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美国小伙因沉迷中国玄幻小说成功戒毒,网友:大哥你这是染上了新毒瘾啊……

中国日报双语新闻  · 公众号  · 国际  · 2017-03-21 12:51

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这两天,一则关于美国小伙沉迷中国玄幻小说不能自拔、竟成功戒掉毒瘾的新闻刷屏网络……



据《南方周末》报道,美国小伙凯文·卡扎德失恋后用毒品自我麻醉,偶然接触到中国玄幻小说《盘龙》(Coiling Dragon)后,一发不可收拾。一整天,他不吃不喝,一连读了五六部(《盘龙》共21部),相当于中文一百多万字。


后来,更新缓慢的《盘龙》已无法满足他的胃口,他又找到了三个翻译网站,同时追更15部中国网络小说,看得如痴如醉……


美国小伙卡扎德


卡扎德说:


“过去我回家后只想着吸毒,现在我回家后满脑子想的都是中国小说,它们像毒品一样让人上瘾,但至少不会伤害身体。”


2015年,卡扎德还在翻译连载中国网络文学的“武侠世界”(wuxiaworld.com里留言讲述了自己的故事:



大家晚上好,我想分享一个比较沉重的故事,不过最后的结局是好的,因为这个网站的小说我收获了快乐:


I'll try to be brief, in 2014 I had a breakup with a woman I was with for 2 years. After that I had a bit of a...problem, I got into drugs, I got addicted to Coke.

长话短说,我2014年和处了2年的女友分手,然后我就出了点问题,我开始吸毒了,染上了可卡因的瘾。


In February of this year I had did my last line and all of a sudden my heart started beating uncontrollably and I felt a deep pressure appear on the left side of my body all the way down. I thought I was having a heart attack. From that day on I felt that pressure every day, sometimes the pressure would build up and as it did I would actually have a hard time thinking clearly and get lightheaded.

2015年2月我吸完最后一道白粉,突然心脏开始不受控制地狂跳,左半边身体感受到一种强大的压迫。我以为我心脏病发作了。从那天起,我每天都能感到这种压力,有时候压力陡增,使我无法清醒思考、头昏眼花。


And one day I was introduced to Coiling Dragon, immediately I fell in love. Once I got caught up with that I moved on to MGA, ATG and ISSTH etc... Basically Wuxiaworld took up all my time and I was able to forget about wanting any drugs...

然后有一天,有人介绍我看《盘龙》,我立刻爱上这部小说。我追完那部又接着去看了《修罗武神》、《逆天邪神》、《我欲封天》……基本上“武侠世界”占据了我所有的时间,我甚至忘记了对毒品的欲望……


About a month ago I noticed the pressure started to dissipate, and as it did my vision and thoughts have also started to clear up and also sometimes I can hear a sound in my head like water being slowly drained through a straw...

大约一个月前,我发现那种压力开始消退了,视力和头脑也变得清晰了,有时,我还能听见脑袋里有一种水被吸管吸走的声音……


What would have happened if I never found wuxiaworld and been able to stave off my addiction? I really want to say I feel your novels have probably saved my life so thank you... really.

如果我从未发现“武侠世界”、戒除毒瘾,后果又将会怎样?我真的想说,你们的小说救了我一命。所以真心感谢。



中国网友看到这条新闻反响热烈,遥想当年,自己也是这样沉溺网文的……


“白天上学两眼青黑,晚上被窝里打开小说两眼放光”


还有网友为“文学戒毒”的成果感到振奋:


但也有网友表示,他这是染上了新的毒品……


其实像卡扎德这样狂热的外国玄幻小说粉还真不少……


比如这位为了读网络文学而自学了中文:

我学中文六个月了,只为了看网络小说,所以只学了汉字和语法。现在虽然我能借助弹窗词典看懂70%的内容,但是一点乐趣也没有。所以现在我决定从头学中文,读和说都学起来,这绝对更有用。


这位是肯塔基州中部一位“寻常男子”,他很感谢志愿翻译,但是对《盘龙》结尾充满怨恨,吐槽不止。


还有这位无法适应小说完结的。


该死……我现在难过极了。我是说,《盘龙》只剩一章就完结了!我已经习惯每天追文了!这是我看的第一本中国小说!它对我来说意义非凡……我真的很喜欢这部小说,真的无法接受再一章就完结了,以后都没有《盘龙》了呜呜呜呜……这本书真的是一场神奇的旅途,《盘龙》将一直在我心里占据特别的位置。只剩一章了,我太伤心了。感谢翻译君。


你一定好奇外国网友看这些网文的网站是什么样的,我们来介绍一下……


连载中国网络文学的“武侠世界”(wuxiaworld.com),由美国资深译者RWX成立于2014年底,到去年8月,其全球总访问量已经超过了10亿次,其中40%来自北美,20%来自欧洲。



该网站一共刊载了23部中国网络小说(web novels),7部已翻译完结,包括原文340万字的“我吃西红柿”(作家朱洪志)的《盘龙》(Coiling Dragon)。


此外,还有包括spcnet在内的好几家聚集了外国志愿翻译的网站。

网友整理spcnet网站每本小说的阅读量


翻译得怎么样呢?我们来看一段《盘龙》节选:


Book 1, Chapter 1 – Early Morning at a Township

第一章 小镇的早晨


The town of Wushan. An ordinary little town located within the Kingdom of Fenlai, west of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, the largest mountain range within the Yulan continent.

乌山镇,玉兰大陆第一山脉‘魔兽山脉’西方的芬莱王国中的一个普通小镇。


As the morning sun rose, in the town of Wushan, there remained a slight hint of the cold, pure pre-dawn air. However, virtually all of the citizens of this small town had already come out to begin working. Even the six or seven year old children had already gotten out of bed and were preparing to begin their traditional morning exercises.

朝阳初升,乌山镇这个小镇上依旧有着清晨的一丝清冷之气,只是小镇中的居民几乎都已经出来开始工作了,即使是六七岁的稚童,也差不多也都起床开始了传统性的晨练。


On an empty area in the eastern region of Wushan town, the warmth of the rays of the morning sun passed through the surrounding trees, leaving behind scattered spots of light on the empty ground.

乌山镇东边的空地上,早晨温热的阳光透过空地旁边的大树,在空地上留下了斑驳的光点。


A large group of children could be seen there, approximately one or two hundred in number. These children were separated into three groups, each group divided into several lines. All the children stood there silently, their faces solemn. The northernmost group of children were approximately six years old. The group in the middle, approximately nine to twelve years old. The ones in the south, the thirteen to sixteen year olds.

只见一大群孩子,目视过去估摸着差不多有一两百个。这群孩子分成了三个团队,每个团队都是排成几排,孩子们一个个都静静地站在空地上,面色严肃。这群孩子最北边一个团队的孩子大概六岁到八岁。而中间的一个团队,差不多是九岁到十二岁,最南边的则是一群十三岁到十六岁的少年。


In front of this large group of children, there were three sturdily-built middle-aged men. All three of them wore short-sleeved shirts and roughly cut trousers.

在这一大群孩子前方,便是三名壮硕的中年人,三个中年人都是穿着短背心以及粗布长裤。


“If you want to be a powerful warrior, then you must work hard from youth.” The leader of the middle-aged men, head raised high, hands clasped behind his back, said to them coldly. He swept his cold, fierce gaze across the northernmost group of children. All of those six and seven year olds tightened their lips. Gazing at this man with their big, round eyes, none of them dared to make a sound.

“想要成为一名伟大的战士,就必须从小刻苦锻炼。”为首的中年人背负着双手,昂着头颅冷然说道,那冷厉的目光更是朝最北边一个团队扫了过去,那群六七岁的孩子们一个个抿着嘴,乌溜溜的眼睛更是盯着这位中年人,丝毫不敢出声。


The leader’s name was Hillman (Xi’er’man). He was the captain of the guard for the Baruch (Ba’lu’ke) clan, the noble clan which owned Wushan town.

为首的中年人名叫希尔曼,是乌山镇的拥有者‘巴鲁克家族’的护卫队队长。


“All of you are commoners. Unlike those noble families, you won’t have access to any secret manuals teaching you how to cultivate battle qi [dou qi]. If you want to become someone of worth, if you wish to be respected, then all of you must use the most ancient, most simple, and most basic ways of improving yourselves – through exercising your bodies, and building up your strength! Am I clear?!”

“你们都是普通人,不可能像那些大贵族一样有厉害的斗气密典修炼,想要出人头地,想要将来不被人瞧不起,你们就必须按照最古老、最简单、最基础的方法锻炼,锻炼身体、打熬力气,明白没有!”


Hillman swept the group of children with his gaze.

希尔曼目光扫向这一群孩子。


“Understood.” The voices of the children replied brightly in unison.

“明白。”一群少年响亮地吼道。


“Good.” Satisfied, Hillman coldly nodded. The eyes of the six year old children displayed their confusion, while the eyes of the teenagers became very determined. They understood the meaning behind Hillman’s words.

“很好。”希尔曼满意地冷漠点了点头,那些六七岁的孩子们眼中大多有着懵懵懂懂,而那些十几岁的少年们眼神都坚毅的很,因为他们明白希尔曼所说的含义。


Virtually every male in the Yulan continent would exercise very hard from a very young age. If anyone slacked off, in the future, they would be looked down upon by others! Money and power – these were the things that determined a man’s status! A man without power would be looked down upon even by women.

整个玉兰大陆几乎每一个男子都要从小努力锻炼,如果谁不刻苦训练,那他将来就会被人瞧不起!代表男人地位的,就是实力与金钱!一个没有实力的男人,就是女人也会瞧不起的。


为了方便读者理解,这些外国志愿翻译们还提供了兵器的提示:



中国的称谓:


还有一些文化tips:


早在2011年,南派三叔的《盗墓笔记》就出了英文版Cavern of the Blood Zombies


现在国外的志愿翻译网站几乎也形成了自己的运作模式——打赏模式,建立起了翻译团队,据说抢走了不少原本是日韩轻小说(light novels)的粉丝。


几个主要网站正在连载译文的更新:


不乏猫腻、天蚕土豆等大神的作品。


你可能会好奇,外国读者为什么能理解仙侠、武侠这些中国独特的文化元素……


阅文集团(China Reading Group)的CEO吴文辉在接受《中国日报》时说:


“关键在于你的文化产品比较好,好到他们愿意跨越文化来了解你,这不是谁迎合谁的过程,而是你有文化魅力征服别人心灵的问题。”


他认为中国网络文学的优势在于:丰富的想象,以及不断成长壮大的故事主线。


阅文集团CEO吴文辉与演员胡歌共同揭晓2016中国原创文学风云榜TOP1、2、3名得主


吴文辉介绍,目前最受海外用户喜爱的中国网络小说主要为玄幻、武侠、仙侠等类型。


“这类的网文灵感脱胎于在中国流传演变了上千年的神话传说、历史典籍等等,作品中构筑了一个深植于中国传统文化的庞大世界观,与西方世界的文化背景截然不同,给海外读者带来了前所未有的阅读体验。同时还充满了曲折离奇的情节、酣畅淋漓的主人公奋斗经历。”


另摘一份统计:



▷ 在十大外国人最爱读的网文中,“重生”“穿越”“种马”“炼丹”“开金手指”等情节出现率极高;


▷ 在十大热书中50%出现了血统、族系(Bloodlines、Clan Politics)内容,50%的主角要修真(Cultivation),50%的主人公在炼体(Body Tempering),50%的主角会穿越异界(Transported to Another World),60%的主角有储物空间(Interspatial Storage)


▷ 80%的故事里出现过怪物、兽类(Monsters、Beast);


▷ 60%的故事有多个界域(Multiple Realms)


▷ 而90%说的是男主角由弱变强的故事(Weak to Strong)。



《盘龙》的作者“我吃西红柿”的反应则是:


“的确想过作品传播到海外,不过没想到是读者自发翻译在论坛上传播,我挺喜欢这样的事的。”


他觉得故事、感情都是共通的,都会有爱情、亲情。


唯一担心的是翻译问题,毕竟网络小说是很长,能否有人愿意翻译那么长的小说,并且还翻译准确?


那么是谁在翻译呢?


前面提过的RWX其实就是“任我行”,1986年生于四川成都,3岁随父母到了美国,就读于UC伯克利,毕业后考入了“本科生很难进的”美国国务院下的外交部门。



这位武侠爱好者翻译了金庸古龙,又一面工作一面完整翻译了“我吃西红柿”340万字的长文《盘龙》,花了他1年半来所有的业余时间,被他称作“a hell of a ride”。


RWX于15年辞掉了外交官的工作,专注于中国网络文学向英语世界的翻译和推广,他说现在网站日均PV为400万,吸引了24个译者在做志愿翻译,其中还有金发碧眼学中医的小伙伴。


任大侠说他的翻译速度在一周10-20章,中间也一度翻译不下去了,全靠有热心粉丝的志愿打赏:


A cycle had begun, and others scrambled to donate as well.  This was far more work than I had bargained for…but I did what I promised, and this resulted in a virtuous (albeit exhausting) cycles of more updates=>more viewers=>more donations=>more updates. 

然后一个停不下来的日更循环就开始了,网友们则抢着打赏。我没想到工作量会如此巨大,但是我完成了我的承诺。这又促成另一个良性(虽然也很疲劳)的循环:更多更新=>更多读者=>更多打赏=>更多更新。


The 90 hour workweek for a year has taken its toll; it’s been rewarding in many ways, both financial and personal, but at the same time, it’s been a killer.  I’ve had no social life for a year, I’ve gained ~30 lbs from all that sitting in front of a computer, my right hand cramps at the pinky (from continuous stretching to the ‘shift’ button, I haven’t gone out for a date in ages…the list goes on and on. 

每周工作90小时,持续一年,它确实让我收获良多,无论是经济上还是个人成长上,但也辛苦之极。我几乎没有社交生活,长期坐在电脑前长胖了30磅,右手小指时而抽筋,因为总要按shift键,没机会出去约会……这些列都列不完。


除了翻译,还有不少外国大神用中国网络小说模式来原创英文小说的。


看看Gravity网站上的原创作品列表:


其中那本《蓝凤凰》(Blue Phoenix),作者是Tina Lynge,据说是居住在丹麦、25岁左右的美少女。


《蓝凤凰》在亚马逊已经出了电子书,讲一个叫Hui Yue(主角名字都是拼音)的英雄在“一个弱肉强食的世界如何靠自己的力量生存下去”的故事。该书在外国人的“豆瓣”Goodreads上有266人评价,褒贬不一。



Tina Lynge还有一部小说叫Escaping Fate


作家说:


My writing is inspired by popular genres of Chinese web novels. These stories usually takes place in a world unlike our own. A world filled with demonic beasts and cultivation of both body and soul. This is a world where a person's level of strength is what determines their future accomplishments.

我的创作灵感来源于流行的中国网络小说。这些故事通常发生在一个完全不同的世界,充满了妖怪,身体和精神的双重修炼。这是一个由个人的力量决定他们未来成就的世界。


Blue Phoenix is a story that I have been spending a very long time on planning. It is a story that has caused me to use countless of hours to research the Chinese culture and Taoism. Even now there is so much to know, that I still spend hour after hour on researching the fundamentals while writing a chapter.

我的《蓝凤凰》构思了很久,我花了很多时间研究中国文化和道家思想,虽然已经掌握了不少知识,但每写一个章节我还是要花很多时间研究背景。


讲了这么多,该奉上更多的传送门了,大多都能直接、免费读起来,请大家在中式风格浓浓的英语网络文学中翱翔吧。


❶ www.wuxiaworld.com


❷ www.spcnet.tv/forums/forumdisplay.php/5-Creative-Minds

这是剧评网,RWX是老版主,经常在上面活动。直接传送到有小说创作和翻译的板块。


 https://www.reddit.com/r/noveltranslations/

也有别的国家的作品,但中国小说铺天盖地。


❹ http://gravitytales.com/

受《盘龙》启发,网友自己开办的网站,最大特点是有英语原创的网络文学作品。


❺ en.qidian.com

阅文预计在今年春天上线的起点国际版,除了英语,也有其他语种的计划。正在招募作者和译者。


❻ https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/89248.Wuxia_and_Xianxia

一个豆瓣式的索引,直接传送到武侠和仙侠部分。


据说还有俄翻网站Rulate,越南语的资源就更丰富了,学各种语种的小伙伴high起来吧。


编辑:梅佳 左卓


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