All the original English quotations have been taken from British version, Bloomsbury 1998 ， ISBN 0 7475 3848 4. All the Chinese quotations have been taken from the Chinese People’s Literature Publishing House (hereafter referred to as LPH) version, September 2000, ISBN 7-02-003344-X.
The format of this essay is:
O: quotation of the original with page number;
T:
quotation of the corresponding translation with page number, followed by English re-translation or an explanation;
C:
comment;
FC:
further comment if necessary.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Chapters
6 |
||||||||
Chapter 1
1）
O 8: Harry stared from his purple-faced uncle to his pale aunt, who was trying to heave Dudley to his feet.
T: : Omitted
C: [Harry stared from his purple-faced uncle to his pale aunt, who was trying to heave Dudley to his feet. A whole sentence omitted]
Chapter 2
2)
O 19: "See what it's like here?" he said. "See why I've got to go back to Hogwarts? It's the only place I've got -well, I think I've got friends. "
T 10: ‘看到这里的情况了吧？知道我为什么必须回霍格沃兹了吧？我只有那个地方可去 ——我想我在那儿有些朋友。’ "See what it's like here? See why I've got to go back to Hogwarts? It's the only place I can go - I think I've got friends there. "
C: [It's the only place I've got friends. should be a complete sentence in the original, but Harry hesitated a little to think if he really had friends there, as he hadn’t received letters from Ron, Hermione and Hagrid, so the sentence was cut in two; LPH failed to deliver this to readers]
FC: {Misleading readers}
3)
O 21: And laughing like a maniac, he dragged Harry back upstairs.
T: Omitted
C: [And laughing like a maniac, he dragged Harry back upstairs. A whole paragraph omitted]
Chapter 3
4)
O 34: Mr Weasley's eyes jerked open.
T 22: 韦斯莱先生张大了嘴巴。 Mr Weasley opened his mouth widely.
C: [eyes mistranslated]
Chapter 4
4)
O 40: Stored in an underground vault at Gringotts in London was a small fortune that his parents had left him.
T 26: =他父母留给他的一点可怜的财产，存在古灵阁的地下金库里。A miserably small money left by his parents was stored in an underground vault at Gringotts.
C: [a small fortune mistranslated; in London omitted]
FC: {The money Harry was left by his parents was much more than ‘miserably small’. He was a rich and kind boy. Misleading readers; marring Harry’s image and characterisation}
5)
O 41: It felt as though he was being sucked down a giant plug hole.
T 28: 他仿佛被吸进了一个巨大的插座孔里。 It felt as though he was being sucked down a giant mains socket.
C: [plug hole mistranslated]
FC: {Will a mains socket drag things? Confusing readers}
Chapter 5
6)
O 55: Three seconds . . . two seconds ... one second ...
T: Omitted
C: [Three seconds . . . two seconds ... one second ... A whole paragraph omitted]
7)
O 57: They looked at each other and started to laugh; for a long time, they couldn't stop.
T: Omitted
C: [They looked at each other and started to laugh; for a long time, they couldn't stop. A whole paragraph omitted]
8)
O 66: It looked as though the whole of Gryffindor House was still awake, packed into the circular common room, standing on the lopsided tables and squashy armchairs, waiting for them to arrive.
T 47: 好象格兰芬多的同学们都还没睡，全挤在圆形的公共休息室里等着他们。It looked as though the whole of Gryffindor House was still awake, packed into the circular common room, waiting for them to arrive.
C: [standing on the lopsided tables and squashy armchairs Omitted]
Chapter 7
9)
O 87: They were within twenty feet of Hagrid’s house when…
T 64: 他们走到离海格的小屋只有二十来步时， They were only twenty steps from Hagrid’s house when…
C: [twenty feet mistranslated, within mistranslated]
FC: {Twenty feet = 30.48cm X 20 = 609.6 cm, roughly 6 meters，around 7 or 8 steps. Within means less than. Misleading readers}
10)
O 91: You will both do your detentions this evening.
T 67: “你们俩晚上留下来。” You will both leave behind this evening.
C: [Detention is a typical punishment to students at British primary and secondary schools]
FC: {LPH has translated ‘detention’ in quite a few different ways, such as ‘关禁闭’ , labour after school and so on}
Chapter 8
11)
O 95: With very best wishes, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore
T 70: 顺致问候，帕特里克·德波魔先生。 With very best wishes, Mr Patrick Debomore
C: [Middle name Delaney omitted; Podmore mistranslated; Sir mistranslated]
FC: {Sir is here his title of nobility. Misleading readers }
12)
O 97: And without a backwards glance at Harry, Filch ran flat-footed from the office, Mrs Norris streaking alongside him.
T: omitted
C: [And without a backwards glance at Harry, Filch ran flat-footed from the office, Mrs Norris streaking alongside him. a whole paragraph omitted]
FC: {By this, LPH did not tell readers Filch and his cat rushed out of the office in a great hurry, thus he forgot his application form, which left Harry a chance to find his secret of being a squib}
13)
O 101: ”She haunts the girls’ toilet on the first floor,quot; said Hermione.
T 75: ‘她待在一楼的女生盥洗室里。’赫敏说。”She stays in the girls’ toilet on the ground floor，” said Hermione.
C: [The first floor in British English is the second floor in Chinese; haunt mistranslated]
14）
O 102: Large, rotten fish…
T 75 - 76: 大块大块已经腐烂的肉…… Large, rotten meat…
C: [Fish mistranslated]
FC: {How do they manage to do this?}
15)
O 105: Foot-high words had been daubed on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by the flaming torches.
T 79: 在两扇窗户之间，距地面一尺高的墙面上 ，涂抹着一些字迹，在燃烧的火把的映照下闪着微 光。 A foot above the floor on the wall, words had been daubed between two windows, shimmering in the light cast by the flaming torches.
C: [foot-high mistranslated]
FC: {foot-high is used as an adjective to describe the size of words, which has nothing to do with the position of the words. LPH did not understand such simple English; incredible}
Chapter 9
16)
O 111: It was quite usual for Hermione to spend a lot of time reading, but she was now doing almost nothing else.
T 85: 赫敏平常总是花很多时间看书， 现在却整天几乎什么也不干。 It was quite usual for Hermione to spend a lot of time reading, but she was now doing almost nothing.
C: [else omitted]
FC: {One word’s omission makes the whole sentence totally opposite in meaning to the original. Misleading readers}
17)
O 115: "It is a myth! It does not exist! There is not a shred of evidence that Slytherin ever built so much as a secret broom cupboard!…… "
T 88: ‘这是一个神话！根本不存在！没有丝毫证据说明斯莱特林曾经建过这样一个秘密扫帚棚之类的东西。……’ "It is a myth! It does not exist! There is not a shred of evidence that Slytherin ever built such a secret broom shed!…… "
C: [The original emphasises Slytherin had never built anything, while LPH means the chamber of secret itself WAS a secret broom shed; cupboard mistranslated]
FC: { Misleading/confusing readers }
18)
O 116: You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin would help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that... But Harry, who had already heard of Slytherin House's reputation for turning out Dark wizards, had thought desperately, Not Slytherin! and the hat had said, Oh, well, if you're sure ... better be Gryffindor...
T 88:页 '你会非常成功的，你知道吗，都在你脑袋里藏着呢，斯莱特林会帮助你获得成功，这是毫无疑问的……哦， 好吧，既然你这么确定……那就不妨去格兰芬多……’ ‘You could be very successful. Do you know, it’s all there in your head, and Slytherin would help you to achieve that, that’s no doubt about that…oh, alright, if you are so certain… then no harm you go to Gryffindor…
C: [The original quoted this part from previous text, with only one word’s difference , but LPH’s translation gives many differences]
FC: {LPH should consult their own previous translation when the original repeats. Misleading/confusing readers. They should at least respect their own previous work!}
19)
O 116: They stopped and looked.
T: Omitted
C: [They stopped and looked. A whole sentence omitted]
20)
O 118: The floor was damp and reflected the dull light given off by the stubs of a few candles, burning low in their holders;
T 90: 地板上湿漉漉的，几根蜡烛头低低地在托架上燃烧着，发出昏暗的光，照得地板阴森森的。 The floor was damp; the stubs of a few candles, burning low in their holders, the dull light given off by them made the floor an ominous look.
C: [reflected omitted; it is hard to find the counterpart in original for 照得地板阴森森的]
FC: {reflect is a very important word, which affects the following story, as the cat saw the snake from the reflection, therefore not did not die. Losing readers’ involvement.}
21)
O 118: "Because a cat was attacked right outside your front door on Halloween."
T 91: 因为万圣节那天，有一只猫就在你的大门外遭到了袭击。 "Because a cat was attacked right outside your front door on All Saints Day."
C: [Halloween mistranslated]
FC: {Halloween is a very important date in Harry Potter series. A mistranslation like this will cause serious confusion to the basic time line of the whole story. Misleading/confusing readers}
Chapter 10
22)
O 122: ……and a vampire who had been unable to eat anything except lettuce since Lockhart had dealt with him.
T 94: 还有一个吸血鬼，自从洛哈特跟它打过交道后，它就不吃别的，只吃萝卜了。 ……and a vampire who would not eat anything except turnips since Lockhart had dealt with him.
C: [lettuce mistranslated; had been unable to mistranslated]
FC: {LPH often made this kind of strange translation mistake with single words. The vampire in original was not so willing to stick to lettuce, while LPH told readers the opposite}
23)
O 129: Dimly, dazed by the searing pain in his arm, he slid sideways on his rain-drenched broom, one knee still crooked over it, his right arm dangling useless at his side -
T 100: 一阵烧灼般的疼痛，使他感到有些眩晕，在被雨水浇湿的飞天扫帚上滑向一侧，一条腿的膝盖仍然勾住扫把，右手则毫无知觉地悬荡在身体旁边。 The searing pain dazed him, slid sideways on rain-drenched broom, one knee still crooked over it, right hand dangling senseless at side -
C: [in his arm omitted; he omitted; arm mistranslated; Dimly omitted; Right Arm mistranslated; Useless mistranslated]
FC: {6 mistakes with such a small part! No proper subject, therefore poor Chinese}
Chapter 11
24)
O 137: He sat up quickly and looked over at Colin's bed, but it had been blocked from view by the high curtains Harry had changed behind yesterday.
T 106: 他猛地坐起身， 朝科林的床上望去，可是哈利床前昨天新换上的长长的帘子， 把科林的床完全遮住了。He sat up quickly and looked over at Colin's bed, but the long curtains replaced yesterday in front of Harry’s bed blocked Colin’s bed totally.
C: [LPH has misunderstood this sentence]
FC: {Misleading/confusing readers }
25)
O 143: "Mr. Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what you make of the famous Potter.…… "
T 111: 马尔福， 上这儿来。让我们看看你能把大名鼎鼎的波特造就成一个什么样的人。 "Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what form you can change the famous Potter to.…… "
C: [Mr omitted; make of mistranslated]
FC: {Misleading/confusing readers }
26)
O 148: …… let slip to Potter he was Muggle-born.
T 115: …… 不小心对波特说漏了嘴，说他是个天生的麻瓜…… …… let slip to Potter he was born Muggle.
C: [Muggle-born mistranslated]
FC: {Misleading/confusing readers}
Chapter 12
27)
O 158: He had already told them pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as a prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.
T 123 - 124: 帕西曾经很自负地告诉他们，他之所以留下来过圣诞节，只是因为他是全优生，有责任在这段动荡的时期支持老师的工作。 He had once told them pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as an outstanding student to support the teachers during this troubled time.
C: [prefect mistranslated]
FC: {LPH should at least have translated prefect as they did before: Head of Year }
28)
O 165: Mr. Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, called today for Mr. Weasley's resignation.
T 130: 这辆被施过魔法的汽车今年早些时候在霍格沃兹魔法学校撞毁，该校的一位董事卢修斯·马尔福近日打电话要求韦斯莱先生辞职。Mr. Lucius Malfoy, a governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the enchanted car crashed earlier this year, made a telephone call lately asking for Mr. Weasley's resignation.
C: [Today mistranslated; Call For mistranslated]
FC: {There was no telephone in wizarding world. Misleading/confusing readers}
Chapter 13
29)
O 172: It got washed out ......
T 135: 全被水泡烂了。 It got badly damaged by water…
C: [got washed out seriously mistranslated]
FC: {The diary was one of the most important objects in Book 2, was one of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes, how could it be damaged that easily? Misleading/confusing readers }
30)
O 173: On the first page he could just make out the name "T M. Riddle" in smudged ink.
T: 136: 在第一页上只能认出一个用模糊不清的墨水写的名字：汤·里德尔。 On the first page he could just make out the name "T. Riddle" in smudged ink.
C: [T M does not stand for Tom, but for two names, Tom Marvolo. Mistranslated]
FC: {Very serious mistranslation. Losing hint and readers’ involvement for Chapter 17 and Book 6}
31)
O 173: "Because Filch made me polish his shield about fifty times in detention," said Ron resentfully. "That was the one I burped slugs all over. ……"
T 135: '因为费尔奇罚我留校劳动，叫我给他擦奖杯，擦了有大约五十次呢。’罗恩忿忿不平地说，'我那天打嗝把鼻涕虫弄在上面了，我得把它们擦干净……’ "Because Filch punished me with a school labour, and he let me polish his cups for about fifty times," said Ron resentfully. "I burped slugs all over the cups and had to wipe them clean. ……"
C: [A detention was given, not ‘Because Filch punished me’ , but because their arriving at school by a flying car; his shield mistranslated; Detention mistranslated; Ron did not clean each cup 50 times, but only Riddle’s shield; Shield mistranslated; all over omitted]
32)
O 173: "He must've been Muggle-born," said Harry thoughtfully.
T 136: ‘里德尔一定是一个麻瓜，’哈利若有所思地说， "Riddle must've been a Muggle," said Harry thoughtfully.
C: [Muggle-born mistranslated]
FC: {This is as ridiculous as saying that ‘Hitler must've been a Jew'; the problem is I can't make myself laugh}
33 ）
O 173: "Could've been anything," said Ron. "Maybe he got thirty O.WL.s……"
T 136: '什么都有可能，’罗恩说，'也许他抓住了三十只猫头鹰……’ "Could've been anything," said Ron. "Maybe he caught thirty owls……"
C: [he got thirty O.W.L.s mistranslated]
FC: {LPH make themselves a laughing stock!}
34)
O 174: "Well, the Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago, wasn't it?" he said.
T 136: '是这样，密室是五十年前被打开的，是不是？’赫敏说， '马尔福是这么说的。’"Well, the Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago, wasn't it?" Hermione said.
C: [he said mistranslated]
FC: {LPH must be joking! This was said by Harry. Hermione had never even heard Malfoy say this.}
35)
O 177: His books, wand, parchment, and quill spilled onto the floor and his ink bottle smashed over the lot.
T 139: 他的书、魔杖、羊皮纸和羽毛笔稀里哗啦地落到地板上，墨水瓶摔碎在最上面。 His books, wand, parchment, and quill spilled onto the floor and his ink bottle smashed on the topmost.
C: [over the lot omitted. Later in this chapter it mentions that everything got ink on it]
FC: {Serious omission. Although everything got ink on, later it was found only the Riddle diary not stained, therefore roused serious intention from Harry. Losing hint/readers’ involvement}
36)
O 182: They told me at the orphanage she lived just long enough to name me - Tom after my father, Marvolo after my grandfather.
T 143: '他们在孤儿院里对我说，她只来得及给我起了名字：汤姆，随我的父亲。’ They told me at the orphanage she lived just long enough to name me - Tom after my father.
C: [Marvolo after my grandfather omitted]
FC: {Twice mistranslated Voldemort’s name. Losing hint/readers’ involvement}
Chapter 14
37)
O 193: Got to be seen to be doing something.
T 153: 必须做点什么才行。Got to do something.
C: [to be seen omitted]
FC: {Important omission. Fudge enjoyed his power, liked very much to keep his office, therefore he took it as very important how the public saw him. This was the first time he presented himself in the books, this sentence set the foundation for his characterisation and image; this omission breaks the foundation}
38)
O 194: This is an Order of Suspension -
T 154: 这是罢免令。 This is an Order of Recalling.
C: [Order of Suspension mistranslated]
FC: {Dumbledore was not recalled, but suspended. In later text Snape correctly explained this, there LPH translated it rightly. Misleading/confusing readers}
Chapter 15
39)
O 201: Fred and George challenged Harry and Ron to a few games of Exploding Snap,
T 159: 弗雷德和乔治向哈利和罗恩提出挑战，要求玩呼 '同’牌戏，…… Fred and George challenged Harry and Ron to a few games of 呼'同’牌戏，(I don’t know what 呼‘同’牌戏 is, unable to translate it back to English)
C: [Exploding Snap mistranslated. LPH translated the same proper noun as 噼啪爆炸，see T123]
FC: {What is “呼‘同’牌戏”? Confusing readers }
40)
O 201: "Course," said Ron abruptly as they strode across the black grass, "we might get to the forest and find there's nothing to follow. Those spiders might not've been going there at all. I know it looked like they were moving in that sort of general direction, but. . ." His voice trailed away hopefully.
T 159: '怎么走，'当他们大步穿过黑黝黝的草地时，罗恩突然说道，'我们也许到了林子里以后，根本就找不到东西可以追踪。那些蜘蛛可能压根儿就没有到那里去。我知道，它们当时似乎是朝那个方向移动的，但是……’他没有说下去，给哈利留下了一点希望。"How shall we go," said Ron abruptly as they strode across the black grass, "we might get to the forest and find there's nothing to follow. Those spiders might not've been going there at all. I know it looked like they were moving in that sort of general direction, but. . ." He did not continue, leaving Harry with a little hope.
C: [Course mistranslated; He did not continue, leaving Harry some hope. mistranslated]
FC: {LPH again has to be joking with the last sentence. Misleading readers}
41)
O 203: "Shut
up," said Harry frantically. "It'll hear you."
"Hear
me?" said Ron in an unnaturally high voice. "It's already heard
Fang!"
T 161: ‘闭嘴，’哈利狂怒地说，'它会听见你的。’
‘听见我？’罗恩用一种很不自然的尖声说，'它已经听见了。牙牙！’
"Shut up," said Harry frantically. "It'll hear
you."
"Hear
me?" said Ron in an unnaturally high voice. "It's already heard. Fang!"
C: ["It's already heard. Fang!" mistranslated]
FC: {LPH separated one sentence into two, thus mistranslating the original. Misleading/confusing readers }
42)
O 206: His words were drowned by a loud outbreak of clicking and the rustling of many long legs shifting angrily; large black shapes shifted all around him.
T 164: 顿时，咔哒咔哒的声音响作一团，无数条长腿在窸窸窣窣地移动; 庞大的黑影在他周围晃来晃去。 Immediately, there was a loud outbreak of clicking, countless long, rustling legs moved around; large black shapes shifted all round him.
C: [Neither the subject nor the verb in the original was translated by LPH.]
FC: {Misleading/confusing readers; incredible}
Chapter 16
43)
O 212: I must say, I did think she'd keep her word.
T 169: 哎，我就知道她不可能说到做到。 I must say, I didn’t think she'd keep her word.
C: [did mistranslated]
FC: {The result is, of course, that the translation is opposite in meaning to the original}
44)
O 215: This snake, which may reach gigantic size and live many hundreds of years, ……
T 171: 这种蛇的体积可以变得十分巨大，通常能活好几百年…… This snake, which may reach gigantic volume and live several hundred years, ……
C: [size mistranslated; many hundreds of years mistranslated]
FC: {Slytherin was a person lived more than one thousand years ago. If the snake could only live for several hundred years, it should have died long, long ago! Countless readers have been thus confused}
45)
O 215: This snake…… is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad.
T 171: 它是从一只公鸡蛋里、由一只癞蛤蟆孵出来的。 This snake is born from a cock's egg, hatched by a toad.
C: [Can a cock lay eggs?]
FC: {They really are a laughing stock}
46)
O 215: Hermione had just realised the monster was a basilisk. I bet you anything she warned the first person she met to look around corners with a mirror first!
译著 172页 我可以跟你打赌，她当时逢人就提醒要先用镜子照照拐角处！ I bet you she warned everybody she met to look around corners with a mirror first!
C: [Hermione had just realized the monster was a basilisk. Such an important sentence totally omitted; anything omitted; the first person she met mistranslated]
FC: {Misleading readers }
47)
O 221: "What d'you want me to do?" said Lockhart weakly. "I don't know where the Chamber of Secrets is. There's nothing I can do."
T 176: ‘你们想要我做什么？’洛哈特虚弱地说，'我可不知道密室在哪里。我什么也不会。’ "What d'you want me to do?" said Lockhart weakly. "I don't know where the Chamber of Secrets is. I can do nothing."
C: [There's nothing I can do. mistranslated]
FC: {Even though Lockhart really did not know much magic, he would never admit that. Misleading readers in Lockhart's image and characterisation}
Chapter 17
48)
O 231: Voldemort was after your time.
T 186: “伏地魔的事发生在你死后许多年。” “The story of Voldemort happened many years after your death.”
C: [The whole sentence mistranslated]
FC: {Misleading/confusing readers}
49)
O 231: I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, through my mother’s side.
T 186: 要知道，在我的血管里，流淌着萨拉查·斯莱特林本人的鲜血，是通过他的女儿传给我的！ In fact, in my veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, it was through his daughter to me!
C: [through my mother’s side mistranslated]
FC: {How through my mother’s side becomes through his daughter to me is a real mystery to me. Misleading/confusing readers}
50)
O 232: The size of a swan
T 187: 有仙鹤那么大， The size of a red-crowned crane,
C: [How a Swan turns into a Red-crowned crane is another mystery to me]
FC: {Incredible}
51)
O 234: As Harry trembled, ready to close his eyes if it turned, he saw what had distracted the snake.
T 189: 就在哈利颤抖着想闭上眼睛时，蛇怪转过身来，于是哈利看清了是什么转移了它的注意力。 As Harry trembled, trying to close his eyes, the basilisk turned around, and Harry saw what had distracted the snake.
C: [The whole sentence mistranslated]
FC: {How could Harry see the basilisk without being petrified? Misleading/confusing readers}
Chapter 18
52)
O 243: ‘Miss Weasley should go up to the hospital wing straight away,’ Dumbledore interrupted in a firm voice.
T 196: “韦斯莱小姐应该立刻到校医院去，”邓布利多不由分说地插嘴道，
C: [interrupted mistranslated]
FC: {In Chinese, 插嘴 is impolite behaviour, like 'butting in', often used to describe improper actions from inferiors to superiors or children to parents, therefore it is improper to use it here to describe Dumbledore’s action}
53)
O 243: ‘Right’, said Professor McGonagall crisply,
T 196 : “行，”麦格夫人干脆地说， ‘Right’, said Mrs McGonagall crisply,
C: [Professor mistranslated]
FC: {Is McGonagall married? Who’s her husband? Misleading/confusing readers}
54)
O 245: And then he saw the name engraved just below the hilt.
Godric Gryffindor.
T 198: 接着，他看见了，就在靠近剑柄的地方刻着一个名字。
戈德里克 · 格兰芬多 。
C: [The same name Godric when used for Potters’ home village was translated by LPH differently]
FC: {If there is some link between Godric Hollow and Godric Gryffindor, how will LPH explain the difference in translation? Losing possible hint/readers’ involvement}
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