徐文靜
在英文寫(xiě)作中,我們常常會(huì)描寫(xiě)人物說(shuō)話(huà),使用最多的非say莫屬。然而,人們?cè)谡f(shuō)話(huà)時(shí)有著不同的目的、不同的語(yǔ)氣和不同的狀態(tài),因此不同的“說(shuō)”在英文中也有不同的表達(dá),下面我們一起來(lái)看看文學(xué)大師都是如何描寫(xiě)的。
高聲說(shuō)低聲語(yǔ)
【大聲說(shuō)話(huà)】“大聲說(shuō)”在英文中可以用say loudly/aloud或call out表達(dá),比如“大聲求救”可以說(shuō)call out for help。Cry這個(gè)詞我們很熟悉,最常見(jiàn)的意思是“哭”,但它也可以表示“大聲喊叫”,與shout、scream、yell、exclaim意思相近。比如《簡(jiǎn)·愛(ài)》中的一段對(duì)話(huà):
"What a dreadful noise! It went quite through me!" exclaimed Abbot. (“多么嚇人的吵嚷聲!簡(jiǎn)直要穿透我的心肺了!”阿博特嚷嚷道。)
"Take me out! Let me go into the nursery!" was my cry. (“放我出去!讓我到保育室去!”我叫道。)
"She has screamed out on purpose," declared Abbot, in some disgust. (“她是故意亂叫亂嚷的。”阿博特有點(diǎn)兒厭煩地說(shuō)。)
驚嚇中的“我”大聲喊叫著(cry)求仆人阿博特放自己出去,她卻斷然宣稱(chēng)(declare)“我”只是為了逃避懲罰而故意大叫大嚷(scream out on purpose),還夸張地大聲說(shuō)(exclaim)“我”鬧得動(dòng)靜太大,嚇到她了,其冷漠可見(jiàn)一斑。
【輕聲細(xì)語(yǔ)】如果不是當(dāng)眾講話(huà),說(shuō)話(huà)聲音太大難免會(huì)讓人覺(jué)得沒(méi)有教養(yǎng),因此輕聲細(xì)語(yǔ)(speak softly)可謂紳士淑女的基本素質(zhì)。比如《呼嘯山莊》中的一段對(duì)話(huà):
"You bring the pony," she (指凱瑟琳) exclaimed, turning to the woman, "and let my dog free this moment!" (“你把馬牽來(lái),”她又轉(zhuǎn)身對(duì)女仆大叫道,“把我的狗也立刻放出來(lái)!”)
"Softly, Miss," answered the addressed (指女仆): "you'll lose nothing by being civil." (“和氣些,小姐,”那女仆回答,“你禮貌些也不會(huì)有什么損失。”)
有時(shí)我們說(shuō)話(huà)不想讓旁人聽(tīng)到,可以選擇輕聲說(shuō)(say in a low voice/murmur/whisper),甚至可以低聲耳語(yǔ)(whisper sth. in one's ear)。有時(shí)我們心中不滿(mǎn)又不好大聲說(shuō)出來(lái),就可能會(huì)在嘴上嘀咕(mutter)。比如《呼嘯山莊》中的一段對(duì)話(huà):
"You never told me before that I talked too little, or that you disliked my company, Cathy!" exclaimed Heathcliff, in much agitation. (“你以前從來(lái)沒(méi)告訴過(guò)我,你嫌我說(shuō)話(huà)太少,或者你不喜歡我陪伴,凱茜!”希斯克利夫非常激動(dòng)地叫起來(lái)。)
"It's no company at all, when people know nothing and say nothing," she muttered. (“什么都不知道、什么話(huà)也不說(shuō)的人根本談不上是陪伴。”她咕噥著。)
問(wèn)與答
【一問(wèn)一答】“問(wèn)”在英文中一般用ask,如果是詢(xún)問(wèn)信息,還可以用inquire。比如《小婦人》中熱心腸的貝絲病了,于是“the milkman, baker, grocer, and butcher inquired how she did (送奶工人、面包師、雜貨商和肉鋪伙計(jì)都來(lái)詢(xún)問(wèn)她怎么樣了)”?!盎卮稹笨梢杂胊nswer、reply或response,前兩個(gè)既可作動(dòng)詞,亦可作名詞,最后一個(gè)為名詞。比如《呼嘯山莊》中作為監(jiān)護(hù)人的“我”不情不愿地陪著凱瑟琳去會(huì)她的心上人時(shí)發(fā)生的一段對(duì)話(huà):
"And to-morrow, Catherine, will you be here tomorrow?" asked young Heathcliff, holding her frock as she rose reluctantly. (“明天,凱瑟琳,明天你來(lái)嗎?”小希斯克利夫問(wèn),在她不情愿地站起身時(shí)拉住了她的衣服。)
"No," I answered, "nor next day neither." She, however, gave a different response evidently, for his forehead cleared as she stooped and whispered in his ear. (“不,”我回答,“后天也不來(lái)?!笨蓜P瑟琳顯然給出了一個(gè)不同的答復(fù),因?yàn)榫驮谒┥硐蛩Z(yǔ)后,他的前額便舒展開(kāi)來(lái)。)
凱瑟琳的回答(response)是通過(guò)耳語(yǔ)悄悄說(shuō)出的(whispered in his ear),而希斯克利夫聽(tīng)了頓時(shí)眉頭舒展(his forehead cleared),戀愛(ài)中兒女情長(zhǎng)的畫(huà)面瞬間躍然紙上。
表達(dá)不滿(mǎn)
【反對(duì)抗議】與某人對(duì)話(huà)時(shí),如果你認(rèn)為對(duì)方的觀(guān)點(diǎn)正確,可以表示贊同(agree);如果對(duì)方的觀(guān)點(diǎn)與你的看法相左,也可以表示反對(duì)(object),或者進(jìn)行爭(zhēng)辯(argue)、駁斥(retort)甚至抗議(protest)。比如在《雙城記》中,杰里·克朗徹的妻子反對(duì)他所從事的盜墓行為,結(jié)果遭到了杰里的怒斥和暴打。她先是哀求:"Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!" his wife implored. (“杰里,杰里,杰里!”他的妻子哀求道。)而后表示抗議:"I try to be a good wife, Jerry," the poor woman protested, with tears. (“我是想做個(gè)好妻子的,杰里。”可憐的女人流著淚抗議道。)在她指出丈夫的買(mǎi)賣(mài)實(shí)在恐怖而令人不快時(shí),克朗徹進(jìn)行了反駁:"It's enough for you," retorted Mr. Cruncher, "to be the wife of an honest tradesman." (“你只需要,”克朗徹先生反駁道,“做一個(gè)誠(chéng)實(shí)的生意人的老婆就夠了。”)
【批評(píng)指責(zé)】一個(gè)人做錯(cuò)了,會(huì)受到指責(zé)(be blamed)。一個(gè)孩子做錯(cuò)了,會(huì)受到訓(xùn)斥(be scolded),比如《簡(jiǎn)·愛(ài)》中簡(jiǎn)覺(jué)得貝茜不喜歡自己,因?yàn)閟he is always scolding me (她總是在訓(xùn)斥我)。如果對(duì)某人或某事不滿(mǎn)意,我們可以給予批評(píng)(criticize)。如果一個(gè)人行徑惡劣,我們還可以予以譴責(zé)(condemn)。
【抱怨牢騷】心懷不滿(mǎn)時(shí)我們可能想要抱怨(complain),如果某事惹得我們不高興了,我們可能還會(huì)發(fā)牢騷(grumble)。比如《愛(ài)麗絲夢(mèng)游仙境》中三月兔和瘋帽子的一段有趣對(duì)話(huà):
"I told you butter wouldn't suit the works!" he added looking angrily at the March Hare. (“我告訴過(guò)你,加奶油是不行的!”他怒氣沖沖地看著三月兔,又加了一句。)
"It was the best butter," the March Hare meekly replied. (“這可是最好的奶油?!比峦脺仨樀鼗貞?yīng)道。)
"Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well," the Hatter grumbled: "you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife." (“是好奶油沒(méi)錯(cuò),可面包屑肯定也掉進(jìn)去了,”瘋帽子埋怨道,“你不應(yīng)該用涂面包的刀往茶里加奶油?!保?/p>
【大加贊揚(yáng)】與批評(píng)相反,“表?yè)P(yáng)”可以說(shuō)praise,“贊揚(yáng)”則可以說(shuō)acclaim或者exalt,比如“一本受到高度贊揚(yáng)的小說(shuō)”用英文可以描述為a highly acclaimed novel。
如何說(shuō)出彩
寫(xiě)作時(shí),我們常常需要描述說(shuō)話(huà)者的心情、狀態(tài)或者伴隨的動(dòng)作,在英文中有很多種不同的方法將其加在對(duì)話(huà)中,下面來(lái)看兩種最常見(jiàn)的方法。
①可以用副詞形式加在表示言說(shuō)的動(dòng)詞前后,比如“急急忙忙地回應(yīng)”可以說(shuō)hastily reply,而“冷冰冰地回答”則可以說(shuō)answer icily。
②可以用分詞等形式加在說(shuō)話(huà)者后,用逗號(hào)隔開(kāi)。比如《霧都孤兒》中的一段對(duì)話(huà):
"I am sorry," stammered Oliver, confused by the strange man's wild look. "I hope I have not hurt you!" (“很抱歉,”奧利弗被這個(gè)怪人狂亂的神色嚇慌了,結(jié)結(jié)巴巴地說(shuō),“但愿我沒(méi)有碰痛你!”)
"Rot you!" murmured the man, in a horrible passion; between his clenched teeth … (“混賬東西!”那人狂怒不止,從牙縫里咕噥著罵道……)
前一句中的confused by the strange man's wild look寫(xiě)出了奧利弗被“嚇慌了”的狀態(tài),因此說(shuō)話(huà)都結(jié)巴(stammer)了。而后一句中的in a horrible passion則說(shuō)明了這個(gè)怪人的精神狀態(tài)不正常。
英文表達(dá)最崇尚描寫(xiě)準(zhǔn)確而又靈活多變。因此在平時(shí)閱讀時(shí),大家應(yīng)多注意積累不同的表達(dá)方法,準(zhǔn)確掌握它們的含義,在寫(xiě)作時(shí)根據(jù)語(yǔ)境進(jìn)行選擇,交替使用,方能寫(xiě)出地道好文。