譯小說時我必定先想像書中人的長相，賦予每個人物一張面孔。如此一來，想像角色的舉手投足時便能勾勒出具體輪廓，揣摩說話者的語氣也容易得多。
翻譯《失憶守密人》（The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey）時，我想像瘦小蒼老的主角托勒密．葛雷長得像「樂士浮生錄」的Ibrahim Ferrer：
（其實他不是美國人，甚至不說英語，但我想不出哪位瘦小的美國黑人呀。）
至於小說中的十七歲嬌俏少女蘿賓，我把她想像成年輕時的Lauryn Hill：
這個我就得意了，因為真是像到不行，無論潑辣的個性、嬌小結實的身材、甜美的笑容，哎唷，你們看了小說就會懂啦。
延伸閱讀：
失憶守密人：角色名字有什麼祕密？
《失憶守密人》譯者精選片段
我翻譯的第七本書：失憶守密人
Hey, Miranda
回覆刪除That’s a sneaky and smart move of yours! (the link) Still, I appreciate you made it easier for me to buy the book.
This article reminds me of the characters in Jin Yong’s Chinese emprise novels.Because when I read those novels, I pictured the roles in my mind too.
A good strategy indeed. I agree with you.
Having the characters in mind, the translator should be able to reinforce the images the original writer tried to present, which should spice up the reading material
So even the dumb bear like me might be able to sense the “beefed up” reading :p
Thanks, Michael!
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