目前,信用卡在中國的一些大城市的年輕人中十分流行。信用卡為其使用者提供了方便,但是同時也使一些人,尤其是購物成癮卻收入不高的年輕人,逐漸地成為信用卡的“奴隸”。卡奴們深陷債務(wù),不得不從一張信用卡中借錢來還另外一張信用卡,或者向銀行支付高額的利息。由于收入微薄 (meager)和超支 (overspending),他們總是處于破產(chǎn)的邊緣,并且在信用紀錄中留有很多污點 (stains)。為了避免成為卡奴,信用卡使用者一方面要減少不必要的消費支出,另外一方面還要想辦法增加經(jīng)濟收入。
翻譯點撥
1. 購物成癮卻收入不高的年輕人:翻譯為youngsters with severe shopping addiction and low income,而不用將“購物成癮”和“收入不高”分別譯為形容詞,這樣可以使譯文更為流暢。
2. 深陷債務(wù):有固定的譯法,即be deeply in debt。
3. 高額的利息:翻譯為high interest。interest除了表示“興趣”之外,還可以表示“利息,利率”。
4. 收入微?。悍g為meager salaries。meager意為“微薄的,不足的”。
5. 處于破產(chǎn)的邊緣:翻譯為on the verge of bankruptcy。注意:此處的“邊緣”并不能譯為edge。edge表示“正處在邊緣,馬上就要不屬于某種狀態(tài)”,而verge則表示“正處在邊緣,馬上就要進入某種狀態(tài)”,符合此處的語境。
6. 在信用紀錄中留有很多污點:翻譯為have a credit history that is full of stains,full of 更體現(xiàn)了污點之多。如果直譯為leave many stains in his or her credit history也是可以的。
參考譯文
Card Slave
At present, credit cards are very popular among young people in some large cities in China. While providing convenience for users, credit cards have made some people, especially youngsters with severe shopping addiction and low income, gradually become credit card“slaves”. They are deeply in debt and have to borrow from one credit card to pay off debts on another credit card, or pay high interest to the banks. Due to their meager salaries and overspending, they always live on the verge of bankruptcy, and have a credit history that is full of stains. To avoid becoming a credit card slave, credit card users have to reduce unnecessary spending while looking for ways to increase their income.
知識小貼士
在信用卡高度普及的時代,各金融機構(gòu)(financial institution)為推銷信用卡,紛紛對新會員推出豐厚禮物、積分(accumulated score)回贈或手續(xù)費(handling charge)優(yōu)惠等活動,吸引人們多刷信用卡,信用額度(limits)也越來越高,一張卡的月額度經(jīng)常可達月收入的幾倍。從某種意義上說,信用卡的出現(xiàn)和普及,拉動和刺激了消費,帶來了經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展和繁榮。但是,對持卡人來說,克制不住超前消費的沖動則會產(chǎn)生很大的壓力。與當下同樣流行的“房奴”和“孩奴”相比,房奴和孩奴還可以苦中求樂,從房子或孩子身上得到一些幸福感,但是一旦成為卡奴,則意味著長期的個人財務(wù)周轉(zhuǎn)不靈,會影響到一個人生活的安定。