词义的正确选择首先取决于 对原文的确切理解,而对原 文词义的确切理解又取决于 对原文上下文的推敲。有些 词看起来很简单,翻译时一 下子就会想到常用的对应词。 但又是最常用的对应词却不 能准确地表达原作的意思。 还要 努力 读一点历史 和小说。 We should also find time to read some history books and novels. 他的英语水平比我的高。 He knows more English than I. 2.要奋发图强,把我军的军政 素质提高到一个新的水平……。 We must work hard to raise to a new height the military and political quality of our army… 1. 各级领导干部必须 提高领导水平。 Cadres at all levels should improve their art of leadership. 3. (一) 注意词的广义与狭义 1. 农业 是国民经济的基础。 Agriculture is the foundation of the national economy. 2.他从不喝酒。 He never touches wine. (二)注意词义的强弱 3.反动派的暴行激起了人民的 极大愤怒。 The atrocities of the reactionaries roused the people to great indignation. 4.孙中山是个好人。 Dr. Sun Zhongshan was a man of integrity. (三) 注意词义的褒贬 由于人们对事物的态度 不同,就会使用含有不 同感情色彩的词,或肯 定、赞扬、或否定、鄙 视。这种感情色彩应相 应地在译文中表达出来。 5. 我们 应该 从这 里得 出一条 经验 ,就是不要 被假象所迷惑。 We should draw a lesson here: Don’t be misled by false appearances. 6. 他 们 讲 唯 心 论 , 我们讲唯物论。 They preach idealism whereas we advocate materialism. (四) 注意词的语体色彩 7.别了,司徒雷登! Farewell, Leighton Stuart! 8.禁止赌博。 Gambling is prohibited. 9.这小伙子干活真冲。 This young fellow does his work with vim and vigor. (五)注意词的政治含 义 10.“农民” peasant farmer 11.“侵略” invasion aggression 12.“自主” autonomy initiative 13.打得赢就打,打不赢就 走 。 Fight when you can win, move away when you cannot. 比较: Fight when we can win and run away when we cannot. (六) 注意词的搭配 汉英两种语言在长期使用 过程中形成了各自的固定 词组和搭配用法,翻译时 必须注意两者的不同,不 能把汉语词的搭配用法生 搬硬套到英语译文中。 战火扩大: the flames of war expand (应为spread) 实现自给自足: achieve self-sufficiency (应为reach) 学习知识: learn knowledge (应为 acquire) 违反他的意图: violate his intention (应为go against) 严密控制: close control (应为strict/rigid) “啊,好票!”: Ah, good ticket! (应为seat) 有资格打世界大战: qualified to fight a world war ( 应 为 capable of fighting/can afford to/powerful enough to) 西方舆论纷纷预测: The public opinion in the West predicts one after another ( 应 为 The Western press has much to say in prediction) 强硬政策: Strong policy (应为tough) ground breaking theory (创新的理论) mental gymnastics (硬性推销) student friend (同窗学友) covert capability (搞情报的能力) 1.我家的猫昨天晚上捉了一只大老鼠。 2.那个小孩闯到马路中间,一个警察赶 紧抓住他的手,把他拉到安全的地方。 3.次日清晨五时许,有风下了几点雨。 4.从那间小屋里传来了微弱的呻吟声。 5.那个瘦惊的小孩紧紧地抓住他母亲的 手。 6.他的儿子对数学很感兴趣。 7.他因犯伪造罪而被逮捕。 8.他把自己的一生献给为人 民服务的事业。 9.班长命令战士上刺刀。 10.有什么事,告诉我一声。 11.不许他给我们集体脸上 抹黑。 12.新生儿需要细心护理。 13.该委员会由十五人组成。 14.党组织是由无产阶级先 进分子组成的。 15.空气是由多种气体混合 组成的。 16.他醉心于医学研究。 17.那个人醉心于名利。 18.我借一下你的自行车 好吗? 19.我接一下你的电话好 吗? 20.借光、借光。 1.Our cat caught a very big rat last night. 2.The child ran into the street, but a policeman hurried up to seize him by the arm and pulled him back to safety. 3.About five o’clock the next morning there were a few drops of rain in the wind. . Weak groans came from the little room. 5.The frightened child gripped his mother’s hand. 6.His son takes a great interest in mathematics. 7.He was apprehended on a charge of forgery. 4 8 . He dedicated his whole life to serving the people. 9.The squad leader ordered the men to fix bayonets. 10.Let me know if anything happens. 11.We’re not going to let him bring shame on our collective. 12.Newborn babies need careful nursing. 13.The committee consists of 15 members. 14.The Party organization is composed of the advanced elements of the proletariat. 15. Air is made up of a mixture of gases. 16.He is deeply engrossed in medical research. 17.That chap is infatuated with fame and gain. 18.May I borrow your bike? 19.May I use you telephone? 20.Excuse me, excuse me! Or: Would you mind stepping to one side, please. Or: Out of the way, please. Or: Please let me pass. 第二章 词的增补 汉译英中的增词现象很多,尤其在 译古代汉语或诗词时,由于汉语用 词十分经济,译为英语时,如不增 加必要的词语而逐字直译,便很令 人费解。 “山雨欲来风满楼” The wind swept through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountain. (一)代词 1.“凭舟极目望去,远处是 黛色青山和五彩斑斓的田 野。” Leaning against the boat, you can see dark green mountains and gorgeous fields in the far distance. 2.接到你的来信,非常高兴。 I was very glad to have received your letter. 3.孩子们天天带午饭到学校 去吃。 The children take their lunches to school every day. 4. 她 用 手 蒙 住 脸 , 好像是为了保护眼睛。 She covered her face with her hand, as if to protect her eyes. 5.把这些故事看完以后, 用你自己的话讲一遍。 After you have read these stories, tell them in your own words. 6.请原谅,打断你一下。 Excuse me for interrupting you. (二)连词 汉语中的词、词组、分句或句子 之间的关系往往通过上下文及语 序来表示,较少用连词。英语通 常需要用连词来表明词与词、词 组与词组以及句与句的逻辑关系。 因此在汉译英时,需要增补连词 的情况会很多,有时是并列连词, 有时是从属连词。 7.虚心使人进步,骄傲使人 落后。 Modesty helps one go forward, whereas conceit makes one lag behind. 8. 姐姐在等我,我得走了。 My sister is expecting me, so I must be off now. 9. 男女老少都参加了战 斗。 Men and women, old and young, all joined in the battle. 10.他不来我不走。 I shall not go until he comes. (三)介词 介词是英语中最活跃的词类 之一,英语句子十有八九都 少不了介词。汉语中不需用 介词的地方,在英语中却常 用介词。因此在汉译英时, 增补介词的情况是屡见不鲜 的。 11.我们应当逐步消灭 城乡差别。 We should gradually eliminate the differences between town and country. 12.你是白天工作还是夜间 工作? Do you work in the daytime or at night? 13.这些图片你们四个人分。 Divide these pictures among the four of you. (四)冠词 汉译英时往往需要增补必要的冠词 13.耳朵是用来听声音的器官,鼻 子是用来嗅气味,舌头用来尝滋味。 The ear is the organ which is used for hearing. The nose is used for smelling. The tongue is used for tasting. 14.我们对问题要作全面 的分析,才能解决得妥当。 We must make a comprehensive analysis of a problem before it can be properly solved. 增补技巧中的另外一个问 题即使原文中暗含而无需 明言的词语,在译文须增 补适当的词。这一技巧又 叫“增益”或“上下文增 益”。大体可分为四个方 面。 (一)为了语法上的需要。 “白头宫女在,闲坐说玄宗” Some white-haired palace chambermaids are chattering about the dead gone Hsuan Chung regime.(林语堂译) 比较: One white-haired dame, An Emperor’s flame, Sits down and tells of bygone hours. (Giles译) 要提倡顾全大局。 We should advocate the spirit of taking the whole situation into consideration. (二)为了沟通不同的文化。 “下中农”和“上中农” “lower-middle-peasants” “upper-middle-peasants”, lower-middle-income- peasants The House Ways and Means Committee rejiggered tax legislation to give middle and upper middle income taxpayers more relief than Carter wanted. (三)概括性词语。汉语里有时 不用表明事物范畴的概括性词语, 译成英语时却往往需要增补进去。 结婚大办酒席,实在可以免去了。 The practice of giving lavish feasts at weddings can well be dispensed with. (四)注释性词语。汉语中的典 故、谚语以及在一定历史、政治 条件下形成的某些名词、术语和 简化说法,汉语读者熟悉,一看 就明白了,但是英语读者不见得 能懂。因此在翻译时要适当地添 加一些注释性词语,又称加注 ( annotation), 基 本 上 分 为 两 种形式: 音译附加注释或说明 性译文。 气功 qigong (a system of deep breathing exercises) 太极拳 taiji quan (a kind of traditional Chinese shadow boxing) 1. 直译加注 1) 翻译经典著作或学术 著作时,需要保存原文的 多重意义,包括字面意义, 因而采用加注的办法来补 偿直译带来的意义损失。 例如我国外文出版社出版 的毛泽东选集英译本。 2. 如果原语词具有多重意义, 而其中意义与上下文相呼应,一 般也只能保留原语词的字面形式, 附加注释。例如: 三个臭皮匠,合成一个诸葛亮。 Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang the master mind. 2) 班门弄斧 Show off one’s proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban the master carpenter. 练习题 翻译下列各句,根据需要增补适当 的词语: 1.海外侨胞常说:“我们的心永远 向着祖国”。 2.有人来电话,你就说我十二点回 来。 3.他尽着嗓门向我们呼喊。 4.比他技术高明一点的人,他叫人 家老师傅。 5.所有公民在法律面前一 律平等。 6.中国总是要前进的。 7.他虽是初次登台演出, 却演得很自然。 8.这真是俗话说的,“旁 观者清”。 9.请把这张表填一下,填 完给我。 10.下午六点开晚饭。 11.他们一听说有新任务, 就坐不住了。 12.你想看这本书,就先 看吧。 13.这件事咱们回头再详谈。 14.在全国开创新局面的各 项任务中,首要的任务是把 现代化经济建设推向前进。 15.只要中国人民积极奋斗, 这个宏伟的战略目标是能够 达到的。 1. The overseas Chinese usually say “Our hearts are always towards our motherland.” 2. Whoever telephones, tell them I shall be back by 12 o’clock. 3. He shouted to us at the top of his voice. 4 . Those whose technical level was higher than his own he addressed as “Masters.” 5. All citizens are equal before the law. 6.Whatever happens, China will march on. 7. His acting was very natural though it was the first time he appeared on the stage. 8.It is just as the proverb goes, “The onlooker sees most of the game.” (Or: The spectator is in a better position to judge.) 9.Please fill in this form, and give it to me when you have finished. 10. Supper is served at 6 p.m.. 11.When they learnt that they’d been given a new task, they just couldn’t sit still any longer. 12.You may read the book first, since you are anxious to read it. 13.We shall discuss it in detail when we meet again. 1 4 . Of the various tasks in bringing about an all-round new situation, the most important one is to push forward the modernization of China’s economy. 15. If the Chinese people work hard, they can definitely attain this grand strategic objective.