港大中文學院

張愛玲研究新方向講座系列 New Directions in Eileen Chang Studies Lecture Series
Co-hosted by School of Chinese and Department of Comparative Literature, HKU
Co-sponsored by Louis Cha Fund for Chinese studies & East/West studies in the Faculty
& Center for the Study of Globalization and Culture (CSGC) 

何以還魂：將張愛玲譯歸中文的經驗反思

Impersonating Eileen Chang: A Translator’s (Im)possible Task of Bringing Home Her English Works

分享嘉賓 Speaker: 鄭遠濤 先生 Mr. Silvano ZHENG

主持人 Moderator: 黃心村 教授 Prof. Nicole HUANG (HKU) 

日期時間 Date & Time: May 13, 2024 (Mon) 16:30-18:00pm

語言 Language: 普通話 Putonghua

地點 Venue: CBA, Chow Yei Ching Building, Main Campus, HKU

摘要 Abstract:

一個男性譯者如何完成「回譯」英文張著的棘手任務，並以趨近張作趣味的文字，來呈現這位巨匠的風貌？這次講座從譯者獨特的親身經驗，切入雙語作家張愛玲的文學存在。講者將回顧自己歷年來的張著譯作，包括中篇小說《少帥》、演說稿與散文各一及書信若干，用文字舉例和逸聞趣事來講述甘苦自知的工作歷程，揭示出譯者雖有「隱形」的本分，某些個人面向依然可能滲入譯稿，往往有賴眼光犀利的合作者提點，方能適時訂正調校，以求準確反映作者當時的心緒。如果中文是張愛玲最後的家園，她那極富魅力的聲音，就彷彿無時不在呼喚並誘惑譯者：帶我歸航。也許在張愛玲的文學疆域中，如此航向的譯本始終只能抵達一個幻像島嶼，但即使這樣，這空間裡亦充滿喬治·斯坦納所稱的「詞語的解放之力」。

This seminar intersects key areas of Eileen Chang’s existence as a bilingual writer from a unique empirical perspective by trying to answer the question:  How did a male translator tackle the complicated mission of rendering her English works in a Chinese style that would possibly be seen as approximating her own, with at least some hallmarks of the unmatchable master? Reflecting on his translations of Chang over the years, including the novella “The Young Marshal,” a speech, an essay and letters, the speaker will cite examples and tell anecdotes that occurred in the process of his bittersweet job, revealing how despite a translator’s ideally “invisible” role, certain elements of his person could seep into the drafts before the occasion arose for rectification and fine-tuning, often with insight from collaborators, to precisely mirror probable authorial intentions. If Chinese is Chang’s ultimate homeland, her siren call for homeward translation will never cease. Perhaps a translation voyage thus directed is only bound for a phantom isle in Chang’s literary terrain but even so, it is a space full of what George Steiner named “the liberating power of the word.”

講者簡介 About the Speaker:

鄭遠濤  譯書寫作的人，英文系畢業，曾獲兩屆梁實秋文學獎翻譯類獎項。生於廣州，現居三藩市灣區。少年時癡迷張愛玲作品，30歲左右得到將英文張著翻譯為中文的機緣，譯出《少帥》，後來參與兩卷本《張愛玲往來書信集》所涉譯事。其他譯著有西洋歷史小說亞歷山大三部曲、《奧古斯都》，約翰·伯格的《到婚禮去》等。近年因戀上巴西音樂而學習葡萄牙語。

Silvano Zheng is a literary translator and writer with a degree in English. Two-time winner of the prestigious Liang Shih-chiu Translation Award from Taiwan. Born in Guangzhou, he lives in Berkeley, California. Aficionado of Eileen Chang’s oeuvre since his adolescence, at 30 he undertook an assignment to translate the late master’s English works into Chinese, a project that resulted in The Young Marshal and other volumes. Zheng’s translations also include Mary Renault’s Alexander trilogy, John Williams’ novel Augustus, and John Berger’s To the Wedding.  He is now learning Portuguese for the love of Brazilian music. 

Notice:

1) The seminar will be conducted primarily in a face-to-face mode; Those who cannot attend the seminar in-person could apply for online participation (via Zoom) with justifications;

2) All those who would like to attend the seminar are required to register online (Click HERE) on a first-come, first-served basis;

3) Email of confirmation will be sent to the registered email addresses and participants have to show the screenshot or print-out version of the email for entry of the seminar venue;

4) Walk-in or late-comers will not be allowed for entry of the seminar venue unless situation allows.

ALL are welcome*

*Pre-registration (Click HERE) is requested.