相信画龙点睛的故事,大家都非常熟悉。画龙时,本来一幅平淡无奇的画作,因神奇的点睛之笔,便惟妙惟肖,栩栩如生。以此来比喻在关键的地方加上一些精辟的词语或话语,使内容生动传神。

画画和写作需要点睛之笔,翻译也同样需要画龙点睛。

举例说明如下。

不过,尽管花草自己会奋斗,我若置之不理,任其自生自灭,它们多数还是会死了的。我得天天照管它们,像好朋友似的关切它们。

However, although flowers and plants can live themselves, if I pay no attention to them or abandon them to their own fate, most of them will die at the end. I have to take care of them every day, like a good friend.

However, although flowers and plants can live themselves, if I pay no attention to them or abandon them to their own fate, most of them will die at the end. I have to take care of them every day, as if they were my good friends.

Here in New Hampshire there are many opportunities to find a peaceful spot hidden among the lush forests of tall evergreens and hardwoods or next to a rambling brook or pictorial lake.

在新罕布什尔州,很容易就能找到一个幽静的场所,它要么就隐藏在高大茂盛的青翠森林或阔叶林里,要么就在潺潺的小溪旁或风景如画的湖泊旁。

新罕布什尔州树林茂密,郁郁葱葱,湖光山色,波光粼粼,处处都是修身养性之所。

新罕布什尔州森林茂密,绿树长青,泉水蜿蜒而流,湖边风景如画,到处都是幽然寂静的好去处。

从这两个例子中很容易看出,一个词语的改变,或是句式的改变,都可以将平平的译作变得生动、形象、传神。译者不是翻译工具,而应是一个有思想、有体会的人,我们不仅要准确传达原文的意思,更应将原作的文风和精髓体现出来,不仅要信,要达,还要雅。