本篇是翻译 GEB 第一章的 overvew,然后与 GEB 中文译本比较学习。主要是出于两个目的:
翻译练习
:GEB 的中文翻译是非常称赞的,自己翻译练习一下,然后比较学习。长知识
:神书太厚难,所以先只选择目录翻译,从整体上先了解个大概,多少也可以说看过点了。。。此前的章节参见:
先放原文:
Chapter I: The MU-puzzle.
A simple formal system (the MIL'-system) is presented, and the reader is urged to work out a puzzle to gain familiarity with formal systems in general. A number of fundamental notions are introduced: string, theorem, axiom, rule of inference, derivation, formal system, decision procedure, working inside/outside the system.
Two-Part Invention. Bach also wrote fifteen two-part inventions. This two-part Dialogue was written not by me, but by Lewis Carroll in 1895. Carroll borrowed Achilles and the Tortoise from Zeno, and I in turn borrowed them from Carroll. The topic is the relation between reasoning, reasoning about reasoning, reasoning about reasoning about reasoning, and so on. It parallels, in a way, Zeno's paradoxes about the impossibility of motion, seeming to show, by using infinite regress, that reasoning is impossible. It is a beautiful paradox, and is referred to several times later in the book.
又是 present
,不过也难怪,因为都是概述,所以难免会出现很多基本义是”介绍“的英文词,简单快速回顾一下目前已经遇到的,自己写英文的时候可以变通着用:
A simple formal system (the MIL'-system) is presented
所以译文介绍了
一个形式系统就好了,不过 GEB 中文版用了”提供了
一个形式系统),想想还是这个合理些,因为印象中这个系统是作者自己设计的,不是已有的某个系统。
and the reader is urged to work out a puzzle to gain familiarity with formal systems in general
is urged to … urge
这个词我印象中就只记着催促督促敦促
了,感觉是个很强势的词,敦促读者
显然不好。查了下字典,原来 urge
还有恳求规劝极力主张
的意思,用在这里就很合适了:
1 to advise or try hard to persuade sb to do sth:
sth (on / upon sb) to recommend sth strongly: 例句 The situation is dangerous, but the UN is urging caution.
“建议读者
”似乎也不太舒服,我因为吃不准到底怎么用词,干脆省略了,直接译成”让读者解开谜题”,哎,我这个公号实在太暴露我的水平了,希望以后能越来越好,当然,如果大家能从我的译文中感觉到自己翻译的更妙更有信心,我也就也很欣慰了。GEB 中文版用了“鼓励
”,这个感觉太棒了。
work out a puzzle to gain familiarity with formal systems in general
work out a puzzle
,解谜题,解开谜题?一个谜题还是一道谜题?看起来很没必要纠结的,可是读起来感觉就是不同,一道题总是比一个题地道,解开似乎还暗示了结果? 我自己译成“解开一个谜题,解开后会对形式系统有个大概的了解”,这里的“一个”该换成“一道”。GEB 中文版的译文是“去解一道谜题,以增进对一般形式系统的熟悉程度
”。我个人不太喜欢“以
”字,总感觉这个词如果把握不好就容易翻译腔,为了避免用它,就加了“解开后”来承接,不过就又有个疑问:读者如果解不开呢?。。。解的过程肯定也会多少帮助了解形式系统,所以我这个承接词也有待改进。
其实我感觉 GEB 中文版的”以增进
“,可以把”以
“字去掉,并不影响原意。
It parallels, in a way, Zeno's paradoxes about the impossibility of motion, seeming to show, by using infinite regress, that reasoning is impossible.
这句乍看上去有点乱,理一下句子结构:
这句话的主语是:It
,指的是前一句”The topic is the relation between
“ 里面的 the topic
, 即这篇对话的主题
谓语:Parallel
, 基本义是平行,把两个事物放在一起(beside each other),引申为两者有相似之处,哪两个事物呢?it
和 Zeno's paradoxes about the impossibility of motion
芝诺的运动悖论。GEB 中文译文”它对应于芝诺的关于运动不可能性的悖论“,我译的是”将它与芝诺的运动不可能悖论相提并论“。
GEB 中文”对应于芝诺的关于
运动不可能性的悖论“,里面的”关于
“我觉得有点多余,或可去掉。想起余光中先生的”怎样改进英式中文?──论中文的常态与变态
”中提到过滥用”关于“
的问题:
「有关」、「关于」之类,大概是用得最滥的介词了。「今天我们讨论有关哪儿哪儿交通的问题」;「关于他的申请,你看过了没有?」在这句子里,「有关」、「关于」完全多余。最近我担任「全国学生文学奖」评审,有一篇投稿的题目很长,叫「关于一个河堤孩子的成长故事」。十三个字里,「关于」两字毫无作用,「一个」与「故事」也可有可无。
「关于」有几个表兄弟,最出风的是「由于」。这字眼在当代中文里,往往用得不妥:
状语:seeming to show, by using infinite regress, that reasoning is impossible.
翻译的话就主谓状的顺序就好了。
It is a beautiful paradox, and is referred to several times later in the book.
beautiful
形容 paradox
,很生动,就是苦了我翻译了,说这个悖论很美,”很
“字太土不想用,我干脆用了”太美了“,又有点过了。GEB 中文用了”这是一个优美的
悖论“。
is referred to
,被动语态,本着尽量不用被动语态的原则,我译成了”本书后文会多次提及
“,我觉得可。
GEB 中文用了被动语态”在后面各篇章中将多次被提及
“。也挺通顺。到底哪种更可?主动还是被动?我个人倾向于主动。
Formal system
:参见 Formal system | logic | Britannica[1],我还不太理解,就不乱说了。
Formal system, also called logistic system, in logic[2] and mathematics[3], abstract, theoretical organization of terms and implicit[4] relationships that is used as a tool for the analysis of the concept of deduction[5]. Models—structures that interpret the symbols of a formal system—are often used in conjunction with formal systems.
The topic is the relation between reasoning, reasoning about reasoning, reasoning about reasoning about reasoning, and so on.
这句话让我想起一个关于infinite regress(无穷回归)的笑话:
DIMITRI
: If Atlas holds up the world, what holds up Atlas?
TASSO
: Atlas stands on the back of a turtle.
DIMITRI
: But what does the turtle stand on?
TASSO
: Another turtle
DIMITRI
: And what does that turtle stand on?
TASSO
: My dear Dimitri, it’s turtles all the way down!
这是《柏拉图和鸭嘴兽一起去酒吧 (豆瓣)[2]》的开篇笑话,很有意思的一本小书,曾买了英文版,但是感觉里面的单词难度挺大,就一直看的很少,但是非常喜欢这本书的小巧,以及封面设计,黄色镂空,手感舒适,走到哪儿都带着,就是看不懂。
Formal system | logic | Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/formal-system
[2]柏拉图和鸭嘴兽一起去酒吧 (豆瓣): https://book.douban.com/subject/27203767/
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