分析下吧,这句的翻译大体涉及这么几个要点:‘大道至简’的哲学思想、其在上下文中的意义取舍以及‘任性’的表达:
大道至简的含义(1)“就是最有价值的道理其实是最朴素的道理,很重要的道理其实是很平常的道理。大道至简应是一种境界,也是一种哲学...”(2)“大道理(指基本原理、方法和规律)是极其简单的,简单到一两句话就能说明白。”(3)“大道从最简单处入手。老子说,为大于细。从简易处入手,并不是说大道本身是简单的。”
要做好翻译首先得理解原文,来看下该句的出处(context):政府工作报告(讨论稿)第三部分“把改革开放扎实推向纵深”中的一段:“地方政府对应当放给市场和社会的权力,要彻底放、不截留,上级下放的审批事项,要接得住、管得好。加强事中事后监管,健全为企业和社会服务一张网,推进社会信用体系建设,建立全国统一的社会信用代码制度和信用信息共享交换平台,依法保护企业和个人信息安全。大道至简,有权不可任性。各级政府都要建立简政放权、转变职能的有力推进机制,给企业松绑,为创业提供便利,营造公平竞争环境。所有行政审批事项都要简化程序,明确时限,用政府权力的“减法”,换取市场活力的“乘法”。”
根据这个出处基本可以确定“大道至简”的意义在此应该是上述(3)的意思。
‘任性’的表达:
“任性”一词在英文里可以找到这些:
capricious(changing quickly andsuddenly变化无常的任性),
headstrong(very determined to do what you want,even after others advise not to do it: an impulsive headstrongchild固执的任性),
self-willed(very determined to do what you want,even when this is unreasonable: a wild and self-willedchild不理智的任性),
intractable(having a strong will and difficultto control: They found the ilanders intractable, resistingtheir offers of gifts),
unrestrained(not controlled or limited:unrestrained laughter无拘束无限制的),
wilful (continuing to do what you want, even after youare told to stop顽固的任性),
wayward(behaving in a way that is differentfrom other people and that causes problem: a waywardteenager恣意妄 为的任性),
unruly (behaving in a uncontrolled way: unrulychildren蛮 横的任性)
rash(doing something too quickly, withoutthinking carefully about whether it is sensible or not: don'tgo making any rash decisions about your future!轻率的)
这些词哪个能完全表达我们目前网络热词儿“任性”的含义呢?在李总理之前的答记者问上翻译随机用了capricious其实也不贴切,这个词说的主要是情绪反复无常的那种任性。而分析总理所使用的‘任性’本意应该还是不能‘乱来“之意,所以还是’abuse‘一词达意。
句子逻辑及译文
如上所述,这句如使用power做主语,逻辑上应该是:
Complex doctrine dwells in simpleprinciples, powers should not be exercised at will. 或
Complex doctrine dwells in simple principles,powers should not be abused.
如使用人做主语:Complex doctrinedwells in simple principles, No oneshould abuseits powers.
但是本句并非独立存在,其需服务于上下文。因此考虑到英文段的逻辑以及“简化”一词在政府文件及答问翻译中所使用的‘streamline’,这句译成这样更合适些:
Complexdoctrines should bestreamlined, and powers should not be exercised atwill.或
Complex doctrine should be streamlined, andpowers should not be abused.
感谢“法律英语”所有群友,下面是勤奋的群友贡献的智慧(3月6日):
@Tiffany Shen: it goes withoutsaying that powers should not be abused.
@Laura Liu: The rule is simple. NoPower should be abused.
@俊哥: As a truth without doubt,powers may not be executed at will by its holders.
@王法师: It's a simple truth thatpowers should not be abused.
@唐晓丽: To put it simply, those withpower shall not be capricious. 这里的任性其实可以直接用capricious.
@万千会: It goes simply that powershouldn't be held headstrongly.
@Danielzhuang: In summary, thepowers should not be abused.
@展豪happy:The greatest is thesimpleast. Power should never be irrationally exercised.
@锟先:Good governance is simple,accountability shall always be together with power or you shall notabuse your power .....shall not use your power at will.
@邢超 @远 中文
Some source/reference: