翻译大家董乐山译的《第三帝国兴亡史》里面有个错误?希特勒是趴着死的还是躺着死的?当年读专业外语的时候,就有疑问,请注意内的中英文.中文译文：“与大家告别之后,他们回到自己

Question

翻译大家董乐山译的《第三帝国兴亡史》里面有个错误?希特勒是趴着死的还是躺着死的?
当年读专业外语的时候,就有疑问,请注意【】内的中英文.
中文译文：
“与大家告别之后,他们回到自己的寝室.戈培尔、鲍曼和其他几个人,在外面的走廊里等候着.过了一会儿,他们听到一声枪响,他们等待着第二次枪声,但是却没有声音了.他们等了一会儿,轻轻地走进元首的房间.他们看到阿道夫·希特勒的尸体【趴】在沙发上,还在淌血.他是对着自己的嘴放了枪的.”
英文原文：
Hitler and Eva Braun had no such problem. They had only their own lives
to take. They finished their farewells and retired to their rooms. Outside in
the passageway, Dr. Goebbels, Bormann and a few others waited. In a few
moments a revolver shot was heard. They waited for a second one, but there
was only silence. After a decent interval they quietly entered the Fuehrer’s
quarters. They found the body of Adolf Hitler 【sprawled on】 the sofa dripping
blood. He had shot himself in the mouth. At his side lay Eva Braun. Two
revolvers had tumbled to the floor, but the bride had not used hers. She had
swallowed poison.
懂行的老师应该不用我多解释了吧?就是这个sprawl到底译作什么的问题?是面朝下还是面朝上?按照朝嘴开枪的一般逻辑,也应该是“躺着”更合适.那么,董先生错了吧?

Answer 1

很认真的有翻译天赋的读者,此处的确该朝上,虽则该词有时也可表朝下.乐山先生有此小错情有可原,外语界泰斗王佐良先生翻译尚有错,何况别人?翻译无错绝不可能.不过像秋水兄这样认真的人做翻译错误率一定极低.