一、翻译过程
翻译的过程(the process of translation)主要包括两个方面,即原文的理解与译文的表达,理解是翻译的前提和基础,不理解就不能正确地表达。表达则是翻译的关键,是理解的具体化和深刻化。理解包括对词语 意义、语法结构、逻辑关系、上下文关系、文化背景知识、专业知识的理解。表达要求做到忠实原文、逻辑 清晰、语言规范。
Most Chinese I encounter outside of government, and some in government, seem convinced that the United States seeks to contain China
我遇到的大多数非**人士的中国人,以及某些中国**内部人士,似乎认定美国谋求遏制中国。
But doe this have anything to do with global warming, and are human emissions to blame?
但这与**气候变暖有关吗?人类的碳排放是肇事之因吗?
Pub etiquette is designed to promote sociability in a society known for its reserve.
在以寡言少语而**的英国社会里,酒吧仪俗的形成是为了促进社会交往。
*提醒说,雾对人体健康的危害有很大的隐蔽性。
Experts caution that the harmful effect of fog on our health is often concealed.
中国教育那些饱受垢病的顽疾会否受到“洋大学”的冲击而产生“鲇鱼效应”?
Will a“catfish effect” be produced when the widely denounced problems in China’s education are shocked by the“foreign universities”?
二、翻译方法
直译不是死译、硬译,而是在尽量保持原文语言形式不变的基础上,用地道的译入语准确再现原文的内 容和风格。意译不是随心所欲,而是舍其形式,取其内容,在不拘泥于原文形式的基础上准确再现原文的内 容。在翻译实践中,我们一般都坚持能直译就直译、不能直译就意译的原则,必要时还需要把直译和意译结 合起来。
较令人怵目惊心的一件事,是看着钟表上的秒针一下一下的移动,每移动一下就是表示我们的寿命已经缩 短了一部分。
It is most startling to hear a watch or clock clicking away the seconds, each click indicating the shortening of one’s life by a little bit
“少壮不努力,**徒伤悲”。
As the saying goes, “One who does not work hard in youth will grieve in vain in old age.”
三、词汇差异
在英汉互译过程中,应注意英汉在语义、近义词、搭配方面的差异。
Offering courses of study that address the challenges of an interconnected world.
开设研究课程以应对这个相互联系日益紧密的世界的挑战。(不可以是提供课程,不可以是解决挑战)
他上过高中,在我父母那个年代算是文化水平较高的了。
He went to senior high school, which was regarded as fairly high educational level among the generation of my parents.(不可以是 cultural)
当人们品味镌刻于汉字中博大精深的内涵与韵味时,一个“新北京”诞生了。
As people ponder on the rich connotations and charms of these Chinese characters, a “New Beijing” has thus been brought forward.(不可以是 words)
在四川西部,有一美妙的去处。
There is a scenic spot in the west of Sichuan Province.(不可以是 have)
与我们通常的想法相悖的是,阳光并非总是以直线形式传播。
Contrary to our common understanding, sunlight does not always travel in straight lines.(不可以是 against)
四、句子差异
(一)形合&意合
英语句子重形合,汉语句子重意合。英语使用一些连接词将句子内在的逻辑关系呈现出来。而汉语是意 合语言,一切尽在不言中,内在的关系可以通过语义意会出来。
传统节日渐行渐远,西方节日大行其道。
Traditional Chinese festivals are gradually receding from us while Western festivals are becoming more and more popular.
人,得天天得有点盼头,生活才不至于暗淡
There must be something to look forward to each day to brighten one’s life and keep it out of shadow.
中国社会经济*发展,取得了举世公认的成就。
China has made great achievement in its social and economic development, which have won worldwide recognition.
(二)长句&短句
英语句子之间用连接词、介词等衔接而无限扩展,往往一句话可以包含多个意思,很少使用标点符号, 句子一气呵成。所以英语多长句。而汉语常使用标点符号将意群分来,所以汉语多短句。所以英译汉时常常 是分译,汉译英时常常时合译。
One reason is that Americans view business as being more firmly based on the ideal of competition than other institutions in society.
其中一个原因就是美国人认为,与其他社会机构相比,商业机构更牢固地建立在竞争的理念之上
但一个明显的事实是,同经济发展相比,社会发展明显滞后。
Yet, it is obvious that its social development is lagging behind that of its economy.
其中,平均每年少征收的关税为每年 1500—2000 亿元,少征收的增值税为 1500—2000 亿元... Among them, the losses of customs duty and value added tax are respectively 150-200 billion yuan.
(三)物称&人称
英语较常用物称主语,表达客观事物如何作用于人的感知,让事物以客观的口气呈现出来。汉语较常用 人称主语。汉语注重主体思维,往往从自我出发来叙述客观事物或倾向于描述人及其行为或状态,汉语在无 法确定人称时,采用“有人”、“人们”、“大家”、“别人”等泛称或省略人称。
A brief glimpse at a daily newspaper vividly shows how much people in the United States think about business.
快速浏览一份美国的日报,你就会清楚地看到美国人对商务有多么关注。
The upcoming summit between the America and Chinese presidents is to take place while progress is being made in resolving many of the issues before them, and a positive communique is probable.
美国*和中国国家**即将举行**会谈,两国在解决相互间的许多问题上正取得进展,发表一项积 较的公报是有可能的。
我们也许会传染上 SARS,也许不会,但恐惧肯定是改变不了结果的。
SARS will hit us or it won’t, but our fear will not positively change the outcome.
(四)主动&被动
英语被动语态用得较多,以达到客观描述的效果。汉语多使用主动语态,这是由于中国人“事在人为” 的思维方式,注重人的主观能动性,多以人作主语或使用“人们、有人”等泛称。也可省略。
You are permitted to try to attract bar staff’s attention,but there are rules about how to do this.
你可以设法引起酒保的注意,但这是有规可循的。
I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country.
我知道许多支持我的人都很失望。我也很失望。但失望必须让位于我们对国家的热爱。
Since competition is seen as the major source of progress and prosperity by most Americans, competitive business institutions are naturally respected.
由于大多数美国人都把竞争视为进步与繁荣的主要源泉,具有竞争性的商业机构也就理所当然地受到他 们的尊重。
戏曲、电影、音乐、舞蹈、绘画以及工艺美术等,有了长足的进步。
Great progress has been made in drama, firm, music, dance, painting arts and crafts, etc.
这**表现为贫富差距的拉开幅度过大。
This is manifested in the excessive gap between the rich and the poor.
(五)静态&动态
英语是静态语言,句子中常使用名词、介词、形容词、副词。而汉语是动态语言,句中多动词。由于这 种动静差异,在翻译时,必然会带来词性的转换、句子成分的转换、偏正短语和主谓结构的转换。
We believe strong dialogue is important not only for the U. S. and China, but for the rest of the world.
我们相信,加强对话不仅对美中,而且对世界其他国家来说都是重要的。
A tip in cash would be a reminder of their service role, whereas the offer of a drink is a friendly gesture.
现金小费会使人联想到酒保是伺候人的,而请他们喝一杯则是友好的表示。
相传在中国古代,洪水肆虐,人民苦不堪言。大禹决心治水,但船不能行,有黄龙来为他负舟,于是导水成功.
Legend has it that in ancient China, rampant floods brought about untold misery and hardship to the people.
开发利用废旧塑料资源既可有效治理污染,又可创造巨大的经济效益。
The exploitation of waste plastics can not only bring pollution under effective control, but also create huge economic returns.
我们发展经济的目的就是满足人们日益增长的物质文化需求,就是让老百姓生活越来越好。
The purpose of our economic development is to meet the growing material and cultural needs of the people, and to make their life better and better.
(六)重复差异
英汉两种语言在重复方面也存在着差异。英语怕重复,总是通过代词、省略、近义词等方法来避免重复。 而汉语不怕重复,汉语中存在着许多重复现象。
平均每 27 个塑料瓶可以加工成一件漂亮的套头毛线衫,每 20 个可乐瓶便可以做成一件夹克衫。
On average, 27 plastic bottles are needed for a beautiful pullover, and 20 Cola bottles for a jacket.
我们应该把注意力集中在自己所能控制的,而不是无能为力的事情上面。
We should focus on things we can control, not on things we cannot.