译言译语：翻译中的省略法.doc

译言译语：翻译中的省略法首先请试译下列句子：1. It is snowing.2. Dr John resumed his experiment as soon as he came into the laboratory.3. We took this opportunity to inform you that we are now in a position to make a prompt shipment of the merchandise.1. It is snowing.译文一：它正在下雪。（）译文二：下雪了/在下雪。分析：译文一字字对应译出，貌似“忠实”，但完全不合汉语表达习惯，实是错误译法。2. Dr Johnresumedhis experiment as soon as he came into the laboratory.译文一：约翰博士一到实验室，他就继续做实验。（）译文二：约翰博士一到实验室就继续做实验。分析：译文一将主从句的主语都译出，貌似“忠实”，但产生歧义，可能让人以为“他”和”约翰博士”是两个人。3. We took this opportunity to inform you that we are now in a position to make a prompt shipment of themerchandise.译文一：我们借此机会告知你们现在我们可以立即装运那批货物。译文二：兹奉告，该商品可即期装运。（简洁明确，公文惯例）分析：译文二省却了 “take this opportunity”和“in a position”等词语，还省译了三个人称代词，使译文更加符合汉语涉外文书的行文习惯。省略法（omission)，也叫减省译法，是指在翻译中，原文中有些词在译文中可以省略，不必翻译出来。因为译文中虽然没有这个词，但是已经具有了原文这个词所表达的意思，或者这个词在译文中的意义是不言而喻的。省略的目的在于使译文更加通顺流畅，更符合译文习惯。但需要注意的是，省略并不是把原文的某些思想内容删去，省略不能改变原文的意义。现从语法角度举例探讨省略法：（一）省代词1省略作主语的人称代词根据汉语习惯，前句出现一个主语，后句如仍为同一主语，就不必重复出现。英语中通常每句都有主语，因此人称代词作主语往往多次出现，这种人称代词汉译时常常可以省略。（1）省略作主语的人称代词I had many wonderful ideas, but I only put a few into practice.我有很多美妙的想法，但是只把少数付诸实践了。He was thin andhaggardand he looked miserable.他瘦弱憔悴，看上去一副可怜相。（2）英语中，泛指人称代词作主语时，即使是作第一个主语，在汉语译文中往往也可以省略。We live and learn.活到老，学到老。When will he arrive?-You can never tell.他什么时候到？-说不准。The significance of a man is not in what he attained but rather in what he longs to attain.人生的意义不在于已经获取的，而在于渴望得到什么样的东西。2省略作宾语的代词英语中有些作宾语的代词，不管前面是否提到过，翻译时往往可以省略。The more he tried to hide his mistakes, the more he revealed them.他越是想要掩盖他的错误，就越是容易暴露。Please take off the old picture and throw it away.请把那张旧画取下来扔掉。3省略物主代词英语句子中的物主代词出现的频率相当高。一个句子往往会出现好几个物主代词，如果将每个物主代词都翻译出来，那么汉语译文就显得非常罗嗦。所以在没有其他人称的物主代词出现的情况下，在翻译时物主代词大多被省略。I put my hand into my pocket.我把手放进口袋。She listened to me with her rounded eyes.她睁大双眼，听我说话。4. 省略反身代词How does atoms arrange themselves in a solid?原子在固体中是如何排列的？We should concern ourselves here only with the structure ofatoms.这里我们只论述原子的结构。Frictionmanifestsitself as a force that opposes motion.磨擦表现为阻碍运动的力。Although pure science usually has no apparent connection with technology, it does lend itself to the development of applied science.理论科学虽然通常与技术没有明显的联系，但确实有助于应用科学的发展。（二）代词it的省略it起着代词的作用，在译文中，当它被用作非人称或没有意义的时候，往往可以省略。Outside it was pitch dark and it was raining cats and dogs.外面一团漆黑，大雨倾盆。He glanced at his watch; it was 7:15.他一看表，是七点一刻了。It took me a long time to reach the hospital.我花了很长时间才到了医院。It is the people who are really powerful.人民才是最强大的。（三）省略连接词汉语词语之间连接词用得不多，其上下逻辑关系常常是暗含的，由词语的次序来表示。英语则不然，连接词用得比较多。因此，英译汉时在很多情况下可不必把连接词译出来。He looked gloomy and troubled.他看上去有些忧愁不安。（省略并列连接词）As it is late, you had better go home.时间不早了，你最好回家去吧。（省略表示原因的连接词）If winter comes, can spring be far behind?冬天来了，春天还会远吗？（省略表示条件的连接词）If I had known it, I would not have joined in to.