翻譯歷史人物的傳記與翻譯非歷史人物的傳記實質(zhì)上是同一回事，但在處理方面是兩回事。歷史人物與非歷史人物的內(nèi)容沒有分別，都是傳記，都是傳記翻譯;但歷史人物傳記涉及很多時代久遠(yuǎn)的故事、職稱、著作，與翻譯現(xiàn)代人物傳記的情況有很大的差別。行文方面，撰寫歷史人物的文字以古文居多，有時需要經(jīng)過一重語內(nèi)翻譯才能完成語際翻譯的工作。
本篇的歷史人物是歐陽修，一位大家都非常熟識的文學(xué)家。翻譯歷史人物，適當(dāng)用詞非常重要，例如古代的“政治家”，很少以帶有政黨政治含義的 politician 來譯，statesman 較為適合。同理，文學(xué)家亦不宜以 literary scholar 來譯，man of letters 較好�！白帧笔莿e名，一般譯為 style name (或譯作動詞 style)。“號”是較正式的別名，以言志，以托意，有必要將其意思翻譯出來，所以“醉翁”譯為The Old Drunkard，“六一居士”譯為 Six-one Layman。古時代的“吉州永豐”今人知道的人應(yīng)該不多，所以說明是“今屬江西”，可譯為 now a part of Jiangxi�！白苑Q”是 he called himself�！疤焓ツ觊g”中的“天圣”指北宋仁宗趙禎年號，以西方歷法計算是由1023年至1032年。根據(jù)史籍，歐陽修得進(jìn)士之年是1030�！斑M(jìn)士”一般音譯為 jinshi，其他譯法較為繁復(fù)。其后其所任的官職的譯名可由參考書中找到�！爸圃憽笔� Official Transcriber of Imperial Decrees，“翰林學(xué)士”是 Text-collator of the Imperial Academy，“樞密副使”是 Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs，“參知政事”是Assistant Chief Councillor，“兵部尚書”是Minister of Military Affairs。
下一段的“蘇軾父子”指的是蘇軾和蘇轍，所以譯文應(yīng)為 Su Shi and Su Zhe (father and son)�！芭c宋祁合修”中的“合修”是 co-compile�！缎绿茣肥� A New History of the Tang Dynasty，而《新五代史》是A New History of the Five Dynasties。
【源文】
歐陽修(1007—1072)，北宋時期政治家、文學(xué)家、史學(xué)家和詩人。字永叔，號醉翁、六一居士，吉州永豐(今屬江西)人，自稱廬陵人，因吉州原屬廬陸郡。天圣年間進(jìn)士，宋仁宗時，任職知制詰、翰林學(xué)士;宋英宗時，擔(dān)任樞密副使、參知政事;宋神宗時升任兵部尚書，以太子少師致仕。去世后謚號“文忠”。
歐陽修是北宋詩文革新運(yùn)動的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者，詩、詞、散文均為一時之冠，蘇軾父子及曾鞏、王安石皆出其門下。除與宋祁合修《新唐書》外，獨(dú)立撰寫有《新五代史》。
【譯文】
Ouyang Xiu (1007–1072) was a statesman, man of letters, historian, and poet of the Northern Song period. Styled Yongshu, and self-nicknamed Zuiweng (The Old Drunkard) and Liuyi Jushi (Six-one Layman), he was a native of Yongfeng in Ji Prefecture (now a part of Jiangxi). He called himself a native of Luling, as the Ji Perfecture originally belonged to Luling County. In 1030, he passed the jinshi degree examination. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, he served as Official Transcriber of Imperial Decrees and as Text-collator of the Imperial Academy. During the reign of Emperor Yingzong, he served as Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs, and Assistant Chief Councillor. During the reign of Emperor Shenzong, he was promoted to Minister of Military Affairs and retired as Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. He was given the posthumous title of Wenzhong when he died in 1072.
Ouyang Xiu was a leader of the reform movement in poetry and literature during the Northern Song period and well-known for his poetry, ci-poetry, and prose. Su Xun, Su Shi and Su Zhe (father and son), Zeng Gong, and Wang Anshi were his disciples. Apart from co-compiling A New History of the Tang Dynasty with Song Qi, he also independently wrote A New History of the Five Dynasties.
