“吃瓜群众”的几种翻译
1. rubberneck、rubbernecker、gawker、gaper
Rubberneck和rubbernecker都是指“a person who stares or gapes inquisitively, esp. in a naive or foolish manner”,和鲁迅笔下那种伸长脖子、瞪大眼睛的看客形象是绝配。维基百科对rubbernecking的描述更加详细、清晰:
The term rubbernecking refers to the physical act of craning (伸长) one’s neck, performed in order to get a better view. Rubberneck has been described as a human trait (人性) that is associated with morbid curiosity (病态的好奇). It can be the cause of traffic jams (sometimes referred to as “Gapers’ blocks”), as drivers slow down to see what happened in a crash.
Rubbernecking最初是指游客,后来指载着游客观光游览的各种车辆,由于车上的游客往往伸长脖子,这种观光又叫the rubbernecking tours,后来就用该词指那种伸长脖子的好奇看客,尤其指开着汽车围观交通事故的过路司机,这种围观造成的交通堵塞叫gapers’ blocks,又叫rubbernecking delay。再后来,该词词义进一步扩大,可以指任何伸长脖子看热闹的围观者。
Gawker是指“伸长脖子呆看的人”(a spectator who stares stupidly without intelligent awareness),具有更强的贬义色彩。Gaper则是强调在围观时惊愕地张大嘴巴(a person who stares in astonishment usually with the mouth wide open)。因此,在翻译那种纯粹属于看客式的吃瓜群众时,就可以使用rubberneck、rubbernecker、gawker、gaper这些词,尤其是具有明显贬义时,比如:
吃瓜群众越多,社会就越危险。
The more rubberneckers we have, the more dangerous our society will be.
2. onlooker、spectator、bystander
这一组词都是指“旁观者”(someone who watches an event take place but does not take part in it),指一般性的围观,没有明显的褒贬色彩,属于中性词,可以用来翻译作为旁观者的吃瓜群众,比如:
①不只满足于“吃瓜”的“吃瓜群众”
Onlookers who are no longer satisfied with just looking on
②吃瓜群众还原事件真相
Spectators/Onlookers Unveil the Truth
③附近街区已成了政治活动家、示威者和吃瓜群众的聚集地。
The streets surrounding it have become a gathering area for political activists, protesters and curious onlookers.
④不要拖我下水。我只是个不明真相的吃瓜群众。
Don’t drag me into this. I am just an innocent bystander.
3. viewer、audience
有些吃瓜群众是电视或电影观众,这时可以使用viewer和audience来翻译,比如:
①广电推出“禁韩令”?吃瓜群众:禁得好
Audience Cheers for SARFT (State Administration of Radio Film and TV,国家广播电影电视总局)
②美女直播吃烤串 居然有20万吃瓜群众围观
Girls’Barbecue Live Show Attracts 200,000 Viewers
4. Internet users、netizens、WeChat users、Weibo users
有些吃瓜群众是指网民或社交媒体用户,这时可以使用“网民”之类的词进行翻译。比如,在澳大利亚游泳选手霍顿攻击中国选手孙杨为“吃药的骗子”(drug cheat)后,中国大批吃瓜群众要求霍顿道歉,许多海外媒体在报道这一事件时就用了netizens或Internet users。又如,“明星成高危职业,众星怒斥吃瓜群众网络暴力”这一新闻标题中的“吃瓜群众”显然是指网民,因此可以译作netizens或Internet users。
5. people、the public
有时,吃瓜群众实际上是泛指任何人,这时可以简单使用people或the public来翻译,比如:
①给不明真相的吃瓜群众普及下xx事件。
In case some people have no idea of what happened, I will give a brief account of the event.
②吃瓜群众的眼睛是雪亮的。
The public are sharp-eyed.
③然而吃瓜群众早已看穿了一切。
The public/people have seen through the whole trickery.
6. watermelon eaters
有时,为了吸引眼球,某些媒体会使用“吃瓜群众”的字面意义来指真正吃瓜的人,如下列新闻标题中的“吃瓜群众”显然是指字面意义上的吃瓜者,这时当然就可以直译为watermelon eaters。
①不明真相的吃瓜群众看过来 夏季吃隔夜西瓜有毒?
Watermelon Eaters, Be Aware! Leftover Watermelon May Be Doisonous.
②重庆吃瓜群众街头比拼 争夺“大胃王”称号
Chongqing: Watermelon Eaters Compete for “King Stomach”
7. 根据上下文翻译出具体所指对象
在不同的语境中,“吃瓜群众”可能指不同的对象,这时可以直接将所指对象译出,比如:
①试穿紧身泳衣的吃瓜群众(这里“吃瓜群众”指购物者)
Shoppers who are trying on close-fitting swimwear
②周杰伦的人品怎么样?看吃瓜群众怎么说(这里“吃瓜群众”指粉丝)
What’s Jay Chou like? Hear What the Fans Have to Say
总之,翻译“吃瓜群众”,要区分所在语境和实际意义,选用恰当的词语,不可一刀切。
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