VI. 转换变通 自然流畅
考题实例: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) 宇宙彭涨说虽然听似奇特,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。 (词类转换 被动and)
考题实例:Astrophysicists working with ground-based detectors at the South Pole and balloon-borne instruments are closing in on such structures, and may report their findings soon.(1998) 天体物理学家使用南极陆基探测器及球载仪器,正越来越近地观测这些云系,也许不久会报告他们的观测结果。 ( 结构转换,and, 短语)
在翻译过程中,由于两种语言在语法和表达习惯上的差异,我们有时必须改变原文某些词语的词类或句子成分才能有效地传达出原文的准确意思。譬如这样一例:
This watch never varies more than a second in a month.这块表一个月的误差从不超过一秒。
英语中的vary(改变,不同)为动词,汉语没有这样的表达习惯,所以只能将其转换为名词“误差”。 英译汉试题中有这样一道题:
My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it is inevitable.
此题的结构并不复杂,表语从句的主谓结构为:the complaint is inevitable. 不过,由于complaint的修饰成分过长,我们不宜将the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it译作“一代人对紧接它下来的下一代人的经常的抱怨”,而是要对名词complaint,代词the one和进行词类转换,分别译作动词“抱怨”和名词“一代人”,同时省略代词it,增添连接成分“这一点”,进行这样的词类转换、增减和调整之后,译文就出来了。
参考译文:我的看法(观点)是,一代人对下一代人常常抱怨,这一点是在所难免的。
再看下面这道试英译汉试题:
Social support consists of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties.
参考译文:社会支持就是 以人际关系为基础的 人们之间的资源交换。
You very likely give other passengers a quick glance to size them up and to assure them that you mean no threat.
此句中的give other passengers a quick glance不宜照字面译作“给乘客们迅速的一瞥”;而要译作“很快地瞅别的乘客一眼”,to assure them的宾语从句that you mean no threat,其中的谓语动词mean也需要进行了词类转换。 参考译文: 你很可能很快地瞅别的乘客一眼,打量他们一下,让他们放心你毫无
威胁的意思。
翻译中的转换变通技巧主要有词类转换和句子成分转换两种情况。
II.英译汉的词类转换方法技巧 1.各种词类转换成动词
汉语的动词使用频率比英语高, 所以将英语各种词类转换成汉语动词是最常见的词类转换。如:Families upstairs have to carry pails to the hydrant downstairs for water.
住在楼上的人家得提着水桶去楼下的水龙头打水。(英语动词只有一个,汉语有5个。)
以下是常见的英语各种词类转换为汉语的动词的情况。
1) The sight and sound of our jet planes filled me with special longing. 看到我们的喷气式飞机,听见隆隆的机声,我感到心驰神往。(名词转为动词) 2) Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe. 火箭已经用来探索宇宙。(名词转为动词)
3) Everyone in the room was greatly surprised at what he said. 听他一说,房间里的每个人都大吃一惊。(介词转为动词) 4) A force is needed to move an object against inertia. 为使物体克服惯性而运动,就需要一个力。(介词转为动词) 5) Chemist that he is, Charles is suspicious of all doctors‘ prescription.
查尔斯是位化学家,所以他对任何大夫开的药都怀疑。(形容词转为动词) 6) When the switch is off, the circuit is open and electricity doesn’t go through.
当开关断开时,电路就形成开路,电流不能通过。(副词转为动词) 7) In this case the temperature in the furnace is up. 在这种情况下,炉温就升高。(副词转为动词) 2.各种词类转换为名词
1) Most U S spy satellites are designed to burn up in the earth‘s atmosphere after completing their missions.
根据设计,美国大多数间谍卫星要在完成使命后焚毁于大气层中。(动词转为名词)
2) The design aims at automatic operation, easy regulation, simple maintenance and high productivity.
设计的目的在于自动操作,调节方便,维护简易,生产率高。(动词转为名词) 3) The new contract would be good for ten years. 新的合同有效期为10年。(形容词转为名词)
4) In the fission processes the fission fragments are very radioactive. 在裂变过程中,裂变碎片具有强烈的放射性。(形容词转为名词) 5) He is physically weak but mentally sound. 他身体虽弱,但思想健康。(副词转为名词)
6) Supporters of the “nature” theory insist that we are born with a certain capacity for learning that is biologically determined. 支持“天性”论的人坚持说,我们生来就具有一定的学习才能,这是由生物因素
决定的。(副词转为名词)
7) Radio waves are similar to light waves except that their wavelength is much greater.
无线电波与光波相似,但无线电波的波长要长得多。(代词转为名词)
8) The specific resistance of iron is not so small as that of copper. 铁的电阻系数不如铜的电阻系数那样小。(代词转为名词) 3.各种词类转为形容词
1) Given that they’re inexperienced,they‘ve done a good job. 鉴于他们没有经验,干成这样真不错。(名词转为形容词)
2) Independent thinking is an absolute necessity in study. 学习中的独立思考是绝对必须的。(名词转为形容词) 3) Earthquakes are closely related to faulting. 地震与断裂运动有密切的关系。(副词转为形容词)
4) It is demonstrated that gases are perfectly elastic. 已经证实,气体具有理想的弹性。 (副词转为形容词) 5) The pressure inside equals the pressure outside. 内部的压力和外部的压力相等。(副词转为形容词) 4. 各种词类转换成副词
1) Below 4℃, water is in continuous expansion instead of continuous contraction.
水在4度以下就不断地膨胀,而不是不断地收缩。(形容词转为副词)
2) Only when we study their properties can we make better use of the materials.
只有研究这些材料的特性才能更好地利用它们。(形容词转为副词) 3) I have the honor to inform you that your request is granted. 我荣幸地通知您,您的请求已得到批准。(名词转为副词)
4) The new mayor earned some appreciation by the courtesy of coming to visit the city poor.
新市长有礼貌地前来访问城市贫民,获得了他们的一些好感。(名词转为副词) 5) Rapid evaporation at the heating-surface tends to make the steam wet. 加热面上的迅速蒸发,往往使蒸汽的湿度变大。(动词转为副词) III. 英译汉的句子成分转换形式 在很多情况下,英语中不同的句子成分也可以根据翻译的需要进行互相转换;譬如,主语转为宾语,宾语转为主语,主语转为谓语,主语转为定语,状语转为主语等等。下面是一些典型的英译汉句子成分转换模式。 1) As the match burns, heat and light are given off. 火柴燃烧时发出光和热。(主语转为宾语)
2) This sort of stone has a relative density of 2.7. 这种石头的相对密度是2.7。(宾语转为主语)
3) Care must be taken at all times to protect the instrument from dust and damp.
应当始终注意保护仪器,不使其沾染灰尘和受潮。(主语转为谓语) 4) Careful comparison of them will show you the difference.
只要仔细把它们比较一下,你就会发现不同之处。(主语转为谓语,宾语转为主
语)
5) The baby doubled its weight in a year. 这婴儿的体重一年中长了一倍。(主语转为定语)
6) Thousands of terrified watchers stared with their hearts beating fast. 成千上万的观众目瞪口呆,心嗵嗵直跳。(定语转为谓语)
7) The test is intended to reinforce what you have learnt in the past few weeks.
本测验的目的是强化你们过去几个月内所学的知识。(谓语转为表语) 8) Mathematics is well taught at that school. 那个学校的数学教得好。(状语转为主语)
9) The ocean was filled with turtles and fish, ready for the net. 海洋里鱼鳖成群,张网可得。(宾语转为主语)
练习:and的翻译。And在以下各例中,and都不宜译作“和”、“与”、“并且”。
1. He did the work, and he did it very well. 2. He read for an hour and went to bed. 3. The sun came out and the grass dried. 4. I went to his house, and he came to mine. 5. He is so rich and lives like a beggar.
6. Rust is abrasive and can cause damage to the injection components. 7. Chemical splashes can cause eye irritation and permanent eye damage. 8. These parts are made of woods or plastics and not metals. 9. This means drying the oil before it enters the system and, to be sensible, ensuring that the air above the oil is dry. 10. One step more, and you are a dead man. 2. 太阳一出,草就干枯了。
3. 我上他家去,而他却到我家来。 4. 他那么有钱,却生活得像个乞丐。 5. 锈具有腐蚀性,所以能损坏喷射元件。
6. 溶液被用来代替系统中的大量过滤器,以期获得最佳去污效果。 7. 化学制品的溅沫会使眼睛发炎,甚至会造成永久性伤害。
8. 他分析了磷对温度的依赖关系,结果做出了磷的含量随温度的增高而下降的结论。
9. 这些零件是用木材或塑料制成的,而不是金属制成的。
10. 这就意味着在润滑油进入系统之前就要将其擦拭干,明智地说,也就是要确保润滑油上面的空气干燥。
11. 再挪一步,(那么)就要你的命。 12. 他干了这件工作,并且干得挺好。
13. 他看了一个钟头的书,然后就睡觉了。
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第七讲 结构调整 顺理成章
VII. 结构调整 顺理成章
考题实例:Additional social stresses may also occur because of the population explosion or problems arising from mass migration
movements-themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport. (2000)
由于人口的猛增或大量人口流动(现代交通工具使这种方式相对容易)造成的种种问题也会对社会造成新压力。 (结构转换 词序调整 )
结构调整是英汉互译中的又一常用翻译技巧。由于英汉不同的造句结构和表达习惯,英语中有些句子的词序、语序在译成汉语时,应加以调整,使其符合汉语的表达习惯。如:iron and steel plant钢铁厂,export and import进出口,track and field田径,popular modern songs现代流行歌曲,look right and left左顾右盼,life and death死活,land and water水陆, fire and water水火,hot and cold冷热,heavy and light轻重,old and new新旧,等等。在必要的情况下有时还要打破原文的句式结构,对译文进行结构调整,才能表达清楚,顺理成章。请看下面一道英译汉的原试题:
And someone with a history of doing more rather than less will go into old age more cognitively 1 2 3
sound than someone who has not had an active mind. 4
而进入老年以后,惯于多动脑筋而不是少动脑筋的人,其认知能力要比从不积极动脑子的2 1 3 4 人 更为健全。 3
句首的And一词承上启下,故译作“而”;doing指的是上文中的to think about things,所以译作“动脑筋”;rather than用以否定其后内容;谓语will go into old age则独立分译出来。原文的1234结构顺序译成汉语之后,变成了2143的顺序。由此可见结构调整在英汉翻译中的重要作用。
II.英译汉结构调整的常用方法技巧 1.顺序法; 即按原文的句子顺序翻译。
1) It was strange that a day of war was a day we stood still. We couldn’t move-that must have been the whole idea-so we had no choice but to watch. 奇怪的是战争的那天我们却原地按兵不动。我们不能动弹—这就是这次战争的整个含意—除了监视敌人,我们别无他法。
2) Rocket research has confirmed a strange fact which had already been suspected: there is a “high-temperature belt” in the atmosphere, with it center roughly thirty miles above the ground.
火箭研究证实了早就怀疑的这样一个奇异的事实:大气层中有一个“高温带”,其中心在距地面约30英里高的地方。
3) In order to survive, to feed, clothe and shelter himself and his