商务英语翻译词类转换正说反译和反说正译讲义

1、第七章 英汉翻译中的词类转换法Conversion in English-Chinese Translation词类转换翻译法 由于英汉两种语言的表达方式不同，翻译时就不能用“一个萝卜一个坑“的方法逐词对译。原文中有些词在译文中需要转换词类，才能使译文通顺自然，这种将源语言中属于某种词性的词语翻译成目的语中属于另一种词性的词词语的翻译方法，称词类转换翻译法。转换分词类转译与句型转译。词类转译归纳起来有以下四种：1.其他词转换成动词2.其他词转换成名词3.其他词转换成形容词4.其他词转换成副词1.其他词转换成动词 One of the most remarkable differences be

2、tween English and Chinese syntax is the use of verbs. It is taken for granted that an English sentence contains no more than one predicate verb, while in Chinese it is not unusual to have clusters of verbs in a simple sentence. For example:Families upstairs have to carry pails to the hydrant downsta

3、irs for water. 住在楼上的人家得提着水桶去楼下的水龙头打水。1.1.名词转换成动词1.1.1 由动词派生的名词转译成动词Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe.火箭已被用来探索宇宙。A commonplace criticism of American culture is its excessive preoccupation with material goods and corresponding neglect of the human spirit.人们普遍批评美国文化过于强调

4、对于物质产品的占有而相对地过于忽视人们的精神生活。1.1.2 含有动作意味的名词往往可以转译成动词The sight and sound of our jet planes filled me with special longing.看到我们的喷气式飞机，听到隆隆的机声令我特别神往。 Another example: Accounting includes the design of accounting systems, preparation of financial statements，audition of cost studies, development of forecast

5、s, income tax work, computer applications , and the analysis and interpretation of accounting information as an aid to make business decisions. 会计包括设计会计制度，准备财务报表，审计成本研究报告，开展预测，计算收入所得税，运用计算机，以及分析 和解释有助于做出商业决策的会计信息。 英语中有些加后缀 er 的名词， 如: teacher, thinker等，译成汉语时要翻译成动词。 有些以er结尾的名词有时在句子中并不指身份和职业, 而含有较强的动作意

6、味，往往译成动词。 如：She is a lover of Chinese painting. 她喜爱中国画。I am afraid I cant teach you swimming. I think my little brother is a better teacher than I. 恐怕我不能教你游泳，我弟弟比我教得好。Some of my class-mates are good singers. 我们班的一些同学唱歌唱得好。1.1.4) 作为习语主题的名词往往可以转译成动词。The next news bulletin, shorter than usual, made no

7、mention （没有提及）of the inflation.The teacher showed great concern （非常关心）for the students health.The students had high praise (高度赞扬）of Dr. Kevin although they complained about his strictness. 1.2.介词转译成动词 英语中介词用得很多，其中有些没有动作意义，但有许多介词有动作意义，如： across, past, toward, through等，这些介词在汉译时往往译成动词。如：The judge sat i

8、n the dining room amid (处理）his morning mails.Carlisle Street runs westward(向西延伸）, across （越过）a great black bridge, down （爬下）a hill and up（爬上） again, by （经过）little sloops（单桅船） and meat markets, past （路过）single storied homes, until suddenly it stops against a wide green lawn.（冲着一大片绿色草地中止了。）1.3.形容词转译成动

9、词 英语中表示知觉，情感，欲望等心理状态的形容词，在系动词后面作表语时，往往译成汉语的动词，这些词包括：confident, certain, careful, cautious, angry, sure, ignorant, afraid, doubtful, aware, concerned, glad, delighted, sorry, ashamed, thankful, grateful, anxious, able, etc.For Example：The developed countries are rich in (拥有大量的）skilled work force and

10、capital resources, so they can concentrate on producing many technology-intensive products such as computers, aircrafts and so on.We are especially grateful （特别感谢）to you for arranging the meeting for us with the Machinery Trading Delegation at such short notice.The prospect of earning five thousand

11、dollars a month had stimulated the sporting (adj.冒险性的） and commercial instinct of the villagers.眼看能每月挣到五千美元，村里人人都动了碰碰运气和捞钱的念头。1.4.副词转译成动词As he ran out, he forgot to have his shoes on.(穿上鞋子）The successful fishermen of that day were already in.( 都已回来了。)2. 其他词转换成名词 2.1.动词转译成名词Such materials are charact

12、erized by good insulation and high resistance to wear.这些材料的特点是：绝缘性好，耐磨性强。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。2.2.形容词转译成名词Out of the corner of his eye he could see the landscape. It was industrial and at that hou

13、r, sad.他眼角的余光还能瞥见窗外的景色。这里是工业区，此刻一片萧条景象。 It was a stormy morning, with rain and mist.那天早上有暴风，还夹着雨和雾。More examples:In the fission（裂变） process，the fission fragments are very radioactive.在裂变的过程中， 裂变碎片具有强烈的放射性。Both the compounds are acids, the former is strong, the latter weak.这两种化合物都是酸， 前者是强酸，后者是弱酸。 2.3

14、. 副词转译成名词The supermarket would give everyone 10% off on all cash purchases.那家超市将给每一位用现金购物的顾客10%的优惠( 折扣）。What is the fare to London and back?去伦敦一个来回需要多少钱?3. 其他词转换成形容词3.1.形容词派生的名词转译成形容词Security and warmth of the cabin of a ship were wonderful.船舱很安全也很温暖，好极了。The pallor（ n.苍白，灰白，）of her face indicated cl

15、early how she was feeling at the moment.她苍白的脸色清楚地表明了她那时的情绪。3.2.有些名词加不定冠词作表语时，可以译成形容词。The economic blockade was a failure to Cuba.对古巴的经济封锁很失败。As he is a perfect stranger in the city, I hope you will give him the necessary help.他对这个城市完全陌生，希望你给他必要的帮助。4. 其他词转换成副词4.1.英语名词译成汉语动词时， 修饰该名词的形容词转译成汉语的副词。Warm d

16、iscussion arose on every corner as to his achievements.到处在热烈地讨论他的成就。We took brief, restless naps, struggled to understand the intermittent broadcasting of the radio.我们短短地，不安地睡了几次，竭力想听懂收音机里断断续续的广播。4.2.其他词转换成副词的常见句型Give an accurate/exact answer准确回答Make full use of充分利用Have a clear and unemotional expos

17、ition清楚客观地阐述Place the highest value on高度重视More examples:We tend to like handling clocks and watches of all sorts.我们往往喜欢摆弄各种钟表。 No doubt we have well established channels of distribution and we canvass（检查）the retailers directly, without any middleman.毫无疑问，我们有既定的分销渠道，不经中间人直接审查零售商。I have the honor to i

18、nform you that.( the kindness, the fortune, the pleasure)我很荣幸地通知你（善意，有幸，高兴）To my surprise，he came finally. 我很吃惊他最后来了。To my delight, I passed all the exams.很高兴我都及格了。Assignments: Do the first paragraph of translation exercise on Page 61 of your book. Write the Chinese translation after each English se

19、ntence. Underline the Converted words in both the English and Chinese sentences. Chapter Eight Affirmative vs. Negative 正说反译， 反说正译 英语中含有no, not , never, non-, un-, im-, in-, -less 等成分的词句，汉语中含有“不”、“没”、“无”、“未”、“别”、“休”、“莫”、“非”、“毋”、“勿”等成分的词句，都称为否定说法，简称反说；相反，英汉语中不含这些成分的词句称为肯定说法，简称正说。 英语和汉语中均有从正面或反面来表达一种概

20、念的现象。翻译时，英语里有些从正面表达的词和句子，译文中可从反面来表达；英语里有些从反面表达的词和句子，译文中可从正面来表达。例如： Excuse me . 对不起。（原文从正面表达，译文从反面表达。）“Dont stop working ,” he said. （英语反面表达） 他说，“继续干活吧。” （汉语正面表达）He went into the insecure building. （反面表达） 他走进那所危楼。（正面表达） 他走进那所不安全的大楼。（反面表达） 以上三个句子中，Excuse 和 Dont stop 都是动词，insecure 是形容词，译时分别用反面表达法“对不起”（

21、动词）、正面表达法“继续”（动词）和正、反面表达法“危”和“不安全”（形容词），其词类恰巧都分别与原文相一致。但也应看到，运用这种方法翻译时往往还可能有词类转换的现象，如：He knew he was mortally ill.（副词）他知道他得的是不治之症。形容词）This would cover my absence from the classroom. （名词）这就为我不在教室提供了借口。（动词）Without reasoning one is apt to be beyond control. （介词）没有理智容易变成不受约束。（动词） 从原则上说，英语中的正说最好译成汉语的正说，英

22、语中的反说最好译成汉语的反说，以便更准确地传达原文的意义，但在实践中，两者的正反表达形式有时不能吻合，必须进行正反的转换，即将正说处理成反说，将反说处理成正说。 先谈正说转反说。在英语中，诸如avoid, cease, deny, fail, hate, ignore, miss, overlook, pass, dodge,prevent, stop之类的动词，absence, aversion（厌恶）, failure, refusal之类的名词，absent, far (from), free (from), little 之类的形容词，out, too (to )之类的副词，above

23、, beyond, instead of 之类的介词，before, rather than之类的连接词，都属于“正说类”词汇，但译成汉语时，有时却要“正说反译”。例如： Another person runs to avoid doing anything else, to dodge a decision about how to lead his life or a realization that his life is leading nowhere .(C. Tucker :“Fear of Dearth”) 另一个人跑步则是为了不做别的事，不对如何生活作出决定，不去感受自己生活碌

24、碌无为。They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their astonishment was beyond their expectation( J. Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Ch. 14, V. ) 大家都做好了惊讶的准备，但却没有料到会惊讶到这个地步He had an aversion to yielding so completely to his feelings, choosing rather to absent himself; and eating once in twent

25、y-four hours seemed sufficient sustenance（食物，生计） for him. (E. Bronte: Wuthering Heights, Ch. 20, V. ) 他不愿意完全凭感情用事，因此宁肯自己不来吃饭。看来，二十四小时吃一顿饭，在他是足够了。例1)中的avoid和dodge是两个正说概念的及物动词，都表示“回避”的意思，译成中文都用反说的“不”字来传译。例2)中的beyond是个正说概念的介词，意思为“超出”，译成中文也改成反说的“没有（料到）”。例3)中的名词aversion和动词absent，本来也都是正说概念，译成中文也都改成了反说的“不愿

26、意”和“不来（吃饭）”。 有时候，英文中正说的句子可能处理成正说、反说都可以，但处理成反说可能更自然，更顺畅。请看下面例句： I knew her before I ever met your mother. (R. Zacks: “The Date Father Didnt Keep”)我没遇见你妈妈之前就认识她了。 不少译者一看到before 引导的状语从句，都习惯于译成正说的“在之前”，这样译不是不可以，但是像本例句这样的句子，似乎译作“没之前”更符合汉语的习惯。一、英语从正面表达，译文从反面表达（一）动词 下面三个英语例句都用动词从正面表达，而译成汉语时都从反面表达：1）“when w

27、ill the plane take off?” “If the weather holds a couple of days. ” “什么时候（起飞）？” “要是天气三两天内保持不变，就可以起飞。” 2）The first bombs missed the target. 第一批炸弹没有击中目标。 3）Such a chance denied me. 我没有得到这样一个机会。（二）副词 1) We may safely say so. 我们这样说万无一失（或：错不了） 2) A：The boy is quite clever. B：Exactly 甲：这孩子很聪明。 乙：一点不错（没错）。

28、3）The subversion（颠覆） attempts proved predictably futile. 不出所料，颠覆活动证明毫无效果。（三）形容词1）Hes not stupid, merely ignorant. 他并不愚笨，仅仅是无知而已。2）It would be most disastrous if even a rumor of it were given out. 甚至只要有一点点风声走漏出去，结果就不 堪设想。3）The explanation is pretty thin. 这个解释是相当不充实的。4）His refusal is not final. 他的拒绝不是

29、不可改变的。（四）介词1）This problem is above me. 这个问题我不懂（或：我解决不了）。2）It was beyond his power to sign such a contract. 他无权签订这种合同。3）These planes were held back to protect the home lands instead of being used where they were badly needed. 这些飞机被留在后方保卫本土，未用于其它急需的地方。五）连接词1）The guerrillas would fight to death before

30、they surrendered. 游击队员宁愿战斗到死，而决不投降。2）Hed rather be buried with it (a belt) under a mountain of rock than trust another bank! 他宁可和这条腰带一起埋入石山下，也不愿再去信任一家银行了。3）I will not go unless I hear from him. 如果他不通知我，我就不去。（六）名词This failure was the making of him. 这次不成功是他成功的基础。Within minutes the men came racing in w

31、ith the two jeeps. They were both very excited, so I had to pretend to be calm to prevent my worry from spreading. 几分钟后，那些人乘着两辆吉普回来了。他们都很激动，所以这时我得故作镇静以免我的不安心情绪影响他们。（七）短语The islanders found themselves far from ready to the war. 岛民发现自己远远没有做好作战准备。Both sides thought that the peace proposal was one they

32、could accept with dignity. 双方认为，那和平建议是一个他们可以接受而不失体面的建议。We believe that the younger generation will prove worthy of our trust. 我们相信，年轻一代将不会辜负我们的信任。When Philip missed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do. 菲利普误了最后一班公共汽车，茫然不知该怎么办。And there was much to excite a childs imagination: glimpses o

33、f the pacific Ocean to the west, the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, a “haunted house ” in the nearby foothills to be viewed with awe and approached with caution 这里有许多可以激发孩子想象力的景象：西方朦胧的太平洋海面，北面的圣贝纳迪诺山脉，不远处小山脚下那间令人望而生畏，不敢轻易走近的“凶宅”（八）句子If it worked once, it can work twice.一次得手，再次不愁。He was 75, b

34、ut he carried his years lightly.他七十五岁了，可是并不显老。My guess is as good as yours.我的猜测并不比你的高明。The decision has yet to come.决定还没有做出。二、英语从反面表达，译文从正面表达（一）动词 英语中有些作反面表达的动词在译文中往往可以从正面表达，这并不困难，如demobilize“复员”；unfasten “解开”；displease“使人生气”，等等。1）I rode around with him one day seeing how the ships unloaded. 一天我和他乘车

35、转了转，看看船如何卸货。2）The man jumped over a neighboring garden wall and disappeared among the crowds. 这个家伙从邻居的花园墙头上翻了出去，在人群中消失了。3) The doubt was still unsolved after his repeated explanations. 虽经他一再解释，疑团仍然存在。（二）副词1）He carelessly glanced through the note and got away. 他马马虎虎地看了看那张便条就走了。2) Mary agreed that the

36、 prime Minister had in effect resigned dishonorably. 许多人认为首相辞职实际上是很丢面子的。3）Mr. Rumsfeld said the Soviet Union was unprecedentedly engaged in a missile-building program. 拉姆斯菲尔德说，苏联正以空前的规模推行制造导弹的计划。（三）形容词1）He was an indecisive sort of person and always capricious（反复无常的）. 他这个人优柔寡断，而且总是反复无常。2）All the art

37、icles are untouchable in the museum. 博物馆内一切展品禁止触摸。3）It was an unusual unit, flying an easily identifiable aircraft. 这是一支异乎寻常的部队，乘的是很容易辩认的飞机。4）Hitlers undisguised effort to persecute the Jews met with world-wide condemnation. 希特勒对犹太人露骨的迫害行为受到全世界的谴责。四）名词1）It was said that someone had shown discord（不和）

38、 among them. 据说有人在他们中间搞挑拨离间。2）He manifested a strong dislike for his fathers business. 他对他父亲的生意表示强烈的厌恶情绪。3）I watched with disbelief as a number was put on my right forearm82585. 当一个号码82585刺在我右前臂时，我怀疑地看着。（五）短语1） Dont lose time in posting this letter.赶快把这封信寄出去。2）The examination left no doubt that the

39、patient had died of cancer. 调查结果清清楚楚说明病人死于癌症。3）Students, with no exception, are to hand in their papers this afternoon.今天下午学生统统要交书面作业。（六）句子1）The significance of these incidents wasnt lost on us . 这些事情引起了我们的重视。2）Such flights couldnt long escape notice. 这类飞机迟早会被人发觉的。3）Ashurst saw at once that Phil was

40、 not all right. 艾舍斯特马上看到菲尔出了毛病。 Almost from the first, Strauss had his cloth dyed the distinctive indigo（靛蓝） that gave blue jeans their name, but it was not until the 1870s that he added the copper rivets（铜铆钉） which have long since become a company trademark. (C. Quinn: “The Jeaning of America ”) 几乎

41、从一开始，施特劳斯就把他的布料染成别具一格的靛蓝色，因此便有了蓝色牛仔裤之称。不过，直至19世纪70年代，他才往裤子上加了铜铆钉；长期以来，这铜铆钉也就成了公司的标志。 not until 是反说法，译成汉语变成正说的“直到”。 I believed then that I would die there, and I saw with a terrible clarity the things of the valley below. They were not the less beautiful to me. 这时我觉得我要死在那儿了，而下面山谷里的景致却看得异常清晰。在我看来，这些景致

42、依然那样美丽。 not the less 属于双否定说法，翻译中不必“东施效颦”，也来个双否定，而只要根据汉语的习惯，译成正说的“依然那样”即可。 从实践来看，英语中的正说和反说，在多数情况下，还是译成汉语中相应的正说和反说。所以，对于正反说的转换，切不可随心所欲，为转换而转换，而是要确实出于需要或是出于译文的需要，或是出于增强表达效果的需要，例如： Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general you know they visit no new comers.

43、(J. Austen: Pride and Prejudice) 卢卡斯爵士夫妇打定注意要去，还不就是为了这个缘故，因为你知道，他们通常是不去拜访新搬来的邻居的。 merely on that account 也可以“正”译成“仅仅为了这个缘故”，但似乎显得平淡了一些，而“反”译成“还不就是为了这个缘故”，则能更加充分地表达出说话人的急切心态。1.Affirmative in English, but Negative in ChineseIm at my wits end to keep this child quiet. 要让这个孩子安静下来，我已经无计可施。 The mother said she would let her son off washing the dishes if he could finish his assig