闻香识书（节选）

文/王鸿滨

【1】“书香”一词，古已有之。原指古人为防蠹虫咬食书籍，便在书中放置一种芸香草，这种草有一种清香之气，夹有这种草的书籍打开之后清香袭人，故而称之为“书香”，后常常被人们引申为读书风气。

【2】阅读所品味出的书香，是源自心灵的味道。是世间的人情冷暖，是丰富的道德情操，是悠久的文化传承，是壮丽的大好河山……每一本书，诉说的是一个故事，一种情怀。而每一个故事包含着不同的酸甜苦辣，每一种情怀包含着不同的理想！所以，我尊重每一本书，努力地去读懂它，品味它的那份真诚。

【3】古有“万般皆下品，唯有读书高”，今有“人生因书香而精彩，生命因书香而富有”。古有读书者悬梁刺股，凿壁借光，而今亦有“厕所被窝读书者”，这是对知识的渴望，亦是对生命的尊敬。不能说人生会因为没有读书而毫无意义，但可以确定人生会因为读书而绚丽多彩，人生的道路上，读书是一件多么高雅、多么纯洁的事情啊。

【4】上学时，最欢欣雀跃的日子，莫过于发新书的那天。崭新的课本，新鲜的知识……尤其是新书那特有的油墨香，格外吸引人。

【5】淡淡的墨香像淘气的精灵一样，在鼻翼前挑逗，让我们捧起了书，就再也放不下。那里，有江河大海的气息，有尘土月光的痕迹，有悲欢离合的滋味……心沉下去，情浮上来，眼睛打开了去，那或苦闷，或欢畅，或蹙眉，或拍案的万千气象都奔涌而来。安静地坐在书桌前，看风起云涌，读花开花落，这是一种怎样的物我两忘境界啊！

【6】读书是一种修行，一种享受，它带给我们的是隽永的感受，恒久的动力，以及心灵的和平与精神的慰藉。当然，要做到这些，还需自我改变，也需要全社会共同营造读书的氛围。我们需要更多的图书馆、更多的阅读空间、更便捷的取阅方式，只有当我们真正体会了阅读的乐趣，而书籍又唾手可得时，我们才能做到：书香随身，书香随心。

（节选自《月读》2021年第3期文“闻香识书”，内容有删节） 

 一等奖译文 

（一）

The Scent of Books (Extracts)

By Wang Hongbin

Trans. by Ji Weiqi (纪玮琪)

The Chinese term of “Shuxiang (书香)” is literally translated as “the scent of books”. The term was originated from the ancient practice of protecting books from being eaten by moths. The ancients would put some lemongrass that carried delicate fragrance, between the book pages. When opening the books, people would enjoy a nice smell, ｏｒ in another word, “the scent of books”. Later, the meaning of the term was extended to include a social environment favorable for reading.

The scent of books in reading arises from one’s innermost feelings – the understanding of social snobbery, the comprehension of moral sentiment, the appreciation of long-standing cultural heritage, and the admiration of majestic mountains and rivers, etc. Every book tells you its own story and recounts to you its own feeling. Each story contains one’s life experiences of joys and sorrows as well as one’s expressions of sentiments and ideals. Thus, I show my respect to every book, try to understand its meaning and apprehend its sincerity.

In ancient times, there was a proverb, “The worth of other pursuits is small, the study of books excels them all.” And nowadays, a saying goes, “Thanks to the scent of books, life becomes rich and wonderful.” In old days, there were stories in which intellectuals tried everything they could to keep studying. For instance, a reader tying his hair to a beam to stop himself from feeling sleepy, ｏｒ prodding himself awake with an awl in the thigh; ｏｒ a reader boring a hole on the wall to make use of the neighbor’s light… And now, there are cases in which readers study in lavatories ｏｒ under quilts. All these assimilate people’s thirst for knowledge and their respect to life. They show how assiduously readers have studied. You cannot say that one’s life will be meaningless if he ｏｒ she doesn’t have books to read, but you can be certain that one’s life will be splendid and colorful because of reading. In one’s lifelong journey, reading is always the most pure and elegant thing to do.

When attending school, nothing is more exciting than the occasion when you are given new books. The pretty new books stand for fresh knowledge, while the smell of the specific ink given off by the newly-printed books is particularly attracting.

The light ink smell is like a mischievous spirit that is dancing just in front of your nose to tease you. Once you pick it up, you can’t let it go. When reading books, you will feel the thick flavor of rivers and big seas, and the traces of moon and dust, ｏｒ share the joys and sorrows, the partings and reunions, as well as ups and downs… When you open your eyes, you will feel the vicissitudes of life – depression ｏｒ joyfulness, frowned with displeasure ｏｒ overwhelmed with enjoyment and admiration. Imagine how you will be completely charmed when you just sit in front of the desk and do the reading you like best, with the winds rising and clouds scudding and surging, ｏｒ the flowers in blossoms falling in mud. What an intoxicating state you can feel that you are really in!

Reading is a sort of self-cultivation as well as an appreciation. What it can bring to us is the ever-lasting admiration and motivation. It’s also a consolation in recognition of the efforts you have made with a calm heart and peaceful spirit. Needless to say, self-change is very necessary, and so is true with the reading atmosphere jointly created by the whole society. We need more libraries, more rooms and space for reading, more convenient and easier ways for obtaining books. When we truly enjoy the pleasure in reading and when we are always within easy reach of books, we can say: the scent of books is integrated with my body and guides my heart.

(Extracted from Yue Du, Issue 3, 2021)

（二）

Scent of Books (Extracts)

By Hongbin Wang

Trans. by Wang Jinyue (王金岳)

The phrase, “scent of books”, has existed since ancient times. Historically, people placed the leaves of a strong-scented herb called citronella in between the pages of their books to keep bookworms away. Once a book with such leaves was opened, it could give off a strong, pleasant smell, which was therefore referred to as the “scent of books”. Later, the meaning of this phrase was often extended to mean a climate of learning.

The scent savored from reading is a taste that emanates from a person’s soul. It reflects the fickleness of human nature in this world, rich moral sentiments, long-standing cultural inheritance, magnificent mountains and rivers. … Each book tells a story ｏｒ a feeling. Each story contains the sweets and bitters of life. Each feeling encompasses different dreams. Hence, I respect each book and try hard to make sense of it and appreciate the sincerity between the lines.

In ancient times, there were verse lines, “Only the learned rank high; all other trades are low”. Nowadays, there exist verse lines, “Thanks to the scent of books, one’s lifetime becomes splendid; Thanks to the smell of books, one’s life becomes wealthy.” In ancient China, there was a scholar who tied his hair on the house beam, and another who jabbed his side with an awl, in order to keep themselves awake in learning. There was also a scholar who bore a hole on the wall in order to get some light from the neighbor’s house. Today, there are people who read books in a toilet ｏｒ under the bedclothes. Such people yearn for knowledge and respect their life. We cannot say that one’s life would be completely meaningless without reading, but we are certain that one’s life can become bright and colorful because of reading. What an elegant and pure activity reading is on the path of one’s life!

In school, the most enjoyable day was the day when we received new textbooks. The brand-new books, completely new knowledge… and the peculiar scent of printing inks of the new books, particularly, appealed to us.

The light scent of inks like a naughty elf tantalized the wings of our nose so wickedly that we were unwilling to lay down our books once we held them. In the books, there were smells of rivers and seas, traces of dust and moonlight, flavors of joys and sorrows, separations and reunions. … While we calmed down, our emotions went up. Looking around, I witnessed various emotions and reactions surging up such as distress, elatedness, knitted brows and striking the desk in surprise. Sitting quietly at my desk, I saw winds rising and clouds gathering, and flowers blooming and fading. How fantastic this state was in which I had completely forgotten myself and the outside world!

Reading is a kind of spiritual practice, a sort of enjoyment. What it brings to us is meaningful perceptions, perpetual impetus and peace of mind as well as solace of soul. Certainly, to achieve these, we must change ourselves. There is also a need for the whole society to work together to create an atmosphere of learning. We need more libraries, more reading spaces, and more convenient and faster access to books. Only when we experience the pleasure of reading and books are readily available, can the scent of books accompany both our bodies and souls, anytime and anywhere.

(Excerpted from “Scent of Books”, Yuedu [Monthly Reading], Issue 3, 2021)

参考译文 

The Book Scents (Excerpt)

By Wang Hongbin

Trans. by Li Wenjie (李文婕)

The phrase “book scent” can be traced back to ancient times in China. To control the insect infestation, people used to place leaves of rue between pages. Once opening the book, the aroma of the herb would spread out, which was called “book scent”. This phrase was then used to indicate the lifestyle of reading.

The scents of books origin in one’s soul and mind and are appreciated through reading. They could be the fickleness of human nature, the richness of moral sentiments, the inheritance of culture, the magnificence of natural scenery, etc. Each book tells a story tinged with unique feelings. The stories express various happinesses and sorrows and the feelings are about diverse expectations on life. Therefore, I value all books and always try to appreciate the stories as well as the sincere feelings.

Traditionally, people held that “the study of books excels all pursuits”. Today, people believe that “reading brightens and enriches one’s life”. In the past, there were people who tried various methods to guarantee efficient reading, for example, tying their hair to the beam and jabbing their thighs with an awl to keep minds clear, ｏｒ digging a hole in the wall to borrow some light from the neighbor. Today we also have book lovers who read in the lavatories ｏｒ with the beam of flashlight late at night. These readers are driven by their thirst for knowledge and reverence for life. A life without reading may not become totally meaningless, but a life with reading is positively more colorful and exciting. What an elegant and pure pursuit the reading is in a person’s life journey!

Receiving new books always delighted me when I was at school. The brand-new books, the fresh knowledge, and particularly the pleasant smell from the newly-printed pages were all so intriguing!

The light fragrance of ink, like a mischievous elf, titillated my sense of smell and lured me to read further and further. Following this fragrance, I feel the spirits of the rivers and seas, find the traces of earth and moonlight, and sense the emotions at the time of parting and reunion. Immersing in reading I become peaceful, sensitive, and open-minded. Various sensations like depression, joyfulness, dissent, ｏｒ fury all reach out to me. Reading at my desk, I have experienced the excitement of “waves and storms”in history as well as the beauty of flowers blooming and fading, which always make me forget the real world and even myself.

Reading, a form of self-cultivation and also an enjoyment, brings us profound feelings, eternal motivation, tranquility in spirit, and comforts to mind. To get there, we should start from developing positive reading attitude and creating a reading friendly environment. We need more libraries, more reading spaces, and more convenient access to books. Only when people have easy reach to books and experience the pleasure of reading will they be exposed to the book scents and be scented.

译文评析 

化虚为实，重构连贯

——第十二届“北京师范大学—《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛汉译英点评

文/李文婕

此次翻译大赛共收到汉译英参赛译文近650余篇。总的来看，大都能将原文的基本语义译出，语言层面的错误并不太多，但在语篇连贯层面表现突出的译文较少，许多译文读来逻辑松散、文字空洞，在语篇连贯方面的表现不够理想，亦不符合英语散文的审美规范。因此，本文拟从重构语篇连贯的角度对翻译策略及方法进行分析。

初读时，读者大约会感到选文中每一段似乎都有独立的主题，它们与文题丝缕相连却又并未直接呼应。这种谋篇机制是一种典型的中国现当代散文结构，是谓“形散神聚”。此外，该文的“散”还体现在句子层面，即主位变换频繁、句间语法和语义衔接多以隐形的意合方式构成。《闻香识书》用词唯美抽象、修辞丰富、抒情词句较多。文中有大量语义模糊抽象的词语及指代不确定的句子，让一些语段呈现出多义性和朦胧感。此外，文中表达强烈情感的“奔涌”“隽永”“物我两忘”“绚丽多彩”等词语比比皆是，“有江河大海的气息，有尘土月光的痕迹，有悲欢离合的滋味”这样的排比结构及感叹句式在文中反复出现，“墨香像淘气的精灵”此类明喻及隐喻手法也多有使用。

在翻译的时候，译者应当首先注意到这些特征并且以比较的视角思考这些特征与英语抒情散文（lyrical essay）文类规范的异同，在翻译时确定源语文本的主题及突出文体特征，继而采取合理的增删及转换方法，最终实现在译文中重构语篇的连贯。下面我们通过具体的译例分析来解释如何重构语篇的语法连贯、语义连贯、语用连贯及文体连贯。[1]

首先，我们谈谈重构语法连贯。前文提到，源语文本的句子主位变换频繁、句间语法和语义衔接多以隐形的意合方式构成。以源语文本第五段为例：

淡淡的墨香像淘气的精灵一样，在鼻翼前挑逗，让我们捧起了书，就再也放不下。①那里，有江河大海的气息，有尘土月光的痕迹，有悲欢离合的滋味……②心沉下去，情浮上来，眼睛打开了去，③那或苦闷，或欢畅，或蹙眉，或拍案的万千气象都奔涌而来。安静地坐在书桌前，看风起云涌，读花开花落，这是一种怎样的物我两忘境界啊！

从语义关系来看，第二个自然句包含三次语义转换，由三个意群（①部分、②部分及③部分）体现出来。此外，随着语义的变化，第二自然句中的主语也发生了数次转换①部分的主语是“那里”。②部分的主语分别是“心”“情”“眼睛”。③部分的主语是“气象万千”。汉语句子结构相对松散，以意群为句，主语经常转换，而英语的一个句子不能有多个主语。因此，如果将源语句子结构照搬到英文中，就会造成句内衔接混乱，不符合英文语法。这时，译者应当分析源语文本中的主语成分和句间语义关系，采取断句及转换主语的方法重构译文语法连贯。

具体而言，首先根据对意群结构的分析确定将第二自然句分为三个英文句子译出，避免照搬源语文本句型造成语法错误。接下来需要对源语句子包含的指代关系进行分析以确定三个译句的主语。在指代关系层面，①部分中“那里”指代第一句中的“书”。②部分的主语“心”“情”及“眼睛”与第一句并无清晰的指代关系，不能马上识别是谁的“心”“情”及“眼睛”。而③部分的主语“气象万千”指代“苦闷”“欢畅”“蹙眉”和“拍案”，但却无法判断它们向谁奔涌而来且与第一句之间也缺乏明确的指代联系。这种由于主语频繁变化带来的指代不明及语义模糊也需要在译文中予以厘清。第一句话的述位成分中有“我们捧起了书”，由此可见作者以第一人称视角来讲述读书的感觉。因此，可推断是“我们”的“心”“情”及“眼睛”。而万千的气象是向“我们”奔涌而来。然而，若将此句的主语确定为we，并不符合此句表达读书的主观感受的需要。结合第四段中以“我”的视角表达拿到新书的心情，可将三句英文译文的主语确定为I，“心”“情”及“眼睛”也据此以my明确所属关系，“万千气象”奔涌的目的地也随之确定为me。至此，第二句后两个意群中主位变换频繁为翻译带来的语法困难基本得到了解决。

在时态方面，源语文本以感召为主要目的，因此大多数语段都采用了没有明显时间标记的陈述句或表达强烈情感的排比句、感叹句。只有第二段涉及古今对比，第四段涉及个人回忆，因此，英文译文应该以现在时态作为全文的基本时态，在涉及古今对比和个人回忆时采用过去时态，这样才能建构起合理的时态链，使译文具有真实感及权威感，保证译文的语法连贯，同时也确保语篇的语用连贯。

其次，是重构语义连贯的挑战。仍以第五段为例。本段由三个自然句构成，除了第二自然句句内有数次主语转变的情况，该段的主述位推进方式也并不是一目了然。第一句的主位为“淡淡的墨香”，述位为“我们捧起了书，就再也放不下”。第二句中的主位与述位不断变化且语义逻辑不明显。不仅如此，第二句中各小句所包含的主述位与第一句的语义联系也不太明晰，只有第一个小句的主位“那里”与本段第一个自然句述位中的“书”有比较明确的衔接关系。本段第三自然句为无主句，没有形式上的主位。这也使得第三自然句与前两个自然句之间缺少显在的语义衔接。

通过对第五段各句主述位关系的分析不难看出，源语文本主述位转换频繁且在形式上存在衔接关系不清晰的特点，如果不作调整而直译为英文无疑会带来语义层面的断裂，破坏译文的语义连贯。因此，在翻译时译员应当先确定源语文本主述位推进的方式，以及各自然句之间的语义关系，在此基础上为译文选择合适的主语和句间衔接方式。如此才能保证译文语篇的语义连贯。在讨论重建语法连贯的部分，我们分析了第二自然句与第一自然句之间的语义关系，并以之为依据确定了译文句子的主语应为I。实际上，第一人称视角贯穿于整个第五段。第三自然句虽然缺少形式上的主位，但若结合语境也不难推导出“我/ 我们”应该是第三自然句实际上的主位。因此，在翻译此段时，译员应该注意以英语第一人称代词贯穿整段，以建构句间语义连贯。

此外，如前所述，源语文本的谋篇机制体现出“散”的特征，似乎每个自然段都有独立的主题，然而看似松散的结构却紧紧围绕着“读书”和“书香”这两个主题。因此，在组织译文时，可考虑以reading和scents作为核心词，用同词复现和替代的衔接手段将各个自然段连缀在一起，实现译文段落间的语义连贯。

源语文本在语义层面还具有抽象性和模糊性特点。这一方面是由于文中选用了大量语义抽象的词汇，如第二段中有“人情冷暖”“酸甜苦辣”，第五段中有“万千气象”“风起云涌”“花开花落”，第六段中有“心灵的和平”等。另一方面，源文语义的抽象和模糊也是由指代衔接造成的。如前所述，文中许多人称代词和物主代词的所指并不明确，需要借助语境才能理解。例如，第三段中“这是对知识的渴望……”一句中“这是”所指代的内容并不明确，从语言形式上看不出是指代前文第一个排比结构中的“万般皆下品，唯有读书高”等两句隽语，还是第二个排比句中类似“悬梁刺股，凿壁借光”这样的行为。词义过于抽象以及指代太过模糊不清并不符合英语散文的语言审美，因此译者要根据语境确定词义和各类指代的所指，在此基础上以合适的方式在译文中明确词义及指代关系，构建语篇的语义连贯。例如，第二段中的“人情冷暖”实际应该指的是人性中拜高踩低的弱点，在此译为the fickleness of human nature 即可表达此意。而“酸甜苦辣”指的是书中包含的各种人生起伏，因此译为happinesses and sorrows 可充分达意。这种化虚为实能够构建语篇的语义连贯，但译文仍需保持一定的抽象特点，不可在译文中过度解释作者的语义，以免过犹不及，失去文学语篇的多义性美感。

在语用层面，源语文本共六段，其中三段使用了第一人称代词“我”或“我们”。第四段中虽未使用人称代词，但根据语境可以推断叙述的视角仍为第一人称。频繁采用第一人称视角让作者得以表达主观情感和体会，也让读者更容易代入自己的情感和体会，非常符合汉语抒情散文的语用特征。在翻译的时候，译者应当注意到源语文本的这一交际意图，在译语中保持第一人称视角，必要时甚至应该明晰源语文本中的有标记人称指代（例如第四段），帮助重构语篇的语用连贯。此外，由于源语文本根植于汉语文化传统，其中包含的例如“芸香辟蠧”“凿壁借光”“悬梁刺股”“万般皆下品，唯有读书高”等典故可能并不为英语读者了解，如果将字面意思只译为英文可能会造成语用不连贯的效果，成为影响译文读者理解的障碍。因此，译者需要综合考虑这些熟语的语义、文化内涵以及文本的主要功能（感染功能），确定合理的翻译方法。考虑到散文需要文字流畅明晰，参考译文采取了在文中简要增补信息（如解释第一段中的“芸香辟蠧”，第三段中的“悬梁刺股”“凿壁借光”）以及意译的方法（如第三段中的“万般皆下品，唯有读书高”一句）。这样，可以为译文读者降低交际难度，更有利于建构语篇的语用连贯。

综上，译者如能细致分析源语文本的连贯特征及文本功能，同时以符合目的语语法、文体以及语用规范的方式，在译文中重构语法连贯、语义连贯及语用连贯，就能达到重构译文语篇连贯以及达成最佳互文连贯的翻译目的。

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