrote:

Seaguest wrote:

谢谢大家的热情帮助。根据大家的提示,结合我对原句的理解。我想把这句话翻译成这样,大家觉得可以吗?

“我们应该先做后问,而不是思前想后,迟迟才采取行动——如果还能动得起来的话。”


这段话,看上去颇有格言味道,拽拽文字可以译为:

吾辈须先行而后问,而非久思而迟行,甚或枉思而无行。

但这样译对吗?原文的意味表达完整了吗?大可商榷。


這個譯法更像中文,更加漂亮!


充其量是“后出转精”。仍大有可议之处。


 
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
Wenjer Leuschel (X)  Identity Verified
Taiwan
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
+ ...
集思廣益 Nov 6, 2005

Xiaoping Fu wrote:

充其量是“后出转精”。仍大有可议之处。


幾乎每一種語文中都有可能用不同的方式表達相同或近似的內容,在語文之間的轉譯也是如此。表達方式的雅俗往往只是個人好惡,無關對錯。所謂 "後出轉精" 只是一種商榷,意見交流的態度對了,那就是人人可以共賞析的,不至於轉成妖精。

正在為五斗米折腰中,有空再多聊。


 
David Shen
David Shen  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:09
English to Chinese
+ ...
海客老弟 Nov 6, 2005

海客:

你原来比我小一辈啊.那我最多只能叫你声"海客老弟"就算是尊称了,没意见吧.
可我怎么印象中看到过你译的俄文文章?再说你出的贴子总是引起在座各位的注意,众人点击不停,话头越牵越长,常常惹得老将们也不吝下池来捧场.所以我印象中你应该是相当老成的一位.

你说现在只身在外地漂泊,可别把自己逼得太老成了,尤其是在姑娘们面前.看你整篇整篇
... See more
海客:

你原来比我小一辈啊.那我最多只能叫你声"海客老弟"就算是尊称了,没意见吧.
可我怎么印象中看到过你译的俄文文章?再说你出的贴子总是引起在座各位的注意,众人点击不停,话头越牵越长,常常惹得老将们也不吝下池来捧场.所以我印象中你应该是相当老成的一位.

你说现在只身在外地漂泊,可别把自己逼得太老成了,尤其是在姑娘们面前.看你整篇整篇地翻GRE,你还有时间做别的吗? 我每年回大陆一次,隐隐约约可以从老同事老同学中感觉到现在的学术界用赞扬的话说是百花齐放,用批评的眼光看应谓五花八门,你要是只顾埋头做学问可是会很容易被埋没的哦!比我们那时候更需要多长几个心眼. 今年春老同学聚会,请几桌.当老总的,行长的总经理的都是些成绩一般的,(用"龙江颂"里的台词说这叫"堤外失损堤内补",他们是这方面掌握得比较好的,或者说是"发展比较全面的".) 那几个当年年级里成绩最顶尖的至今仍然被每周十几节大课小课外加辅导班压得喘不过气来.刚及知天命,却这儿痛那儿病,看上去也明显老一截.当然我希望我认识的所有同学都好,可总决得有点不公平. 话虽这么说,我可不是鼓励你应该投机取巧.我觉得开放的社会会越来越象美国,而至今为止,我所有的美国朋友中给予我印象最深的,最真的,最简单扼要的一句忠告就是我刚到美国时那人跟我说的:"Shen, in America, You have to sell yourself, because no matter how good you are, nobody will do that for you."我至今尚在学着做到这句话.

前段时间在另一个贴上看到过文哲给你提议的主动去找出版社,不妨可试试,他这方面有经验,跑的地方又多,到时可问.

你看上面,老傅要么不出手,一出手往往折服一大片.我另起了一题,将自己拙劣的文言文水平与文哲的相比,只是想引出个话题聊一聊海内跟海外中文的不同风格.要是给大家造成了我是在说受教育于大陆的人文言不够好的印象,那实在是抱歉,(再说我也看到了几个星期前来自东北的Zhou先生的一篇顶呱呱的文言文,象是明朝人写的) 所以这不是我的本意.众怒难犯,本人也担当不起. 所以呢, 先饶了我, 有时间再聊聊这几种确实存在的不同中文语言环境. 我们经常要碰到的,比如顾客讲明要Taiwan译文时我就不敢接.

最后,海客老弟,你比我小,我就可毫无顾虑地问一句,这个句子是你哪儿抄来的呢,还是自己想出来的?
这句话的语法有点小问题, 请你仔细看看错误在哪里?
We need to act first and ask questions later, instead of think first and acting much, much later, if at all.
或是你漏抄了什么?


[Edited at 2005-11-06 11:49]
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Seaguest
Seaguest  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 01:09
English to Chinese
TOPIC STARTER
不敢当 Nov 7, 2005

沈前辈:您呼我小弟,真让我愧不敢当。在这论坛上,您和隐士、文哲、傅先生等都是我学习效仿的前辈。我上论坛这段时间是我涉足翻译行业以来进步最为快速的时期,这多亏了您和其他翻译同行的耐心开导和指点。我应该对您和几位前辈执弟子礼才对。

前段时间我确实翻译过一个俄国翻译家的文章,但那是用英语写的。我在proz上看到后,感觉对中国的译者也有�
... See more
沈前辈:您呼我小弟,真让我愧不敢当。在这论坛上,您和隐士、文哲、傅先生等都是我学习效仿的前辈。我上论坛这段时间是我涉足翻译行业以来进步最为快速的时期,这多亏了您和其他翻译同行的耐心开导和指点。我应该对您和几位前辈执弟子礼才对。

前段时间我确实翻译过一个俄国翻译家的文章,但那是用英语写的。我在proz上看到后,感觉对中国的译者也有启示作用,就试着翻译出来,并登在中文板块上请大家对我的翻译提出批评意见。由于事先考虑不周,没把事情说清楚,让您误会了。请别介意。

您对我的一番忠告,我想其中也包含着您的人生阅历。我自己也有所体察。当年我们一同毕业的同学,几年后混下的境遇可以说大相径庭。其实就有您所说的情形:读书平平的往往春风得意;而成绩优异的则混得差强人意。我想这与其说是各人要立意如何如何,不如说取决于各人的天性。有人愿意在书本中寻得一番精神上的乐趣,难免在离开书本的地方显得愚拙;有人喜欢繁华与热闹,自然会在书本以外崭露头角。我自己的人生体验感觉,一个人平时如何如何打算是一回事,事到临头会做何种选择又是另一回事。我想我是如此,您大概也是如此。只是有时候您自愿选择的道路未必希望别人去走,因为您知道其中的甘苦。

话说回事,能在不违心志的前提下把自己推销出去,也确实是吃翻译这碗饭的应该掌握的一门技术。中国人传统上信奉“酒香不怕巷子深”,难免会在如何展示自我方面过于消极。我过去也是如此,有种等客上门的心态。现在不敢再如此被动了。但也不想走到一个极端。我的想法是:通过展示自己的作品来让大家认识我,以真实的能力来接受大家的检验和评判。所以,做GRE翻译练习既是我向人请教的中介,也是一种广告。如果我能将这样晦涩难解的文字翻译得大体不差,客户在与我打交道时可能会放心许多。

文哲前辈很热心,他的鼓励在很大程度上增强了我的自信心。这几天我在应征他推荐的一本书的翻译。您提出疑问的句子就是主编交我试译中的一句。我觉得难解,也是自觉这种说法不够规范的缘故。有时候感觉要做好翻译,总应该两地都跑到才行。凭着书本上的知识,虽然可以大体上应付得下来,但在遇到那种极细微的场合、那种需要对说话人的心态和言下之意有所体察的时候,抽象的知识就立即派不上用场了。没有亲身的经历和体验,很难把一种语言的原汁原味用另一种语言表达出来。


[Edited at 2005-11-08 04:28]
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