科技英语长句翻译解构与重构应用
日期：2010-03-05 13:40点击：371次 转载到QQ空间 作者：英语论文大百科 最低200多元，搞定英语毕业论文 QQ 7138127 手机15903656163
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开题报告，文献综述等均可写作，同时也提供翻译服务 一、引言
20世纪60年代初,国际上ESP(English for Special Purposes,专门用途英语)的教学与研究逐渐兴起,使之成为应用语言学的一个独立分支。ESP涵盖领域较广,下含ES T(English for Science and Technology,科技英语)、EBE(English for Business and Economy,商业经济英语)及ESS(English for Social Science,社会科学英语)。其中,EST出现得最早,对它的研究、应用及课程设置也最多,所以,常有人把EST看作ESP的代名词。
从体裁上看,论文、报告、专利说明书、产品说明书、合同、标准等都属于科技英语的范畴。一般来说,在科技英语中,专业术语出现较多,且含义固定,概念明确;句式变化较少,结构严谨。因此,在科技翻译中,译者“常是遵循传统的规矩,按定型或基本定型的程式或语句进行翻译”。然而,在某些专业性较强的科技英语文体中,句式十分复杂,往往会出现从句连套、定语叠加、状语扩展或成分并列的长句。对其拘泥于原文结构和表达方式的“程式化”翻译不仅容易“造成译文行文不畅,可读性差,而且还会导致主次不分,甚至主次颠倒,违背了忠实于原文的原则”。本文从将原文解构为多个小句及利用小句意义重构译文的角度,探讨科技英语长句的翻译。
二、解构(理解)与重构(表达)
但凡翻译,都要经过理解和表达两个阶段,其中理解是表达的前提和基础,表达是理解的结果和目的。要理解句子的意义,必须通过句子的表层结构来透析句子的深层结构,使表层的词汇意义在深层结构中找到各自的位置,在词汇意义、语法关系和主题关系的前提制约下,排除其他意义,按英语基本句型的主干配列式,找出句子的“骨架意义”。
由于科技英语长句句式复杂,找出“骨架意义”也就显得尤为重要,是翻译中最关键的一环。这就要求译者在紧缩主干、辨析词义、区分主从、理清层次的基础上透彻理解原文,确定“骨架意义”;然后按照英语意群切断原文长句,化整为零,解构为多个小句;最后根据句中的语法关系、主题意义及汉语表达习惯对各小句意义进行调整搭配,润饰词语后重构出译文。之所以要将原文长句分解为多个小句,是因为“小句、句子(一个或多个小句)是语言的动态单位,其中小句是基本单位”。英语中的小句(clause)有三种:1、限定式小句(finite clause),即含性数变化、能被情态动词和助动词修饰的英语句子;2、非限定式小句(infinite clause),含有各种各样的非谓语动词如不定式、-ing分词、-ed分词和动名词,常常被看作短语成分;3、无动词小句(verbless clause),不含动词,有时还省略主语。不管是在英语还是在汉语中,小句都可以看作是抽象的句子,即使从一个大句(句子)中抽出来,其意义仍然保持完整;小句的功能体现为粘着力强,游离性大,正是通过小句的不同建构,话语的形式才表现得丰富多彩。因此,小句最适合作为科技英语长句翻译中的分析单位和转换单位。本文拟以一个典型实例,按以下步骤探讨科技英语长句的翻译:原文解构→意群解构→小句→小句意义重构→译文有人曾以图解分析法从“破”、“立”角度讨论财经英语翻译,本文在讨论过程中也将借鉴该方法。例:
This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the Corporation,a legal person in corporated and duly existing under the law soft he People’s Republic of China(hereinafter referred to as \duly existing under the laws of Hong Kong(hereinafter referred to as \where as: in pursuance of a Letter of Intent dated 13th February 1996 and made between Party A
and Party B(hereinafter collectively referred to as t he \connection with their proposed cooperation in promoting and developing the foodstuffs industry in Guangdong Province and other areas in China, the Parties enter into this Contract under the principle of equality and mutual benefit and through amicable negotiations to incorporate an equity joint venture to be known as CC Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as the \the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Joint Ventures Using Chinese and Foreign Investment(hereinafter referred to as the \by the People’s Republic of China in order to promote the development of foodstuffs industry in China and to introduce advanced technical equipment and scientific management in furtherance of such objectives.
本例可解构为如下意群:This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the AA Corporation, a legal person incorporated and duly existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China(hereinafter referred to as \company incorporated and duly existing under the laws of Hong Kong(hereinafter referred to as \and made between Part y A and Part y B(hereinafter collectively referred to as the \connection with their proposed cooperation in promoting and developing the foodstuffs industry in Guangdong Province and other areas in China the Parties enter into this Contract under the principle of equality and mutual benefit and through amicable negotiations to incorporate an equity joint venture to be known as CC Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as the \Foreign Investment(hereinafter referred to as the \V Law\other laws and regulations promulgated by the People’s Republic of China in order to promote the development of foodstuffs industry in China and to introduce advanced technical equipment and scientific management in furtherance of such objectives 这是一个典型的带有法律文书性质的英文经贸合同用句:为了使表达全面、准确、明白,不惜采用大量的同位语、后置定语及介词短语前衬后托、前后编插,导致句子结构臃肿、枝杈横生;为了使随后的条款实现一定程度的简洁,大量采用加标注形式,如文中多次运用hereinafter referred to as结构;为了体现客观性和正式性,动作名词频繁出现,如pursuance, connection, cooperation, negotiation, development, management, furtherance等;同时,为了在理解上防止误解或歧义,重要词语反复出现,且内容极为字面化、外部化,没有含蓄的表达,也没有深层的蕴涵。
从意群解构图中可看出,本例中的主句实际上出现过两次,即This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the AA Corporation and the BB Co., Limited和the Parties enter into this Contract,其余的成分主要为两个解释签约双方性质的同位语、一个由whereas引导的表示原因的介词短语、一个表示目的的不定式结构及一个由in order to引导的表示目的的介词短语,意在说明AA Corporation和BB Co., Limited根据一封Letter of Intent签订this Joint Venture Contract,在中国incorporate一个名为CC Corporation Limited的equity joint venture,以便promote the development of foodstuffs industry in China及to introduce advanced technical equipment and scientific management in furtherance of such objectives。据此,本例可进一步解构为以下17个小句:
① This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the AA Corporation of the one part and the BB Co., Limited of the other part本合资经营企业合同由AA公司及BB公司订立
② ②a legal person incorporated and duly existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China(hereinafter referred to as \在中华人民共和国法律下成立及存在的法人(以下简
称“甲方”)
③ a company incorporated and duly existing under t he laws of Hong Kong(hereinafter referred to as \一家在香港法律下成立及存在的公司(以下简称“乙方”) ④ in pursuance of a Letter of Intent根据一份意向书 ⑤ dated 13th February 1996 and一九九六年二月十三日
⑥ made between Party A and Party B(hereinafter collectively referred to as the \由甲方及乙方(以下统称“双方”)签订
⑦ in connection with their proposed cooperation in关于双方建议合作??
⑧ in promoting and developing the foodstuffs industry in Guangdong Province and other areas in China促进和发展广东省及中国其他地区食品工业 ⑨ the Parties enter into this Contract双方签订此合同
⑩ under the principle of equality and mutual benefit本着平等互利的精神 ? through amicable negotiations通过友好协商 ? to incorporate an equity joint venture成立一家合资企业瑣瑏 ? to be known as CC Corporation Limited(hereinafter referred to as the \名为CC有限公司(以下简称“公司”) ? under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Joint Ventures Using Chinese and Foreign Investment(hereinafter referred to as t he \遵照中华人民共和国中外合资经营企业法(以下简称“合营法”)及其他法律及条例 ? promulgated by the People’s Republic of China由中华人民共和国颁布 ? in order to promote the development of foodstuffs industry in China以促进中国食品工业的发展 ? to introduce advanced technical equipment and scientific management in furtherance of such objectives引进先进技术设备与科学管理方法来实现上述目的
显然,本例的“骨架意义”应为①+⑨+⑩,其他的小句,应在仔细参照原文中小句间的语法关系及整句的主题意义的前提下,根据汉语表达习惯进行适当的剪裁后,运用各种翻译技巧,如增词、减词、省略、重复、顺译、倒译、拆译、合译等重构译文。 本例可参考译为:本合资经营企业合同由以下双方订立:
(1)AA公司,在中华人民共和国法律下成立及存在的法人(以下简称“甲方”);
(2)BB公司,一家在香港法律下成立及存在的公司(以下简称“乙方”)。缘由:根据一份由甲方及乙方(以下统称“双方”)于一九九六年二月十三日签订的关于建议合作促进和发展广东省及中国其他地区食品工业的意向书,本着平等互利的精神,通过友好协商, 签订此合同,并遵照中华人民共和国中外合资经营企业法(以下简称“合营法”)及其他由中华人民共和国颁布的法律及条例,成立一家名为CC有限公司(以下简称“公司”)的合资企业,以促进中国食品工业的发展及引进先进技术设备与科学管理方法来实现上述目的。 三、结语
综上所述,科技英语长句的翻译可采取以下步骤:
(一)解构1.将英语原文拆解为意群,进而拆解为多个小句。通常来说,各类从句和短语是拆解的重点所在。2.按照英语基本句型的主干配列式,找出句子的“骨架意义”。结合所涉及的行业知识,确定句子的涵义。
(二)重构1.理清各小句之间的层次关系及先后顺序,根据汉语的行文习惯及叙事次序重组句子。2.运用增词、减词、省略、重复、顺译、倒译、拆译、合译等翻译技巧对译文加以润色,使译文地道通顺,不带有“英式汉语”的痕迹。英语长句中连接成分较多、结构复杂,最能反映英语句法结构重形合的特征。如何将英语长句转换为连接词语较少、大多依靠语义贯通及
语境映衬的意合型汉语,最能体现出译者的翻译功底,而专业性较强的科技英语长句、难句的翻译尤其如此。在实际翻译中,译者应“前思后想”,由表及里地理清原文的脉络,确定其“骨架意义”,然后化整为零,将其解构为数个小句,最后根据原文的涵义、重心及汉语的语法习惯和叙事次序,利用各种翻译技巧重构译文,再现原文主旨。在整个过程中,翻译思维始终举足轻重,因为“思维(理解)是内容,语言(表达)是形式”。当然,译者具备较好的汉语母语语感及表达能力,具备一定的翻译训练基础,也是进行科技英语长句翻译的前提条件之一。 参考文献:
[1]方梦之.译学词典[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,2004.
[2]方梦之.科技英语实用文体[M].上海:上海翻译出版公司,1989:300. [3]杨寿康.论科技英语与科技翻译[M].合肥:安徽文艺出版社,2003:178. [4]刘宓庆.文体与翻译[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,1985:285.
一、引言
20世纪60年代初,国际上ESP(English for Special Purposes,专门用途英语)的教学与研究逐渐兴起,使之成为应用语言学的一个独立分支。ESP涵盖领域较广,下含ES T(English for Science and Technology,科技英语)、EBE(English for Business and Economy,商业经济英语)及ESS(English for Social Science,社会科学英语)。其中,EST出现得最早,对它的研究、应用及课程设置也最多,所以,常有人把EST看作ESP的代名词。
从体裁上看,论文、报告、专利说明书、产品说明书、合同、标准等都属于科技英语的范畴。一般来说,在科技英语中,专业术语出现较多,且含义固定,概念明确;句式变化较少,结构严谨。因此,在科技翻译中,译者“常是遵循传统的规矩,按定型或基本定型的程式或语句进行翻译”。然而,在某些专业性较强的科技英语文体中,句式十分复杂,往往会出现从句连套、定语叠加、状语扩展或成分并列的长句。对其拘泥于原文结构和表达方式的“程式化”翻译不仅容易“造成译文行文不畅,可读性差,而且还会导致主次不分,甚至主次颠倒,违背了忠实于原文的原则”。本文从将原文解构为多个小句及利用小句意义重构译文的角度,探讨科技英语长句的翻译。
二、解构(理解)与重构(表达)
但凡翻译,都要经过理解和表达两个阶段,其中理解是表达的前提和基础,表达是理解的结果和目的。要理解句子的意义,必须通过句子的表层结构来透析句子的深层结构,使表层的词汇意义在深层结构中找到各自的位置,在词汇意义、语法关系和主题关系的前提制约下,排除其他意义,按英语基本句型的主干配列式,找出句子的“骨架意义”。
由于科技英语长句句式复杂,找出“骨架意义”也就显得尤为重要,是翻译中最关键的一环。这就要求译者在紧缩主干、辨析词义、区分主从、理清层次的基础上透彻理解原文,确定“骨架意义”;然后按照英语意群切断原文长句,化整为零,解构为多个小句;最后根据句中的语法关系、主题意义及汉语表达习惯对各小句意义进行调整搭配,润饰词语后重构出译文。之所以要将原文长句分解为多个小句,是因为“小句、句子(一个或多个小句)是语言的动态单位,其中小句是基本单位”。英语中的小句(clause)有三种:1、限定式小句(finite clause),即含性数变化、能被情态动词和助动词修饰的英语句子;2、非限定式小句(infinite clause),含有各种各样的非谓语动词如不定式、-ing分词、-ed分词和动名词,常常被看作短语成分;3、无动词小句(verbless clause),不含动词,有时还省略主语。不管是在英语还是在汉语中,小句都可以看作是抽象的句子,即使从一个大句(句子)中抽出来,其意义仍然保持完整;小句的功能体现为粘着力强,游离性大,正是通过小句的不同建构,话语的形式才表现得丰富多彩。因此,小句最适合作为科技英语长句翻译中的分析单位和转换单位。本文拟以一个典型实例,按以下步骤探讨科技
英语长句的翻译:原文解构→意群解构→小句→小句意义重构→译文有人曾以图解分析法从“破”、“立”角度讨论财经英语翻译,本文在讨论过程中也将借鉴该方法。例:
This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the Corporation,a legal person in corporated and duly existing under the law soft he People’s Republic of China(hereinafter referred to as \duly existing under the laws of Hong Kong(hereinafter referred to as \where as: in pursuance of a Letter of Intent dated 13th February 1996 and made between Party A and Party B(hereinafter collectively referred to as t he \connection with their proposed cooperation in promoting and developing the foodstuffs industry in Guangdong Province and other areas in China, the Parties enter into this Contract under the principle of equality and mutual benefit and through amicable negotiations to incorporate an equity joint venture to be known as CC Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as the \the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Joint Ventures Using Chinese and Foreign Investment(hereinafter referred to as the \by the People’s Republic of China in order to promote the development of foodstuffs industry in China and to introduce advanced technical equipment and scientific management in furtherance of such objectives.
本例可解构为如下意群:This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the AA Corporation, a legal person incorporated and duly existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China(hereinafter referred to as \company incorporated and duly existing under the laws of Hong Kong(hereinafter referred to as \and made between Part y A and Part y B(hereinafter collectively referred to as the \connection with their proposed cooperation in promoting and developing the foodstuffs industry in Guangdong Province and other areas in China the Parties enter into this Contract under the principle of equality and mutual benefit and through amicable negotiations to incorporate an equity joint venture to be known as CC Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as the \Foreign Investment(hereinafter referred to as the \V Law\other laws and regulations promulgated by the People’s Republic of China in order to promote the development of foodstuffs industry in China and to introduce advanced technical equipment and scientific management in furtherance of such objectives 这是一个典型的带有法律文书性质的英文经贸合同用句:为了使表达全面、准确、明白,不惜采用大量的同位语、后置定语及介词短语前衬后托、前后编插,导致句子结构臃肿、枝杈横生;为了使随后的条款实现一定程度的简洁,大量采用加标注形式,如文中多次运用hereinafter referred to as结构;为了体现客观性和正式性,动作名词频繁出现,如pursuance, connection, cooperation, negotiation, development, management, furtherance等;同时,为了在理解上防止误解或歧义,重要词语反复出现,且内容极为字面化、外部化,没有含蓄的表达,也没有深层的蕴涵。
从意群解构图中可看出,本例中的主句实际上出现过两次,即This Joint Venture Contract is made by and between the AA Corporation and the BB Co., Limited和the Parties enter into this Contract,其余的成分主要为两个解释签约双方性质的同位语、一个由whereas引导的表示原因的介词短语、一个表示目的的不定式结构及一个由in order to引导的表示目的的介词短语,意在说明AA Corporation和BB Co., Limited根据一封Letter of Intent签订this Joint Venture Contract,在中国incorporate一个名为CC Corporation Limited的equity joint venture,以便