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《研究生英语实用翻译教程》
主编 许建平
副主编 李建华 王宏
编者 许建平李建华 王宏
穆凤良 张荣曦 王鹏举 张瑾
中国人民大学出版社
(第二版)
第一单元 绪论 翻译的定义、标准与翻译技巧
第二单元 翻译手法 直译与意译
第三单元 翻译技巧1 分清主从 把握文理
第四单元 翻译技巧2 遣词用字 恰如其分
第五单元 翻译技巧3 词类转换 自然流畅
第六单元 翻译技巧4 适当增添 清楚明了
第七单元 翻译技巧5 词语省略 言简意赅
第八单元 翻译技巧6 结构调整 顺理成章
第九单元 翻译技巧7 正反交替 相得益彰
第十单元 翻译技巧8 语态转换 约定俗成
第十一单元 翻译技巧9 名词性从句 灵活处理
第十二单元 翻译技巧10 定语从句 合分替换
第十三单元 翻译技巧11 状语从句 上下连贯
第十四单元 翻译技巧12 长句翻译 嵌切拆插
第十五单元 科技英语的翻译
第十六单元 实用文体翻译:出国留学信函
新闻报道的翻译
文献资料的翻译
部分翻译网站地址
第一单元 绪论 翻译的定义、标准与翻译技巧
这一单元的教学重点是使学生了解翻译的定义、标准及初步接触各类翻译技巧,为以后各单元的学习奠定基础。
I. 翻译实例训练
英译汉 China's Uneasy Billionaire
翻译教学中我们常常会遇到这样一种情况:课堂教学往往局限于传授各种技巧方法而缺乏相应的翻译训练,到头来学的一大堆翻译理论、技巧却不知怎样将所学知识加以应用。因此本教程采取了“实践-理论-实践”这样一种循环教学法,即先动手翻译,再将翻译过程中碰到的问题上升到翻译理论、技巧的高度,使其直观化、条理化,归纳出翻译的一般规律和处理方法,然后进一步翻译实践,将学到的方法技巧灵活地加以利用。
这篇文章摘选自日英国《经济学人》(The Economist),要求学生能结合翻译的定义、标准与翻译技巧,借助词典,准确地翻译出原文的思想内容、风格文采。
这篇短文总共不足700字,内容涉及新世纪中国的人物、事物,乍一看来很好翻译,但实际操作起来却并不容易,涉及遣词用字、词语增减、词类转换、结构调整、正说反译、长句切分、句子重组、语态转换、上下衔接等翻译技巧方法。
此外文章中出现了不少的有关人名、地名、品牌、机构等专有名词,有些直接采用汉语拼音,如:Shantou, Beijing, Suning, Yongle, Dazhong等;有的按韦氏拼音(Wade-Giles),如:Li Ka-shing, Wong Kwong Yu, Hong Kong, Gome;有些是原作者根据中文意译成英语的词语,如:north Beijing, Eagle Plaza;还有一些则是英语中不太常见的姓氏、品牌,如:Rupert Hoogewerf,Mercedes等。一般词典、工具书不可能将这些内容一一收入,需要学生开动脑筋,分别酌情处理。尤其是在英美、港台所通用的人名、地名的韦氏拼法,对大多数同学来说都相当陌生,但根据上下文Asia's richest man,China's richest men,at the top of the list,社会知识面比较广的同学完全可以将其回译成准确的汉语。不少学生为了图省事,直接将汉语拼音抄写在答卷上,这种做法不宜提倡;还有个别同学张冠李戴,将其译作“李家兴”、“王虹雨”、“工美”等,暴露出知识面的狭窄。
一般来说,翻译专有名词需要遵循的基本原则是“约定俗成,名从主人”。以这篇文章的翻译为例,Hoogewerf(胡润),Mercedes(梅赛德斯-奔驰)是“约定俗成”的典型译例;Eagle Plaza(鹏润大厦)则是“名从主人”的最好说明,如果我们不知底细,照字面将其译作“雄鹰广场”,那就贻笑大方了。
这一单元的汉译英翻译实例训练与英译汉配套,是一篇关于香港亿万富翁李嘉诚的小传,共294字。根据课本提供的难点注释,要求学生能够在30分钟之内完成,然后结合书后的参考译文,讨论翻译的手段及方法技巧。需要着重指出的是,英汉表达上的方式手段不同,甚至连标点符号也不一样。汉语的顿号需要转出英语逗号。
II. 翻译知识:翻译的标准与翻译技巧
1.翻译的定义
课本给出了国内外最常见的关于翻译的6种不同定义。实际上关于翻译的定义远不止这些,各自处在不同的角度,看问题的视角也就不一样。国内的一些定义如下:
翻译是把一种语言文字的意义用另一种语言文字表达出来;把代表语言文字的符号或数码用语言文字表达出来。[《现代汉语词典》, ]
翻译是按社会认知需要、有具有不同规则的符号系统之间所作的信息传递过程。[方梦之] 翻译是一种跨语言、跨文化的交际活动,翻译的过程也就是信息的传递过程。[韩忠华] 把一种语言表达的意思用另一种语言表达出来,这就叫翻译。[张经浩]
翻译是一种信息传递的方式。把一个原来用甲语言表达的信息改用乙语言表达,使不懂甲语言的人也获得同样的信息,这就是翻译。[金隄]
翻译是译者的一种特殊而复杂的思维活动过程。[杨自俭,1989]
翻译是译语再思维。[王高生,1996]
所谓翻译,是指从语义到文体在译语中用最切近而又最自然的对等语再现原语的信息。
[谭载喜,1985]
翻译就是转换承载信息的语言,把一种语言承载的信息用另一种语言表达出来。[王德春,1988]
翻译是将一种语言所表达的信息,用另一种语言完全确切地表达出来的一种创作活动。
[王育伦,1985]
翻译是将一种语言传达的信息用另外一种语言传达出来。[蔡毅,1995]
翻译是译者将一种语言文字所蕴含的意思用另一种语言文字表述出来的文化活动。[王克非,1997]
翻译是译者将原语文化信息转换成译语文化信息并求得二者相似的思维活动和语言活动。[黄忠廉,2000]
翻译是一种在译入语中寻找与原文意思对等的词不达意语以传递语义信息、风格信息及文化信息的再创作活动。[翁凤翔]
翻译就是用译语语篇传达原语语篇的信息,以实现原语语篇及译者的交际目的。[李运兴]
2. 翻译的标准
对严复“信、达、雅” 的翻译标准不少学者都有不同的看法,对“信、达、雅” 的评价已然成为中国译学研究的核心问题。对“信、达、雅”三难论的批评近几十年来不绝于耳。
翻译究竟需不需要“雅”?原文不雅,译文怎么办?
关键是对“雅”字的认识。有人将其理解为“优雅”、“高雅”、“古雅”,有人理解为“风格”(style),最近还有人提出“雅”即“正”,也就是“语言规范”。如果将“雅”理解为后两种意思,翻译中保持“雅”当然无可厚非:原文是什么风格,译文就保持什么风格,不用刻意去追求“雅”。王佐良先生曾经对严复的“雅”坐过一番很好的评注:严复的“雅”追求的是古雅的文风,是一层包裹着治疗社会弊病的苦药的糖衣,便于当时的官僚士大夫接受。他显然达到了目的。
用现代白话来解释严复的“信、达”,也就是“忠实、通顺”之意。因此我们可将翻译的标准简要地概括为“忠实、通顺”。国内译界对所谓翻译标准流行最广的是张培基 先生主编的《英汉翻译教程》(1983 年由上外教出版),第一章第一节即是《翻译的标准》。
“翻译标准是翻译实践的准绳和质量译文好坏的尺度,我们主张把翻译标准概括为 “忠实,通顺” 四个字。 --- 所谓忠实,首先指忠实于原作的内容,译者必须把原作的内容完整而准确地表达出来,不得有任何篡改、歪曲、遗漏、阉割或任意增减的现象。内容通常指作品中所叙述的事实,说明的事理,描写的景物以及作者在叙述,说明和描写过程中所反映的思想、观点、立场和所流露的感情等。 --- 所谓通顺,即指译文语言必须通顺易懂,符合规范,译文必须是明白晓畅的现代语言,没有逐词死译,硬译的现象,没有语言晦涩,诘屈聱牙的现象,没有文理不通,结构混乱,逻辑不清的现象”
高校英语专业翻译的教学标准大同小异。《高等学校英语专业高年级英语教学大纲》规定,英译汉、汉译英的评估项目分“忠实”、“通顺” 两项。“忠实”具体阐述为 “原文的信息全部传达,语气和文体风格与原文相一致”, “通顺” 具体阐述为 “断句相当,句式正确,选词妥帖,段落之间,句子之间呼应自然(英译汉)”,“句式处理恰当,选词妥帖,英语比较地道(汉译英)”,按百分计,“忠实”为 60%,“通顺”为40% 。
3. 翻译标准实例分析
除了课本所列举的4例之外,教师可根据学生作业的实际情况添加内容。
4. 翻译技巧种种
需要注意的是,英汉翻译技巧的分类和统计数目各不相同,说法各异。
III.思考与练习
一. 简要回答以下问题
(开放式提问,教师可根据教学的实际需要自行取舍)
二. 试以“信、达、雅”翻译标准,对照下面一段英语原文分析两种汉语译文。
不少学者提出,事实上,严复本人从来就没有遵循过自己所提出的―信、达、雅‖标准。本单元练习III《天演论》前言的译文就是一个很好的说明。将原文和两个译文比较对照之后我们不难发现:为了追求古雅的文风,严复以牺牲―信‖为代价,无论是人称、时态还是语气景物描述等方面都对原文都做了大量的增删和改造。
三. 试以“忠实”和“通顺”为尺度,对照原文指出以下各译例的错误,并分析造成错误的原因。
错误原因分析参见课本第三部分:1-16单元翻译实例训练及翻译练习参考译文,P2
第二单元 直译与意译
这一单元的教学重点是使学生了解直译、意译的概念,懂得直译与意译的相对性,并能正确地使用直译与意译的翻译手段。
I. 翻译实例训练
英译汉Proverbs in Latin American Talk
这篇短文总共不足425字,内容涉及直译意译问题以及遣词用字、词语增减、词类转换、结构调整、谈吐语气等翻译技巧方法。此外翻译这篇文章还需要注意不同国家之间的语言文化问题。文章中出现了élégante n[法语]风雅的人senora n. [西班牙语]夫人; 太太,in-law姻亲:婚姻关系形成的亲属,如:mother-in-law婆母, 岳母,father-in-law岳父;公公,brother-in-law内兄,内弟,大伯子,小叔子,sister-in-law夫或 妻的姐妹;小姑子;小姨子??。
汉译英 谚语
这一单元的汉译英翻译实例训练与英译汉配套的关于谚语的小知识,共201字。根据课本提供的难点注释,要求学生能够用直译或意译的手段完成这段文字的翻译,然后结合书后的参考译文,讨论直译或意译在汉译英的运用。需要着重指出的是,有些成与谚语本身就是从英语中直译过来的,如―以牙还牙,以眼还眼‖、―谋事在人,成事在天‖等,应当尽量回复原本的词语。而汉语特有的一些特色,如―三个臭皮匠,赛过诸葛亮‖、―比上不足,比下有余‖等就必须采取直译的是手段。而在很多情况下,直译或意译均可。
II. 翻译手法 直译与意译
1. 直译、意译的概念
直译法补充内容
在功能等值的原则下,语码的语义意义能产生等值的语境效果时,应―直说还它直说,比喻还它比喻,在消除语言上的差异的同时,保留了言语上的差异。‖(冯世刚,《翻译通讯》, 1982,( 2 )保存原文的比喻、形象和民族特色,―不妄解原文的字句‖。即用符合译语规范和习惯和对等语再现原文的全部意义。有时,归宿语言中没有的,而表达功能所必需的,即使生搬硬套出发语的词语和句型也视为正法。例如:
(1)He walked at the head of the funeral procession, and every now and then wiped away his crocodile tears with a big handkerchief.
他走在送葬队伍的前头,还不时用一条大手绢抹去他那鳄鱼泪。
这句译文把原文作者的修辞所要达到的目的,即―猫哭老鼠‖,体现得淋离尽致。
(2)你不明白,给你说也是―对牛弹琴‖。
You can‘t comprehend it. If I explain it, that is ―to play the harp to a bull‖.
虽然英语中―throw pearls before swine‖也有“对牛弹琴”之义,但它具有较强的宗教色彩,达不到原语的修辞功能。
意译法补充内容
在功能等值的前提下,消除语言上的差异的同时,没有保存言语上的特色,例如不保存原文的修辞形式和民族特色,词有增减、重复、词性和句型有转换、语序有颠倒、句子有拆、有合、正说和反说互变等译法,应该视为意译。我们把改换法(省略、借用等)、变通法(意译、意译加直译、全不译等)都归为意译。因为这些方法的本质是共同的,过细区分,实用性不大,没有必要。例如:
(1)Her mother‘s pride in the girl‘s appearance led her to step back.
她母亲看看她女儿,非常得意,所以特地倒退了几步。(张谷若译)
(2)他又说,利用外资的重点放在农业科学研究、教育和技术推广、人才培训和智力开发。
The money in foreign currency, he added, should be used mainly for education and research in agriculture sciences and technology.
2. 直译与意译的相对性
直译与意译是一个相对的概念,而没有截然的划分。一般而言,―直译‖是为了―信‖而―意译‖是为了―达‖。如果原语的语码的概念意义,能表达充分的语境效果,即修辞功能,一般目标语言有对等语,自然成为理想的翻译转换为单位,常采用直译的方法。如果原语的语码意义不能充分表达语境效果,则必须考虑整个概念段的语言环境和修辞意图,以句子或称小句为翻译单位,一般用意译法。
有时即便对某成语典故的文化含义有所了解,但在翻译中不能根据语境灵活处理,也有可能达不到―传真‖的效果。比如―a dog in the manger‖常被直译为―狗占马槽‖,但用在下面的两例中似乎就不合适了。
例一:Let me have the skates. You don‘t know how to skate. Don‘t be a dog in the manger. 译文:把冰鞋给我,你不会滑冰,不要狗占马槽。(此句中划线部分应该译成―不要占着茅坑不拉屎‖为妥。)
例二:There you are the dog in the manger! You won‘t let him discuss you affairs, and you are annoyed when he talks about his own.
译文:你狗占马槽!你不让他谈你的事,可他讲他自己的事你又恼了。(此句中划线部分应译为―你不干还不让别人干!‖才达意。)
英汉两民族的宗教信仰不同,自然也会体现在语言方面。英语中出现的文化主要是基督教文化《圣经》在整个西方文明的形成和发展中起了不可估量的作用。与之相应的是在我国影响极为深远的佛教文化。两种文化在思维习惯上、语言表达形式上,词汇意象和含义上,都有着自己的特色,故翻译时特别要引起注意。例如Hawkes把《红楼梦》中的“阿弥陀佛”竟然译成―God bless my soul‖,把上帝拿来代替佛教的无量寿佛,这很可能让西方人以为中国人也信奉上帝。这样的译文大大地削减了中国文化内涵。又如“天诛地灭”这一成语运用
“天”、“地”作为最高权力的象征,但它只能适用于深受天道观影响的中国,故不能用反映基督教信仰的―God‖取代。某些含异域感情色彩的词语的翻译也是一个难点。
由上可见,―文化翻译‖的的确确是在―文化研究的大语境‖下做翻译,而文化―传真‖是做好文化翻译的关键。
3. 直译、意译的译例分析
下面再为大家补充一些译例。
在美国中篇小说《街头女朗玛吉》中,有一句母亲说女儿的话:An ?after all her bringin‘ –up what I tol ?her an‘ talked wid her. She goes the d‘ bad, like a duck teh water. 这里Like a duck to water是个很贴切的比喻,很容易被中国人接受。于是孙致礼先生把全句译为:
―我生她养她,叮咛来嘱咐去,她还是去做那伤风败俗的事儿,跟鸭子下水一样有瘾头。‖ 这样的形象直译,即保持了异域文化色彩,又给人耳目一新的感觉。
有些英语成语引喻了《圣经》中的人物。如果采取直译加注的话,就能把原文的喻义如实地展示出来。例如:as old as Methuselah, as rich as a Jew, as wise as Solomon。玛士撒拉(Methuselah)是《圣经》中以诺之子,据说享年969年;古代犹太人多因高利贷盘剥蓄财,犹太人(Jew)就成了富人的代名词;所罗门王(Solomon)是《圣经》中记载的古代以色列王,以智慧著称。
直译有时能保持原文的生动形象,补充或丰富汉语词汇,使译文新鲜有力,该译法在政治用语上尤为多见,如:Lame duck——跛鸭(即将卸任而未重新当选的官员);Dark horse——黑马(原来不为人知,意外取胜的候选人或选手);a stick-and-carrot policy——大棒加胡萝卜政策,等等。这种直译法首先应该考虑在汉语能够接受的前提下进行。
不同的民族对一些具有文化义的动、植物词以及季节词的属性和特征的认识往往有异同之处,故而产生了丰富的联想,并出现了许多既有共性又有个性的隐喻现象,使英汉语中的某些词语产生了褒贬、好恶、悲欢等浓郁的感情色彩。
英汉习俗差异最典型的莫过于对某些动物的态度及其深层的文化内涵。中国人十分喜爱猫,用―馋猫‖比喻人贪嘴,常有亲昵的成份。而在西方文化中cat―猫‖被用来比喻―包藏祸心的女人‖,在中国人的心目中―山羊‖是个褒意词,而英国人却视―goat‖为色鬼,淫荡的人。莎剧《罗密欧与朱丽叶》第二幕第四景中Mercutio讥讽老乳母为娼妓时,用了hare一词:
Rome: What has thou found?
Mercuti: No hare, sir.
梁实秋先生把这段话译为:
罗:你发现了什么?
墨:倒不是野鸡,先生。
hare本为野兔,俗语是娼妓之意,相当于汉语中的―野鸡‖。―野兔‖变成了―野鸡‖,恰好又与―野妓‖谐音双关,真可谓译到好处。
4. 直译、意译的翻译要点
无论是直译还是意译,均有一定的分寸,超出其限度,直译就会成为硬译或死译,令人费解,不可卒读;意译就会变成胡译、乱译,无中生有,信口开河。
无论是直译还是意译,均须以理解原文为前提。直译应当近情理,便于读者理解、接受,否则就会变成硬译、死译;意译应当有依据,不能无中生有、随意杜撰,否则就会变成胡译、乱译。
译者应当善于把两者有机地结合起来,在不失原文本意的前提下,灵活机动地选用或交替使用这两种翻译法去解决翻译实践中的具体问题。比如这样一例:
He is lying on his back.
要是译作“他躺在他的背上”就直得不近情理,难以理解、接受;译作“他袒腹高卧”就是无中生有、随意杜撰;译为“他仰卧着”,分寸把握就比较恰当了。
III.思考与翻译练习
一.简要回答以下问题
(开放式提问,教师可根据教学的实际需要自行取舍)
二.翻译练习
A. 试用直译或意译的手段翻译下列各句。
1. anything in trousers任何男人(意译)注意此处的西方妇女衣着打扮上的风俗习惯,以及原文的情感语气。除了参考译文之外,也可在anything上做文章,译作“那些不是东西的男人”。
2. died second time气得从棺材里跳出来(意译)
3. as strong as a horse体壮如牛(意译)
4. 此句中的gobbled up her dinner like a little pig,也可用直译加意译,译作“狼吞虎咽地大口吃饭,犹如一只贪吃的小猪”。
5. 此处的crocodile tears可直译为“鳄鱼的眼泪”,亦可译意为“假惺惺的泪水”。
6. not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill物失方知可贵,病时倍思健康(意译)。此句基本上用的是直译法,应当注意省略代词,连词。将old story翻译成汉语的“老话”,既保持了原文的风貌,又言简意赅。
7.此句大致也是用的直译法。但其中的The days stretch out in an endless vista是用意译翻译成汉语四字结构“来日方长,前途无量”。
8. 此句总体上大致为直译。
9. 此长句为狄更斯《双城记》的开场白,除了最后一句going direct the other way(正笔直地走另一条路)是用意译译作“正笔直走下地狱”之外,全都采用了直译。此处采用意译主要是便于读者理解。因为对于西方读者来说,大家都知道the other way是与Heaven相反的路,而中国读者缺乏这样一种文化背景知识。如果直译作“走另一条路”,可能会造成“条条道路通罗马”的误解。
10. 此处可采用直译意译相结合的翻译方法。其翻译原则是,能够直译就尽量直译,不能直译再考虑意译。行文措辞适当变通,兼顾韵律、节奏。尤其有几处需注意英汉表达上的差异,如:lend an ear, light up a face, tickle a funny bone, dry an eye, surprise a child等。
B. 试将下面这段文字翻译成英语。
这段汉译英练习对直译与意译的采用场合作了大致说明,具体的翻译细节参见课本参考译文,P2。
第三单元 翻译技巧1 分清主从 把握文理
这一单元的教学重点是辨析英汉句式结构的差异,把握分清主从的几个关键环节,从而使学生能够潜移默化地将教学内容用于翻译实践。
I. 翻译实例训练
英译汉Chongqing
这篇文章摘选自日美国《纽约时报》(The New York Times),总共432字,要求学生在翻译时学会分清主从、把握文理,将重庆这一中国内地崛起的直辖市在外国记者心目中的形象如实地翻译出来。下面是Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005关于重庆的介绍,可作为了解重庆的背景资料供大家参考。
Chongqing, also Chungking, autonomous municipality, southwestern China, surrounded on all sides by Sichuan Province. Chongqing is situated on a rocky peninsula at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. It is a major inland port of China and the leading commercial, transportation, and industrial center of the country‘s southwestern region. The city is located near iron-ore and coal deposits in a fertile agricultural region. Manufactures include iron and steel, machinery, motor vehicles, cotton and silk textiles, chemicals, and processed foods. Major railroads and highways link Chongqing to all parts of the country. The city is the site of Chongqing University and several colleges. Several resorts and mineral spas are located in the surrounding region.
A city has existed on the site for more than 4000 years. In the 4th century BC it was absorbed by the Qin (Ch‘in) dynasty into what would become the first unified Chinese state. In 1890 Chongqing was opened to foreign trade. After the outbreak of hostilities between China and Japan in 1937, Chongqing was made the capital of the Chinese Nationalist government, and it remained so until 1946. Although it suffered heavy damage from Japanese bombings, the city grew greatly in population and increased its industrial base during the war years. Since the 1950s the Chinese government has developed heavy industry in Chongqing. The city was part of Sichuan Province until 1996, when it became an autonomous municipality and gained considerable rural area. Population (1999 estimate) 6,140,000.
汉译英 温哥华
这一单元的汉译英翻译实例训练与英译汉配套的关于香温哥华的资料。下面为大家提供一个Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005关于Vancouver的介绍,可作为了解Vancouver的背景资料供大家参考。
【参考资料】Vancouver
Set between a green curtain of rain forest peaks and a colorful waterfront boasting beaches, shops, and a busy harbor, Vancouver, British Columbia, is one of Canada‘s most fascinating cities. It is a diverse community of energy and possibility, where the legacy of immigration has created a
medley of cultural identities, and common ground includes the city‘s strong economy and stunning setting. In this article from Collier‘s Year Book, Vancouver journalist Moira Farrow takes us on an insider‘s tour, from the beauty of the city‘s renowned parks to the challenges of incorporating Vancouver‘s latest wave of immigrants.
Occupying a picturesque site near the Coast Mountains, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan center with numerous large buildings. Among those considered to have special architectural merit are Robson Square and the Provincial Court House, designed by local architect Arthur E Cathedral P and the Vancouver Public Library, designed by 20th-century architect Moshe Safdie. Older buildings of note include the art deco Marine Building () and the ―Chateau Style‖ Hotel Vancouver (). Other points of interest include Granville Island, a former industrial-warehouse district in False Creek, converted into a mix of buildings for commercial, cultural, and artistic uses and anchore the Van Dusen Botanical G Chinatown, the traditional center of one of the largest Chinese communities in North A and Gastown, a restoration of an old section of the city dating from the late 19th century.
II. 翻译技巧:分清主从 把握文理
1. 英汉句式结构的差异
英语和汉语无论从语言结构还是表达方式上都存在着很大的差异。相对而言,英语句子复句多,长句多,复杂结构多。在实际翻译中我们常常会遇到这样的情况:一个英语句子在主谓结构之外,往往还句中有句,环扣相嵌,盘根错节。因此分清主从,理顺关系是翻译中的一个首要环节。
语言学家一般认为,英语是一种―形合‖的语言,也就是说英语句子严格地遵守语法规则,句中主、谓、宾、定、状、补,井然有序,句子成分可通过语法结构进行层层分析。请看下面一例。
英语原文1:The saga of the White Star Liner Titanic, which struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, carrying more than 1,500 passengers to their death, has been celebrated in print and on film, in poetry and song.
主语:the saga传奇
谓语:has been celebrated被纪念
介词宾语:in print and on film, in poetry and song在刊物、电影以及诗歌、歌曲中
定语修饰:of the White Star Liner Titanic白星公司班轮泰坦尼克号
定语从句:which struck an iceberg and sank它撞上冰山并且沉没
时间状语:on its maiden voyage in 1912 在它的1912年处女航中
伴随状语:carrying more than 1,500 passengers to their death将船上一千五百多名乘客送上死亡境地
而汉语被认为是一种“意合”的语言,不受严格的语法约束,也没有固定的句式结构。其表达方式一般按时间顺序或逻辑顺序,先发生的事先说,后发生的事后讲;先因后果,先假设,后结果,先条件,后结论。
因此上面的英语原文可按时间顺序和逻辑顺序翻译如下:
参考译文:白星公司班轮泰坦尼克号在1912年的处女航中因撞上冰山而沉没,致使船上一千五百多名乘客罹难。此后关于它的种种传奇就成了出版物、电影以及诗歌、歌曲的纪念题材。
再看下面一例。
英语原文2:No nation can survive without peaceful environment. We maintain no situation is permanent which does not take into account the legitimate wishes of the majority of people of any country.
这两句话如果按英语结构翻译,译文将是:
没有国家的生存,没有和平的环境的话,我们认为没有情况是持久的,那种不考虑多数人民合法愿望的情况。
显然,这样的译句拗口难懂。如果我们能够领会发言人的意思,用合乎中文语法的结构把原意表达出来,效果会理想得多:
参考译文:任何国家要生存必须有一个和平的环境。我们认为和平的局面要持久,就必须考虑到有关国家大多数人民的正当愿望。
再看一句汉译英的例子:
汉语原文1:阿拉伯国家对以色列当局公然违反联合国大会和安理会的有关决议,践踏《日内瓦公约》,采取种种非法措施,企图改变占领区的法律地位、地理性质和人口组成的罪行,进行了有力的揭露和谴责。
这句话的主要框架结构是:
阿拉伯国家对??的罪行,进行了揭露和谴责the Arab countries have exposed and condemned the criminal acts.
如果我们按汉语结构以―阿拉伯国家‖开始,就很难往下译。因此可以先将―阿拉伯国家‖储存起来,这样处理该句:
With regard to the fact that the Israeli authorities, in open violation of the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, have trampled on the Geneva Convention and taken all kinds of illegal measures in an attempt to alter the legal status, physical character and demographic composition of the occupied territories, the Arab countries have convincingly exposed and condemned these criminal acts.
2. 分清主从的几个关键环节
英汉句式结构的差异使得翻译工作复杂无序,往往没有一个固定的翻译套路。在一般情况下,翻译可从分清主从结构入手。英汉翻译的分清主从可以着重抓以下几个关键环节。除了课本上的几例之外,我们还可以结合考研英语翻译实例来加以说明。
1)抓主谓结构
考研实例1 While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.(1999)
这是一个带让步状语从句的主从复合句,句子的主要框架为:
让步状语从句:While there are …,
主谓结构:modern practice …conforms to one
定语从句:that sees history as… and explain ...
掠过前面由while 引起的让步状语从句,我们首先抓住关键的主谓结构:
modern practice …conforms to one 现代实践与一种……相符
接着,进一步理清主句中的其它成分: 主句中的one是代词,代替definition; that从句中动词短语sees … as:把……看作;不定式短语to recreate and explain the significant events of the past修饰the attempt(重现和解释过去的重大事件的企图);
再看由while引出的让步状语从句。这是一个带比较结构的并列句,While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians 尽管历史的定义几乎多得和历史学家一样多。
将各部分串到一起,稍加调整,便可得到以下译文:
译文:尽管有多少历史学家几乎就有多少对历史的定义,但现代实践与一种定义最相符:历史就是试图重现和解释过去的重大事件。
考研实例2:Pearson has pieced together the work of hundreds of researchers around the world to produce a unique millennium technology calendar that gives the latest dates when we can expect hundreds of key breakthroughs and discoveries to take place.(2001)
此句中的主、谓、宾结构为:Pearson has pieced together the work of hundreds of researchers around the world;皮尔森汇集了世界各地数百位研究人员的成果;
目的状语为:to produce a unique millennium technology calendar(用以)编制一个独特的新技术千年历;
两个定语从句分别为:calendar that gives the latest dates 列出了最迟日期的千年历,和the latest dates when we can expect hundreds of key breakthroughs and discoveries to take place我们可以期待的数百项重大突破和发现的最迟日期(知道它们何时将会发生)。
进行上述结构分析之后,我们便可以顺着原文的语序来翻译出此句。
译文:皮尔森汇集世界各地数百位研究人员的成果,编制了一个独特的新技术千年历,历中列出了人们可望看到的数百项重大突破和发现的最迟日期。
再如下面一例:
考研实例3:The role of natural selection in evolution was formulated only a little more than 100 years ago, and the selective role of the environment in shaping and maintaining the behavior of the individual is only beginning to be recognized and studied.(2002)
此句为由连词and连接而成的并列句,其并列主谓结构为:The role of natural selection…was formulated …, and the selective role of …is only beginning to …自然选择的作用被阐明,而选择作用则刚刚开始……。其余成分分别为定语和状语。其中in shaping and maintaining the behavior of the individual 为the selective role的状语。经过结构分析、调整,我们可得出以下译文。
译文:自然选择在进化中的作用仅在100多年前才得以阐明,而环境在塑造和保持个体行为时的选择作用则刚刚开始被认识和研究。
2)抓关键信息
由于句式结构的复杂多变,有时候仅仅抓住了原文的主谓结构还不够,还需抓住时间、地点、人物、事件等关键信息。譬如下面一例:
例 As the clock crept toward 11: 15 p. m. last Thursday, the 500 scientists and engineers packed into the control room and an adjacent auditorium at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory kept their eyes riveted on a bank of computer monitors.
原文主、谓、宾结构为the 500 scientists and engineers …kept their eyes riveted on….(500名科学家和工程师……把目光聚集到……)
关键信息:原文的时间、地点、人物、事件,抓住了这些关键信息,便有很容易形成如下译文。
译文:上星期四,当时针悄悄地指向晚上11:15的时候,普林斯顿等离子体物理实验室控制室和毗连的礼堂里挤满了500名科学家和工程师。他们不约而同地把目光聚集到一排计算机监视屏上。
再如本章翻译实例训练中的两例:
考研实例4: It applies equally to traditional historians who view history as only the external and internal criticism of sources and to social science historians who equate their activity with specific techniques.(1999)
关键信息:It applies equally to traditional historians … and to social science historians它(上述情况)同样适用于历史传统派和历史社科派。
抓住了这一关键信息,然后再分别说明traditional historians和social science historians的观点:前者把历史只是看作……;后者则将自己的研究活动……。将各项内容加到一起,便形成了以下完整的译文。
译文:上述情况也同样适用于传统史学家和社会学史学家。前者把历史只是看作史学界内部和外部对史料来源的批评;后者则将自己的研究活动与具体的技术相提并论。
考研实例5: There is no agreement whether methodology refers to the concepts peculiar to historical work in general or to the research techniques appropriate on the various branches of historical inquiry.(1999)
关键信息:There is no agreement whether methodology refers to … or to…方法论是否指的
是……,还是指……,没有一致意见。
抓住了上述关键信息之后,再补充出细节内容:
the concepts peculiar to historical work in general一般历史研究中的特有概念
the research techniques appropriate on the various branches of historical inquiry历史研究中的众多具体领域适合研究方法
将两点细节内容并入关键信息的框架,便得到以下译文。
译文:方法论是指一般历史研究中的特有概念,还是指历史研究中的众多具体领域适合研究方法,没有形成一致意见。
3)抓逻辑关系
在很多情况下,注意原文的逻辑关系能保证译文的层次清楚,结构有条不紊。如Titanic中的最后一句:
例: The stern, which settled on the bottom almost 1,800 ft. from the bow, had swiveled 180°on its way down.
其主谓结构为:The stern … had swiveled 180°
船尾旋转了一百八十度
如按照原文的语序译为―在海底离船头几乎有一千八百英尺远的船尾在下沉时旋转了一百八十度‖,既不符合汉语的按时间地点的先后顺序,又十分拗口。在这种情况下,不妨另起一句,使译文层次清楚:
船尾在下沉时旋转了一百八十度,在海底离船头几乎有一千八百英尺远。
再如下面一例:
例: The isolation of the rural world because of distance and the lack of transport facilities is compounded by the paucity(匮乏)of the information media.
其主谓结构为:The isolation … is compounded by…(隔绝状态被……合成)
此句英语原文中的主谓结构和被动语态都不符合汉语的表达习惯。对于这样的情况,我们最好按句子的逻辑关系,分层次逐步展开:
因为距离远,又缺乏交通工具,农村社会是与外界隔绝的。由于通讯工具的不足,这种隔绝状态变得更加严重。
考研实例6: Historians, especially those so blinded by their research interests that they have been accused of &tunnel method&, frequently fall victim to the &technicist fallacy.&(1999)
这是一个插入状语从句的复合句,句子的主要结构为:Historians…frequently fall victim to the &technicist fallacy.& 史学家们……常常成了―技师谬误‖的牺牲品。
插入成分so… that 结构: so blinded by their research interests that they have been accused of 如此盲目于他们的研究兴趣以至于被指责为……
将插入成分按原文语序放入文中,就得到了一个完整的句子:
译文:一些史学家,尤其是那些太盲目于自己的研究兴趣而被指责为―隧道法‖的史学家,常常成了―技师谬误‖的牺牲品。
4)抓表达方式抓表达方式一是要注意句式重心,二是要考虑文句的层次、句与句之间的相互关系。如下面一例:
考研实例7:Interest in historical methods has arisen less through external to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.(1999)
此句的主谓结构很清楚:Interest in…has arisen 对……的兴趣产生了
less through … and more from... 原因状语,可有好几种翻译方法:较少是通过……而更多是通过……;与其说是因为……不如说是因为……;主要是由于……,其次是由于……;等等。我们可根据汉语表达习惯的需要,将两层意思分别表达清楚。
译文:人们对历史研究方法产生兴趣,主要是因为史学界内部意见不统一,其次是因为外界怀疑历史是不是一门学科。
III. 思考与练习
一. 简要回答以下问题
(开放式提问,教师可根据教学的实际需要自行取舍)
二. 翻译练习
A. 将下面的短文译成汉语,注意分清主从。
这篇文章的作者为英国哲学家罗素(Bertrand Russell),原题目是What I Have Lived For.下面是关于作者的简介。
【参考资料】Russell
Russell, Bertrand Arthur William, 3rd Earl Russell (), British philosopher, mathematician, and Nobel laureate, whose emphasis on logical analysis influenced the course of 20th-century philosophy.
Bertrand Russell In the early 20th century British mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell, along with British mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, attempted to demonstrate that mathematics and numbers can be understood as groups of concepts, or classes. Russell and Whitehead tried to show that mathematics is closely related to logic and, in turn, that ordinary sentences can be logically analyzed using mathematical symbols for words and phrases. This idea resulted in a new symbolic language, used by Russell in a field he termed philosophical logic, in which philosophical propositions were reformulated and examined according to his symbolic logic.Corbis/THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE
Born in Trelleck, Wales, on May 18, 1872, Russell was educated at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. After graduation in 1894, he traveled in France, Germany, and the United States and was then made a fellow of Trinity College. From an early age he developed a strong sense of
at the same time, he involved himself in the study of logical and mathematical
questions, which he had made his special fields and on which he was called to lecture at many institutions throughout the world. He achieved prominence with his first major work, The Principles of Mathematics (1902), in which he attempted to remove mathematics from the realm of abstract philosophical notions and to give it a precise scientific framework.
除了课本所提供的参考译文之外,下面再为大家提供另一种译文。
我为什么而活
三种单纯而强烈的激情支配着我的一生:对爱情的渴望,对知识的渴求,以及对人类经历的苦难的无限同情。这些激情犹如巨风,将我吹至四面八方,吹过痛苦的深海,直抵绝望的边缘。
我追寻爱。因为它使我心醉神迷——爱的魔力是如此的诱人,我常常宁愿牺牲一切来换取哪怕片刻的愉悦。我追寻爱,因为它可以排遣孤寂——那种可怕孤寂使身历其中的人胆战心惊,目及世界的尽头,直至冷酷肃杀的地狱深渊。我追寻爱,因为在爱的结合中,我看到了古今圣贤以及诗人们所梦想的天堂的神秘缩影。这正是我想所追寻的,虽然它对人类生活来说也许过于美好,但最终我还是找到它了。
我曾怀着同样的激情去追求知识。我渴望了解人们的内心世界,渴望知道星星为什么发光。我还试图领悟提倡数字控制一切变化的毕达哥拉斯的哲学动力。我有所收获,但还不是很多。
爱和知识,引领我到天堂,但是对人类苦难的同情又常常使我回到地面。那些痛苦的呼唤在我的心灵深处回响。处在饥荒中的孩子,被压迫被折磨的受害者,被子女看成是累赘负担的无助老人,以及世上所有的寂寞,贫穷和痛苦都是对人类理想生活的嘲讽。我希望能减缓人们的苦难,但却有心无力,我也因此受苦。
这就是我的生活,我觉得不枉此生。如果能有来生,我很乐意地再次这样生活。
B. 试将下面这段文字翻译成英语,注意英汉句式结构的差异。
这段文字是关于苏州风光的简介,翻译尚需要注意英汉句式结构的差异,将汉语的若干小句进行合并,以符合英语的表达习惯。比如第一句话:
苏州地处长江下游,气候温和,土地肥沃,再加上湖泊密布、水道纵横,自唐代以来就有“鱼米之乡”的美称。
英译此句时,应注意把―地处长江下游,气候温和,土地肥沃,再加上湖泊密布、水道纵横‖作原因状语,把―苏州‖挪到主句中作主语,以符合英语的表达习惯。两个过去分词短语 Situated in… and blessed with…在句首作原因状语正是体现这种构想。blessed with 有―受惠于‖之意,可以和situated in 一起构成平行结构。
Situated in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and blessed with a mild climate, fertile soil and numerous lakes and waterways across the region, Suzhou has enjoyed the reputation of ―an area of fish and rice‖ ever since the Tang Dynasty
第四单元 翻译技巧2 遣词用字 恰如其分
这一单元的教学重点是英汉互译的遣词用字问题,了解英汉词字对应关系以及词义辨析的几种常用方法,并将其用于翻译实践。
I. 翻译实例训练
英译汉 The Most Important Speech of the Century
这篇文章摘选自20世纪80年代《时代》(The Time),总共283字,作为一个美国记者,作者对邓小平讲话持肯定态度,做出了积极的评价, 对中国和中国人民寄予了希望。这表现在to be regarded as the most important speech of the century(被认为是本世纪最重要的讲话);maybe the 21st century will belong to them(21世纪可能属于他们的);They have people, brains and they can be impressively disciplined.(他们有人力,有人才,他们的纪律性很强。)
同时,由于受西方政治观点的影响,作者的措词表达也难免参杂一些个人偏见,譬如:thousands of years of Chinese xenophobia(中国几千年的仇外历史);thousands of years of official hostility to the world outside the Great Wall(几千年来官方对长城以外世界的敌视);keep barbarians on horseback out in the wilds(将骑马的野蛮人挡在关外的荒野);等等。
通过以上语境分析,可以形成对原文的准确理解,有利于忠实、客观地表达出原文的精神风貌和细节内容。
关于这篇文章的一些背景情况介绍:
Maximum Leader (cf. Marxism)
邓小平当时的职务是中顾委主任,实际上是党的第二代领导核心,改革开放的总设计师。国外没有相应的职称,所以作者冠以 Maximum Leader(最高领袖)的称呼。
China is joining the rest of the world (save Albania)
句中的 the rest of the world指的是(除自身以外的)世界上的其他一些国家。改革开放之前,中国的社会主义建设提倡的是―独立自主,自力更生‖方针,基本上是关着门搞自己的社会主义建设。阿尔巴尼亚是欧洲巴尔干半岛西南部的一个国家,与世隔绝,同世界各国交往很少。这种闭关自守的状况一直持续到上世纪九十年代。
文中提到a fellow with a cowboy hat came not from Ronald Reagan but from an 80-year-old Chinese man,其背景情况是,邓小平参观美国农场,头上戴着农场主人所赠送的礼节性牛仔帽。
【参考资料】Ronald Reagan
Reagan, Ronald Wilson (), 40th president of the United States (), who implemented policies that reversed trends toward greater government involvement in economic and social regulation. He also brought in a new style of presidential leadership, downgrading the role of the president as an administrator and increasing the importance of communication via national news media. He was the oldest person ever to serve as president.
Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan was elected president of the United States in 1980 and again in
1984. In his campaigns for office, Reagan stressed themes of self-reliance, traditional values, family, and patriotism. He was also a strong opponent of Communism. He launched a global crusade against governments that he believed were influenced by the USSR. Reagan is heard here speaking on Communism in a speech he delivered in 1983.Hulton Deutsch/Courtesy Gordon Skene Sound Collection. All rights reserved.
Reagan first became famous as an actor in Hollywood motion pictures and a television host. His emergence as a political figure was based on his personal charm and his identification with conservative groups who believed that the nation had strayed from its traditional values. Many saw Reagan as a personal and ideological symbol of these values. Having never held public office, Reagan became governor of California, the most populous state, in 1967, and almost immediately thereafter was a serious candidate for the presidency.
汉译英 建设和谐世界
这一单元的汉译英翻译实例训练节选自温家宝总理日在第十届全国人民代表大会第五次会议上所做的政府工作报告,共293字。翻译涉及时事政治、方针政策等方面的词语,需要在遣词用字上下功夫。
II. 翻译技巧 遣词用字 恰如其分
文中的New Year‘s Day是“新年”、“春节”还是“元旦”?大写的Maximum Leader是什么意思?the rest of the world能直译成“世界的其余”吗?save Albania是一个什么概念?spearheaded作何理解?They have people, brains…其中的brains指的是什么?通过核实温中的时代背景,分析各语句的上下文关系,我们便可确定New Year‘s Day是指上世纪80年代初的“元旦”。Maximum Leader 指的是邓小平的地位,虽然他当时的职务是中顾委主任,实际上是党的第二代领导核心,改革开放的总设计师。国外没有相应的职称,所以作者冠以 Maximum Leader(最高领袖)的称呼;the rest of the world指的是(除自身以外的)世界上的其他一些国家,因为在改革开放之前,中国的社会主义建设提倡的是“独立自主,自力更生”方针,基本上是关着门搞自己的社会主义建设。而save Albania指的是“除阿尔巴尼亚外”——阿尔巴尼亚是欧洲巴尔干半岛西南部的一个国家,长期与世隔绝,同世界各国交往很少,这种闭关自守的状况一直持续到上世纪九十年代。文中的spearhead原本指“先头部队”,此处转为动词,意为“做先锋,打头阵”,故译作“带头进行(经济改革)”。英语brain一词原义为“大脑、智力”,此处转义为“人才”,所以我们译作“他们有人力,有人才‖。
英汉词字对应关系
1. 词字对等
这种情况也就是英汉词语的完全对应,这种情况多见于专有名词(如人名、地名、专门机构名称等),以及专业科技词汇、术语等,如:
Norman Bethune = 诺曼·白求恩Saudi Arab =沙特阿拉伯
the United Nations = 联合国
计算机 = computer
白血病 = leukemia
翻译这一类词语一般采用词字对应的译法,不会造成什么歧义。不过,有时候为了达到某种特殊效果,不一定非按常规翻译不可。如电影Waterloo Bridge没有直译为《滑铁卢桥》,而是意译为《魂断蓝桥》。
2. 多种同义
3. 一词多义
4. 交织对应
这3 种情况最为普遍,均可以称之为“部分对应”。即一种语言中的词同另一种语言中的词只有部分意义对应。如 book不能总是译为“书”:
a book of matches 一盒火柴
a book-keeper 簿记员
to cook the books作假账
“书”也不能总是译为book:
marriage lines
说书storytelling
a letter of challenge
翻译这一类词语需要把握英汉两种词语部分意义对应方面有哪些,不对应的方面有哪些,以便能在翻译时做出正确的取舍。
5. 无对等词语
这类情况在翻译中较为少见,语言学家称之为语义空白 (semantic gap),即在一种语言中有的词语,在另一种语言中没有。
关于5无对等词语的几点补充。
1)某些特定的文化概念。如英语中的 privacy(隐私,隐居,独处…),dress等。请看一个常见的英语词dress的各种含义。
dress vt.给...穿衣; 供衣着给; 打扮;装饰, 修饰, 布置, 整理;敷裹, 包扎(伤口);加工(皮带等); 梳理(头发); 梳刷(马等), 烹调(饮食); 做(菜); 修剪(树木等); 使(织物、石料等)表面光洁,整顿(队伍)
dress a baby 给婴儿穿衣
dress a chicken把鸡放血、去毛、去头和内脏,开膛待烹
2)源语语义复杂。如巴西人表达的 arrua??o,其英文解释是:clearing the ground under coffee trees of rubbish and piling it in the middle of the row in order to aid in the recovery of beans dropped during harvesting.(将咖啡树下的地面垃圾清扫干净,将其堆放在土堆的中间,以便在收获期间有助于回收从树上掉下来的咖啡豆);
3)文字游戏
双关(pun):Put down you arms. Are you engaged? Are you a bachelor?
回文(palindrome):M Draw, Able was I ere I saw Elba等。
节奏韵律(rhythm and rhyme): An apple a day keeps doctor away.
拆字组字:人曾为僧,人弗可成佛,女卑是婢,女又何妨称奴。
课本从四个方面来处理英语词语的具体含义,即:1.根据构词法辨别词义;2.根据指代关系辨别词义;3.根据上下文或词的搭配辨别词义;4.根据不同学科或专业类型辨别词义。下面提供一些有关遣词用字更多的几个译例共大家参考。
考研实例1:Social science is that branch of intellectual enquiry which seeks to study humans and their endeavors in the same reasoned, orderly, systematic, and dispassioned manner that natural scientists use for the study of natural phenomena.(2003)
这是一个带定语从句的复合句,句中的intellectual enquiry和dispassioned manner翻译起来都比较棘手,intellectual由intellect (智力)+ual构成形容词“智力的”,与enquiry合在一起,其字面意思为“智力的探索”,可意译为“知识探索”;dispassioned是一个超纲词,我们可以根据构词法将其一分为二:dis-(除掉,去掉) + passion(激情, 热情)=除掉激情的,冷静的。经过这一分析,问题就比较容易解决了。我们可以打破原文定语从句的结构,用“分译法”逐一翻译。
参考译文:社会科学是知识探索的一个分支,它力图像自然科学家研究自然现象那样,用理性的、有序的、系统的和冷静的方式研究人类及其行为。
考研实例2: Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its population to the point where the planet can provide a comfortable support for all, people will have to accept more &unnatural food&.(1991)
这是一个带状语从句和定语从句的复合句,本句的主体框架是:
Until such time as mankind has the sense…, people have to…
在until所引导的状语从句中,关系代词as所引导的限制性定语从句,修饰such time。 在这个定语从句中to lower…to the point意为:减少到……程度;关系副词where所引导的定语从句,修饰名词point;句末的unnatural food需要通过构词法来确定词义。所谓unnatural, 是与natural相对应的“不自然的,非天然的”之意,此处可根据上下文译作“人造食品”。
参考译文:除非人类最终意识到把人口减少到使地球足以能为所有的人提供充分的饮食,否则人们将不得不接受更多的“人造食品”。
考研实例3: The supply of oil can be shut off unexpectedly at any time, and in any case, the oil wells will all run dry in thirty years or so at the present rate of use.(1991)
此句中的shut off有“关掉,切断,停止?的流动或通道,中断(供水、供气)、与?隔绝”等意,与主语supply of oil连在一起,可译作“切断”或“中断”。后半句中的run一词
在不同的上下文中有不同的含义。光是作动词就有“跑, 奔, 逃跑, 竞选, 跑步, 蔓延, 进行, 行驶,(机器)转动,运转,流淌,融化”等含义。根据上下文,此句中的run 与the oil wells 和dry搭配,就形成了“油井会完全干涸”的意思。
参考译文:石油供应可能随时被切断;不管怎样,以目前这种石油消费速度,只需30年左右,所有的油井都会枯竭。
考研实例4:Children will play with dolls equipped with personality chips, computers with in-built personalities will be regarded as workmates rather than tools, relaxation will be in front of smell-television, and digital age will have arrived.(2001)
这是由四个单句组合而成的并列句,句子的主要框架为:
Children will play with …儿童将与??玩耍
computers … will be regarded as …rather than…??计算机将被视为??而不是工具 relaxation will be …休闲将会是??
and digital age will have arrived数字化时代就到来了
此句中的play with可以有以下三种意思。
1) 拿??玩;如:The children were playing with a ball.孩子们在玩球。
2) 与??一起玩;如:The teacher were playing with their children.老师正在和孩子们玩。
3) 摆弄,玩弄;如:play with fire玩火,冒险;
4) 戏弄,嘲弄;如:Don‘t play with me. 别耍我了。
此处的play with显然是第一种意思。此外,句中的dolls equipped with personality chips(装有个性化芯片的玩具娃娃),computers with in-built personalities(具有个性内置的计算机),smell-television(气味电视机),digital age(数字化时代)等词语都需要根据上下文翻译出原文的准确含义。
参考译文:儿童玩耍的将是装有个性化芯片的玩具娃娃;具有个性内置的计算机将被视为工作伙伴而不是工具;人们将在气味电视机前休闲。届时数字化时代就到来了。
考研实例5:Whether Arab oil flows freely or not, it is clear to everyone that world industry cannot be allowed to depend on so fragile a base.(1991)
英语base一词在不同的学科或专业中有不同的译法,我们应当在充分理解原文的基础上,根据不同的学科专业特点,将其用准确的术语翻译出来。请看下面各例。
参考译文:无论阿拉伯石油是否会源源流出,现在人人都清楚这一点:世界工业不能依赖于如此脆弱的能源基础了。
考研实例6:Thus, the anthropological concept of &culture&, like the concept of &set& in mathematics, is an abstract concept which makes possible immense amounts of concrete research and understanding. (2003)
这是一个带定语从句的系表结构,其大体结构为:
the anthropological concept … is an abstract concept人类学中的??概念是一个抽象概念 which makes possible …它使??成为可能
英语中最难以掌握的不是复杂的字眼,而是最常用的一些单词。以此句中的set为例,《新英汉词典》所收入的词义为:及物动词24义,不及物动词11义,形容词 9义, 名词17义,总共61义;而《英汉大词典》所收入的词义为:及物动词45义,不及物动词20义,形容词16义,名词34义,总共115义;如果再加上收入的数十个固定词组短语,其含义之广就更可观了。此句中的set是一个数学中的术语,通常译作“集”。
参考译文:因此,人类学中的“文化”概念就像数学中“集”的概念一样,是一个抽象概念,它使大量的具体研究和认识成为可能。
汉译英遣词用字
汉译英的难度要大大超过英译汉,主要原因有两点。一是词汇量“内存”不足,二是我们不能够熟练掌握和使用英语的句式结构。除了课本所列的汉语形容词―老‖、名词―书‖和动词 ―着‖以外,老师还可以另外举例进一步加以说明,比如汉语中的―运动‖一词的译法:
?运动有益身心。Exercise is good for health.
?足球是我喜欢的运动。Football is my favorite sport.
?他在香港热心推广手球运动。He is a keen promoter of handball in Hong Kong.
?我国每年纪念五四运动。The May Fourth Movement is commemorated in our country. ?人们热烈响应筹款运动。There was great enthusiasm for the donation drive.
?他们发动了一场戒烟运动。They started a campaign to stop people smoking.
?这属于运动神经疾病。This belongs to motor nerve disease.
?技术革新运动是成功的关键。Technological renovation is a key to the success.
汉语的“运动”的含义很广,既可指物体位置不断改变的现象(如:直线运动),也可指可促进身体健康的身体活动(如:足球运动),还可指向群众公开宣扬某种思想、见解、主义的群众活动(如:五四运动)。此外可以作名词,也可以作动词,甚至作形容词(如“运动神经疾病”);翻译时应酌情加以处理。
III. 思考与练习
一.简要回答以下问题
(开放式提问,教师可根据教学的实际需要自行取舍)
二、翻译练习
A.将下面的短文译成汉语,注意遣词用字。
这篇文章摘自美国上世纪末某杂志关于中国的报道,由此可见西方人士对中国崛起的担心。课本所提供的难点提示对一些较为棘手的词语作了注解,帮助学生及读者正确理解和运用遣词用字。
B.将下面的短文译成英语,注意遣词用字。
这段文字摘自江泽民主席在国庆50周年的一段讲话,翻译尚需要注意遣词用字,把握英汉句式结构的差异,作必要的结构调整。
第五单元 翻译技巧3 词类转换 自然流畅
这一单元的教学重点是词类转换,使学生能够掌握英译汉、汉译英的常用词类转换及英译汉句子成分的转换,自然流畅地将转换技巧用于翻译实践。
I. 翻译实例训练
英译汉Companionship of Books
这篇文章的作者为苏格兰作家Samuel Smiles,总共460字涉及遣词用字、词类转换、结构调整等翻译技巧。下面是关于作者的情况简介。
【作者简介】Samuel Smiles
Samuel Smiles (1812 - 1904), the eldest of eleven children, was born on 23rd December, 1812 in Scotland. He was apprenticed to a doctor, studied medicine at Edinburgh University and graduated in 1832. Five years later, he abandoned medicine to become editor of the Leeds Times, following the successful publication of several of his articles about self-improvement. His famous book Self H With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance was published in England in 1859. In this 1859 work, Smiles presented short, inspirational biographies of famous men and urged his readers to improve their own lives by following these examples. Now, more than 140 years later, it still provides sound advice.
Quotations from Samuel Smiles:
A place for everything, and everything in its place.
We often discover what will do, by finding
and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery.
Cecil's dispatch of business was extraordinary, his maxim being, &The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.&
【参考资料】Hazlitt
Hazlitt, William (), English essayist and critic, famous for the lucidity and
brilliance, in both style and content, of his many essays.
Hazlitt was born April 10, 1778, the son of a Unitarian minister, in Maidstone, Kent. He spent a short time at the Unitarian theological seminary at Hackney but soon abandoned the ministry to study painting and philosophy. In 1812 he became drama critic for the London Morning Chronicle and a frequent contributor to several periodicals. His first book, The Round Table (1817), was a collection of essays from his articles in the Examiner, owned by his friend the essayist Leigh Hunt. Two of his most famous collections, Table Talk (1821-22) and The Plain Speaker (1826), cover a variety of subjects ranging from art and philosophy to politics and prizefighting. These works helped to establish Hazlitt's reputation as the most versatile critic of his day. He was close friends
with several leading literary figures, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, and Charles Lamb. The Spirit of the Age (1825), a work that is regarded as his critical masterpiece, contains valuable biographical sketches of these writers and of other contemporary intellectual leaders.
【参考资料】Sir Philip Sidney
Sidney, Sir Philip (), English poet, courtier, and soldier, who in life was a model of the ideal Renaissance gentleman, and whose devotion to poetry served as an inspiration for the future of English verse.
Sidney was born in Penshurst, Kent, and was educated at Christ Church College, Oxford. A favorite of Elizabeth I, he was sent on several diplomatic missions. He retired from court for a time after incurring the queen's displeasure, but in 1583 was restored to favor and knighted. In 1585 he was appointed governor of Vlissingen in the Netherlands, and in 1586 he joined an expedition sent to aid the Netherlands against Spain. Sidney died of wounds received in a raid on a Spanish convoy at Zutphen in the Netherlands.
None of Sidney's works was published many of them, however, circulated in manuscript. The best known are Astrophel and Stella (1591), a sequence of 108 sonnets celebrating a hopeless love affair, and Arcadia (1590), a pastoral romance in verse link the first considerable work in English in this form, it became a model for later pastoral poetry. Sidney's Defence of Poesie (1595; known in a slightly different version as An Apologie for Poetrie, also 1595) was a prose essay that described the nature of poetry and defended it against Puritan objections to imaginative literature.
汉译英 读书的乐趣
这一单元的汉译英翻译实例训练配合英译汉的Companionship of Books,是一篇关于读书的个人感受,共176字。翻译这类小品文时,除了需要必要的遣词用字、词类转换、结构调整等翻译技巧之外,还需要注意译文的风格与原文保持一致。
II. 翻译技巧
词类转换 自然流畅
本单元的翻译实例训练中的好些句子都利用了词类转换技巧。如:
1. Companionship of Books以书为友(词类转换:名词短语结构转换为动宾四字结构。)
2. One should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men. 一个人应该经常生活在最佳友伴之中,不管这友伴是书还是人。(词类转换:代词one, it转换为名词“一个人”、“这友伴”。)
3. A good book may be among the best of friends. 一本好书可以成为你最要好的朋友中的一员。(词类转换:介词among转换为名词“一员”。)
4. Men often discover their affinity to each other by the love they have each for a book—just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both have for a third. 人们经
常会发现由于对同一本书的爱好而产生一种共鸣——正如两个人有时会因同时仰慕另一人而彼此成为朋友一样。(结构转换:名词短语affinity to each other转换为动宾结构:产生一种共鸣,词类转换:名词admiration转换成动词“仰慕”。)
5. But there is more wisdom in this: &Love me, love my book.& 但更明智的说法毋宁是:“爱吾及书”。(词类转换:名词wisdom转换成形容词“明智的”;结构转换:Love me, love my book两个单句转换为汉语四字结构。)
6. They live in him together and he in them. 他们一道生活在作者的世界中,作者与他们随时相伴。(词类转换:代词him, he转换为名词短语“作者的世界”和“作者”。)
7. They are to be had very cheap and good.书价廉物美,随处可得。我们无处不呼吸到书本的气息。(词类转换:代词They转换为名词―书‖,结构转换:动词短语转换为汉语四字结构―价廉物美‖。)
8. &They are never alone, that are accompanied by noble thoughts.& “有着崇高思想的人从不感到孤独。”(词类转换:代词They转换为名词“人”,形容词alone转换为动宾结构―感到孤独‖。)
9. We hear wh we see them as if they were really alive. 我们耳闻目睹他们的言行举止,仿佛见到了他们活生生的身影。(词类转换:动词said and did转换为名词“言行举止”,结构转换:系表结构they were really alive转换为“活生生的身影”。)
10. The great and good do not die even in this world. 辞世的伟人及其业绩即使在当今世界也具有强大的生命力。(词类转换:形容词great and good转换为名词“伟人及其业绩”,结构转换:动词短语do not die转换为“具有强大的生命力”。)
英译汉的词类转换
在翻译过程中,由于两种语言在语法和表达习惯上的差异,有时必须改变原文某些词语的词类或句子成分才能自然流畅地传达出原文的准确意思。除了课本所提供的英译汉、汉译英的常用各种词类转换及英译汉句子成分的转换之外,下面为大家再提供一些关于转换的翻译实例,这些实例均为历年考研英语翻译试题中的内容。
考研实例1:The emphasis on data gathered first-hand, combined with a cross-cultural perspective brought to the analysis of cultures past and present, makes this study a unique and distinctly important social science.(2003)
译文:强调收集第一手资料,加上在分析过去和现在文化形态时采用跨文化视角,使得这一研究成为一门独特并且非常重要的社会科学。(名词emphasis、过去分词短语combined with转为动词)
考研实例2:This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high-energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields. (1991)
译文:这种困境将是确定无疑的,因为能源的匮乏使农业难以以高能量消耗这种美国耕种方式继续下去了,而这种耕种方式使投入少数农民就可获得高产成为可能。(副词particularly、名词energy转为形容词,形容词possible转为名词,介词with转为动词)考研实例3:Some of these causes are completely reasonable results of social needs. Others are reasonable consequences of particular advances in science being to some extent self-accelerating. (1996)
译文:在这些原因中,有些完全是自然而然地来自社会需求;另一些则是由于科学在一定程度上自我加速而产生某些特定发展的必然结果。(形容词reasonable转为副词,名词results转为动词,consequences of转为动宾结构:产生的结果)
考研实例4:New forms of thought as well as new subjects for thought must arise in the future as they have in the past, giving rise to new standards of elegance. (1996)
译文:同过去—样,将来必然会出现新的思维方式和新的思维对象,从而形成新的精确标准。(主语New forms转为宾语,名词elegance转为形容词,省略一个主谓结构they have)
考研实例5:Odd though it sounds, cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementary-particle physics and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true.(1998)
译文:宇宙紧缩说虽然听似奇特,但它是基本粒子物理学中一些公认的理论在科学上看来可信的推理。众多天体物理学家七、八年来一直确信这一学说是正确的。(两处代词it转换为名词“宇宙紧缩说”和“这一学说”,副词scientifically被转换成句子“在科学上看来”;介词短语for the better part of a decade转换处理为“七、八年来”)英译汉的常用词类转换形式
下面为大家补充一些词类转换翻译练习。
1. I am no drinker, nor smoker.
2. These rustic lassies are good singers.
3. The thief made a trembling confession of his wrongdoing.
4. He has long been an enemy of stilted and pretentious English.
5. The audience attended the performance varied from tens to thousands.
6. With the passage of time, my admiration for him grew more and more.
7. The sailors swarmed into a laughing and cheering ring around the two men.
8. I am so grateful to my father for his for his continuous encouragement during my childhood.
1. 我既不喝酒,也不抽烟。
2. 这些乡下小姑娘唱歌唱得很好。
3. 小偷战战兢兢地坦白了所干的坏事。
4. 他一向反对矫揉造作的英语。
5. 观看演出的观众少则几十人,多则数千人。(观众人数从几十人到数千人不等。)
6. 随着时间的消逝,我对他越来越敬慕。(我对他仰慕之情与日俱增。)
7. 水手们欢欢乐乐,蜂拥而至,将这两人围成一圈。
8. 我非常感激父亲,因为在我小时候他总是不断地鼓励我。
汉译英的词类转换
汉译英的词类转换主要是如何将汉语中的动词转换成英语的其他词类。下面结合本单元关于书的主题补充一篇汉译英词类转换翻译练习。
外语系图书馆占地面积125平方米,藏书2.3万册。整个图书馆包括3间书库,一个阅览室,即英、俄文图书混合库, 英文工具书库,日、法、德语混合库和中英文期刊阅览室。所藏图书以英语语言研究及相关文献为主体,兼藏日、俄、德、法语书籍资料。此外,订有各类中外文期刊近200种。此外,订有各类中外文期刊近200种。外语系图书馆为专业图书馆,着重语言研究与语言教学,是学校图书馆人文分馆的一个重要分支。目前,馆内全部馆藏已实现计算机化管理,并提供网络服务。
这篇汉译英是与英译汉内容相配套的有关图书馆的介绍性短文,总共有6句话,其中有几处需要用上词类转换、词语省略等翻译技巧。
(1)外语系图书馆占地面积125平方米,藏书2.3万册。
With a floor space of 125 square meters the Library of the Foreign Languages Department has around 23,000 books in storage.
这句话中有两个动词“占地”、“藏书”,可考虑把重心放在后半句,省略一个动词,用介词短语 with a floor space of(建筑面积)来代替。
(2)整个图书馆包括3间书库,一个阅览室,即英、俄文图书混合库, 英文工具书库,日、法、德语混合库和中英文期刊阅览室。
The library consists of 3 stack rooms and 1 reading room, i.e., 1 stack room for English and Russian books, another for English dictionaries and reference books, the third for Japanese, French and German books, and a reading room meant for Chinese and English magazines and periodicals.
这句话比较长,可以先翻译出主句The library consists of…,然后用i.e.加上几个并列结构,其中几处“书库”可作省略处理。
(3)所藏图书以英语语言研究及相关文献为主体,兼藏日、俄、德、法语书籍资料。此外,订有各类中外文期刊近200种。
The library mainly focuses on English linguistic studies and relevant literatures, and concurrently, it keeps a considerable collection of various books in Japanese, Russian, Germany and French.
这是一个并列句,译文也采用并列结构,“以?为主体”可译作mainly focus on,“兼藏”concurrently keep,两句话都的主语都应该是the library.
(4)此外,订有各类中外文期刊近200种。
Around 200 Chinese and English magazine and periodical titles are available here.
“订有各类中外文期刊”可以用被动语态,也可以用be available这种更简练的表达法。
(5)外语系图书馆为专业图书馆,着重语言研究与语言教学,是学校图书馆人文分馆的一个重要分支。
As a library for special purpose, the library of Foreign Languages Department plays an important part in the sub-library of humanities and social science under the Main Library of the University, laying its stress on linguistic studies and language teaching.
这句话有3个并列动词“为”、“着重”、“是”,我们可以根据汉语重心后置的特点,将最后一个动词译作谓语plays an important part in,其余部分用介词短语(As a library for special purpose)、分词短语 (laying its stress on) 来处理。
(6)目前,馆内全部馆藏已实现计算机化管理,并提供网络服务。
The management of the library is computerized and is now able to serve the reader via its network.
这是一个并列句,“全部馆藏”可转换为The management of the library,“提供网络服务”需要做适当的增词处理。
一.简要回答以下问题
(开放式提问,教师可根据教学的实际需要自行取舍)
二.翻译练习
A.将下面的短文译成汉语,注意采用词类转化和句子成分转换。
【参考资料】关于Silicon Valley 和San Jose-Palo Alto的简介。
Silicon Valley
High-Tech Industry, industry that makes use of advanced technology. The largest high-tech group is the fast-growing electronics industry, especially the manufacture of computers, microchips, and telecommunications equipment. The products of high-tech industries have low bulk but high value, as do their components. Silicon Valley in California is an area with high concentrations of such firms.
Ranking high in California‘s economy is the manufacture of industrial machinery, principally computers and related equipment but including the making of pumps, engines, turbines, and machines for the service industry. Many computer companies are located in what is known as Silicon Valley, in the San Jose-Palo Alto area.
【参考资料】Renaissance
Renaissance, series of literary and cultural movements in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. These movements began in Italy and eventually expanded into Germany, France, England, and other parts of Europe. Participants studied the great civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome and came to the conclusion that their own cultural achievements rivaled those of antiquity. Their thinking was also influenced by the concept of humanism, which emphasizes the worth of the individual. Renaissance humanists believed it was possible to improve human society through classical education. This education relied on teachings from ancient texts and emphasized a range of disciplines, including poetry, history, rhetoric (rules for writing influential prose or speeches), and moral philosophy.
A.将下面的短文译成英语,注意采用词类转化和句子成分转换。
参见课本所提供的难点提示与参考译文。
【参考资料】关于苏州的简介
Suzhou, also Su-chou or Suchow, formerly Wu-hsien, city, eastern China, in Jiangsu Province, near Shanghai. It is noted for scenic canals, arched bridges, and historic gardens. Manufactures include silks, cotton textiles, embroidery, electronic equipment, and chemicals. Tai Hu (Lake T'ai) and the Grand C other landmarks include a 5th-century BC royal tomb and a pagoda from the 10th century ad.
The city became capital (518 BC) of the short-lived Wu state. It took the name Suzhou in ad589 and was at a peak of prosperity as a silk center, renowned for its beauty, in the 14th to 17th centuries. Taiping rebels destroyed (1860-63) much of the old city. It was soon rebuilt and was opened as a treaty port in 1896. The city was occupied by Japan in 1937-45. Modern industrial development was expanded and diversified after 1949. Population (7.
第六单元 翻译技巧4 适当增添 清楚明了
这一单元的教学重点是词语增添,使学生能够在英译汉和汉译英的时候根据表达的需要,对译文进行适当增添,将原文中的一些隐含的意思表达清楚明了。
I. 翻译实例训练
英译汉 Person of the Year
这篇翻译实例训练为美国《时代》杂志为荣登2001年度《时代》杂志封面人物的纽约市长Rudy Giuliani撰写的入选理由。总共331字,涉及遣词用字、词类转换、词语增添、结构调整等翻译技巧。下面是关于September 11 Attacks的背景情况简介。
【参考资料】September 11 Attacks
September 11 Attacks, coordinated terrorist strike on the United States in 2001 that killed more than 3,000 people and shook the nation to its core.
On the sunny morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists, working in teams of 4 or 5, hijacked four commercial jetliners and turned them toward targets chosen for destruction. Two of the planes, loaded with fuel and passengers, were flown at full speed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in the financial district of New York City. The buildings burst into flame and then collapsed, killing thousands. A third terrorist crew smashed their plane into the Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. military in Arlington, Virginia. The hijackers of the fourth airliner apparently intended to hit another target in the Washington, D.C., area, but passengers on the plane realized what was happening and fought back. This airplane crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania.
The 19 men who carried out the hijackings came from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other Arab states. They were affiliated with the al-Qaeda network, a radical Islamic group led by Saudi exile Osama bin Laden and dedicated to waging a holy war against the United States. The targets they chose to destroy perfectly symbolized U.S. financial, political, and military power. Years in the planning, the attacks in New York and Washington constituted the first major foreign assault on the continental United States since 1814, when the British army invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House. More people were killed on U.S. soil on September 11 than on any day since the American Civil War.
【参考资料】关于TIME杂志及其创始人
Luce, Henry Robinson (), American editor and publisher, who introduced the concept of the weekly newsmagazine. Born to American missionary parents in Tengchow (now Penglai), China, Luce was educated at Yale University and the University of Oxford. In 1923, with his friend Briton Hadden, Luce founded the newsmagazine Time, which he edited until 1964. Featuring pictures and dynamic, terse, and vivid text, Time was also innovative in its emphasis on
personalities in the news. In 1930 Luce founded Fortune, a monthly that focused on critical analysis of American business and industry. Two years later he purchased Architectural Forum, which remained a leading architectural publication until its demise in 1964.
Luce began publication of the weekly news and photo magazine Life in 1936. Like other Luce periodicals it wa it ceased weekly

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