中国传统音乐英译范文赏析（1）

The Qin consists of a long, narrow upper wooden board made fromtong tree (or other trees of the pine family) and a lower board madefrom catalpa tree (or other hardwood). These two pieces of boards arestuck together and lacquered on the surface. There are13 smalldots(called hui)inlaid on the outside of the upper board, Which mark thepositions of the musical notes and their harmonics.Seven strings arefixed on the upper board, starting from the thickest one on the outsideto the thinnest one on the inside. When played, the Qin is put on a table.

点评：此段为古琴的简单介绍，其中“徽”的翻译也直接用了音译，值得商榷，个人意见是根据其用途可翻成 “tone dot”。另外，古琴的按音和泛音译为“musical notes”（另外有翻成“stopped strings”）和“harmonics”, 另外散音可翻译成“Open Strings”，这样古琴按音泛音散音三音翻译就全了。

与很多乐器相比较,古琴有如下独特之处:古琴弦的有效振动弦长超出一般乐器的弦长,振幅宽大,音质低沉浑厚,幽静古朴;古琴的面板即指板,无品无柱,出音孔开于底板,向下传音;琴上存有一百多个实用的泛音,堪称乐器之最。

When compared with other instruments, the Qin is special in thefollowing aspects:

1. The effective vibrating length of the strings of The Qin is longer thanthat of other instruments, resulting in a large vibrating amplitude anda tone rich in the lower register which fits in with the contributor of thenature

2. The fingerboard of The Qin is the upper board, which does not consistofany frets. Sound holes are the opened on the lower board, which meansthat the sound is transmitted downwards.

3. Over 100 overtones (harmonics) can be played on the Qin. It isprobably the instrument which has the largest number of overtones.

点评：此段描写古琴的演奏特点，描写古琴的音质时原文“音质低沉浑厚, 幽静古朴”翻译为“a tone rich in the lower register which fits in with the contributor of the nature”似乎不太理想，建议翻为“a vigorous , low and deeptone which reflecting a quiet and secludedatmosphereofprimitive simplicity”.

龙音公司唱片《管平湖古琴曲集》

在一千五百年以前古琴曲《碣石调幽兰》已由专用的记谱法一“文字谱”记成并流传至今。唐朝时又将文字谱改进为“减字谱”,经千余年传行。历代琴家编纂刊印了一百五十余部琴谱谱集,其中共收录了三千余首琴曲和琴歌,以及大量的理论文字篇章。古琴音乐的遗产蔚然大观,浩如烟海,可谓是中国民族音乐中的瑰宝,已引起海内外音乐史家、音乐理论家的重视。

1500 years ago, music for the Qin was recorded by words, which werecalled"Literal scores". During the Tang Dynasty, simplified scoreswere developed and used from then on instead of the "Literal scores".Over the centuries, Qin players published Over 150 books on Qin music, whichincluded Over 3000 pieces ofmusic for solo Oin the or songs withOinaccompaniment, And also plenty ofarticles on theories about the Qin. The legacy of Qin music is so rich that it is now considered as the gemofChinese traditional music and catches the attention ofexperts musichistory and musicologists around the world.

点评：此段描写古琴谱和文献，古琴的“文字谱”和“减字谱”分别翻译为"Literal scores"和“simplified scores”，这是古琴非常显著的特点。而现存的古琴文字谱名曲《碣石调幽兰》未译， 碣石调实际上是琴曲的曲调，幽兰是乐曲的名字，因此可参照词牌的翻译方法译为“Jieshi tune. Orchid in Seclusion”。

注：原文和译文均摘自龙音公司唱片《管平湖古琴曲集》内页介绍

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