内容简介

《梦想服饰店》是一本以现实生活为背景、带有魔幻力的小说。该小说主要讲述女主人公可拉在经历父母的离奇死亡后，终日郁郁寡欢，总在学校实验室和奶奶的服饰店度日。而女主人公可拉的奶奶埃塔的服饰店，外表看着小小的，特别不起眼，走进去却是豁然开朗。那串珠的丝绸、衣服上精致的花边、以及宝石色调的丝绒布料，都附着着不为人知的魔力。

男主人公沃尔特从小暗恋着可拉。可拉长期封闭乏味的生活方式早已让可拉对生活失去了情趣。可拉的冷淡让沃尔特不敢靠近她，只敢远远的关注着她。埃塔得知沃尔特的心意，也希望可拉能走出那枯燥乏味的生活方式，不要错失沃尔特对她的爱，便在他的衣领上缝下一枚带有魔力的小针。沃尔特在魔力的激化下，为可拉精心设置了一系列惊喜，而这些惊喜也成了改变可拉平凡忧郁生活的重要转折。

本翻译实践选择翻译小说第一章至第三章，即小说最开始的三章。第一章主要写的是埃塔的服饰店里那些吸引人的衣服和吸引人的细节。这一章清楚地写出了她的服饰如何具有魔力使他人转变成功，这也为埃塔在沃尔特衣领上缝下魔力小针、沃尔特在魔力的催化下对可拉的转变埋下伏笔。第二章以可拉生日开始，沃尔特出现了，为她送上了蛋糕。埃塔正是借此机会在沃尔特衣领上缝下魔力小针。第三章主要写的是沃尔特在魔力小针的促使下，对埃塔态度的转变——从曾经的默默关注，到觉得是时候该做些什么了。

这三章多用细节描写的手法，很多细节、转变写的非常到位。这既是对翻译技巧的考验，也是对语言功底的考验。例如，如何表现出埃塔服饰店虽然小虽然不起眼，又是如何吸引顾客的眼球？可拉在父母在世时生活是如何的，在父母去世后又是怎样的心情，怎样的生活方式。沃尔特对可拉的心意，从小时候的害羞懵懂，到之后对可拉的关心在意，又是如何转变的。这些都是很微小的细节，但是能处理得好，一定是最大的亮点。

INTRODUCTION

The Dress Shop of Dreams is a magic novel, which is in the background of the real life. The female main character of the novel is called Cora who has been always distressed after experiencing her parents’ mysterious death. The only two places where she spends most of the time are the laboratory and her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. The magic power is attached to the beaded silk, delicate lace dresses, and jewel tones of velvet fabric. 

The male main character, Walt, loves Cora secretly from his childhood. Cora’s long boring lifestyle makes her lose interest in life. Cora’s coldness makes Walt only dare to watch her distantly and silently. Etta knows that Walt loves Cora, and she also hopes that Cora can get rid of the boring lifestyle, and do not miss Walt’s love. She sews a small needle with magic in Walt’s collar. In the magic intensification, Walt sets up a series of surprises for Cora, and these changes become a turning point of the ordinary life of Cora.

The translation practice deals with the first three chapters, the beginning of the whole novel. The fist chapter is about the dress shop of Etta, and the attractive clothes and other details. It clearly illustrates how her clothes help others have a transformation. Also, it is a hint for sewing a magic needle on the collar of Walt, and as a result, he changes his attitude toward Cora. Cora’s birthday is the beginning of the second chapter. Walt shows up to give a cherry pie for Cora. It is a nice chance for Etta to sew a magic needle on the collar of Walt. The third chapter is mainly about the change of Walt on Etta—caring about her silently at first, however, at present, he thinks it is the time to do something because of the magic needle.

These three chapters describe in the way of details of description. It is not only a test of translation skills, but also a test of language skills. For example, although small and modest, how can Etta’s dress shop catch customers’ eyes? What is the difference of mood and lifestyle Cora has, before and after her parents’ death? Walt admires Cora, and how does he change the way to show his love to Cora? These are minor details, but they can be the biggest highlight if well manipulated.