正确理解文意的途径.docx

正确理解文意的途径揣测词义 阅读和翻译不可缺少的技能 2009-05-05 14:56在阅读和翻译中常常遇到一些短语，尤其是动词加介词或介词加名词组成的短语，单个词都认识，合在一起则令非母语者难解其意，不能总是查词典，况且有些短语在一般的词典中找不到，这就要求我们具备一种揣测词义的技能。所谓揣测绝非凭空想象，也并非望文生义，而是依照与之搭配的词推理得出的。例如：“We said we didnt want to hurt the children. Im not walking out on them, Im not talking about selling this house over their heads. 句1的意思明晰易懂，为后两句提供上下文背景。句2中 walk out on 所表示的意思并非显现在字面上，须借助已知部分的意思通过推理求得：walk out 走出去罢工/放弃（工作） walk out on (children) 在孩子们身上罢工抛弃孩子。句3中 over their heads 是难点，可参照所说明的词 talk 推导出其意义：”谈.问题，超过他们的头脑“ 他们不理解。 再如， Ria sat down and held on to the table very tightly.句中 held on 的意义不鲜明，可根据前后相关的词 sat down, to the table, 尤其是 tightly 推导出：莉娅坐下来，紧挨近桌子。比较，.I do have to hold on to my dollars for when the kids come out. 此句与 hold on to 搭配的是 dollars, 据此推断出词义：我不得不慎用（躬身折服）；dance your ass off所指的是一种旨在减肥的舞蹈，可译为，“销臀舞”或者“折步”舞（扭屁股舞折步=折腰步=走路摆动腰肢）；freezermy ass offhere,没有上下文依据，可视为夸张说法，不妨译为“这里能把我的屁股冻掉”。 语篇分析有助于理解文意一篇好文章，结构严整，一脉相承 ，前后衔接 ，形成一个统一体。文章的连贯性，不单句句衔接，而且段段相连。这种衔接可借助语义手段，语用手段和词汇手段，等等，有时语篇分析有助于理解文意。文意有的明晰，有的隐晦。写文章要考虑结构安排，读文章则要分析语篇结构，借助语篇分析加深理解文意。奥巴马首次胜选演说文稿翻译出现许多错误，有的则是因为没有考虑语篇结构，没顾及前后连贯。下面以该演讲为例分析段落间的联系。供英语爱好者参考。 1.There is anyone doubts that America is a place where all things are possible tonight is your answer.2. Its the answer told . that difference.3 .Its the answer spoken.we are the United States of America4. Its the answer that led those whocynical, fearful, doubtfulthe hope of the better day. 5. Its been long time coming.change has come to America6I receivedcall from McCain. 7. McCain fought long 8. I congratulate him.renew this nations promise 9. I want to thank my partner.10. And I would not be standing here without.Michelle Obama. 11.my grandmother 12. To my sister 13.to my campaign manager 14. to my chief strategist 15. to the best campaign team16. But above allthis victory belongs to you.17.Our campaign was built by 18. It grew strength from.19. It grew strength from. 20. This is your victory.21. You did itthe enormity of the task.two wars . a planet in perilfinancial crisis22. how theyll make the mortgage or pay23. Theres new energynew jobnew schools.threatsalliances24. The road will be long.we will as a people get there.25.There will be setbacks with you remaking this nation. .the only wayits been done in America for 221 years26.What began 21 months agoThis victory only the chance to makethat change .cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. 27. It cant happen without you, without a new spirit28 .Let us rememberfinancial crisis taught usas one nation as one people 29. Lets remember the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.30. Those are values that we all share.to heel the divides.31. As Lincon said32. And to those Americans whose support I have yet not to earn I need your help.33. And to all those watchingfrom beyond our shoresour stories are singular but our destiny is shared. who seek peace we support you. 34 To those who would tear the world down-we will defeat you. who have wondered we provedthe true strength from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity (将讥讽恐惧怀疑之类的人列在海外人士之中，证明是指外国人。)35. Thats the genius of America: that America can change. (句中 that 1指代前段结尾 的短语 the enduring powerthat 2为连词，表示结果，所以应译为：那正是美国，的精神，所以美国能够变革。如果改为 Its the true genius of America that America can change. 则不与前句衔接，句意也随着改变：美国能够变革是美国的天赋/精髓.） 36. This election had many firsts and many storiesabout a woman 37. Shes born 38. And tonight I think about all that shes seenAmerican creed: Yes we can. 39womans voice were silenced speak outYes we can. 40.When there was despair in the dustYes we can. 41. When the bombs fell on our harborYes we can. 42. She was there for the buses .We shall Overcome. Yes we can. 43.A man touched down on the moon 44. And this year she knows how America can change. Yes we can. 45.we have seen so much.But there is so much more to do 46 This is our time ,to put our people back to work respond with the timeless creed: Yes we can. 以上阿拉伯数字表示自然段，罗马数字表示意义段。今日历史性变革证明 在美国一切皆有可能； 称赞竞选对手，愿携手重振国家的希望； 感谢竞选 团队和家人； 胜利属于人民大众； 面临困难重重，（选我是让我解决问题） 以美国传统方式克服困难； 团结一致，以自信、个人自由和国家统一的精神 重建国家； 对于外国人，则分别对待； 回顾历史变革，验证我们能做到； 畅想未来有信心：我们能做到。翻译时应力求显示原文风格，尽量做到句句衔接， 段段相连（参见美国国务院编译局的译文）。上述分析难免有误，仅供参考，望批评指正。 翻译策略与措施 发现一本小说，成语、俗语和比喻用的特别多，还有一些我们不易理解的表达形式，为了深刻理解便着手翻译，同时探索翻译的技巧。 1. 借鉴汉语古文言简意赅之所长，善用汉语精湛的表达形式四字短语： 在正确理解原文之后，不顾及句法结构，重新组句，因为，除了主语，其余皆是对其描述，不管谓语、定语还是状语。例如： 1）One might have been the reflection of the other both so blond and slim, vigorous, fast-moving, built to a rakish style 一个人可能是另一人的映像，两人都是金发碧眼，身材苗条，精力旺盛，行动敏捷，风格潇洒 2) he permitted his mind to range in odd direction, And over women. 他任凭头脑漫游，奇思怪想，还权衡女人。 3）I am crazed by her moist beauty. 她的润美丽质使我着迷。 4）Clara, of the unrelenting blondness, her high cheeckboned face always turned into wind. She was so serene, so reserved, suggestive of depth unplumbed. 克拉拉，金发碧眼，冷面无情，颧骨髙突迎风。她如此沉静，如此保守，内意深遂莫测。5） a young woman so thin of body and starved of spirit it was shameful. 一个年轻的女子，身体如此纤弱，无精打采，羞愧与人。6）She did it often and well. 她常如此而善于此。7）Finally he began to rise, like a snake uncurling. 最后，他起身，如蛇展卷挺立。2，直译加注释： 直译方能反映其文化和习俗，加注明确其含义而易于理解。例如： 1) Cazimir was miles younger than Ludmilla. 卡兹米尔比柳德米拉年轻得多，可比喻为相差数英里之遥。 2) He would try to come to terms with the concept of blank, cold nothingness.他要尽力回到与空白冷清虚无概念有关的术语所表示的那种境况。 3）Clara chuckled to herself, beginning to withdraw already toward her private self. 克拉拉自我咯咯地笑，开始回归自我，恢复原来的样子。 4）Clara was in one of her dark furies.克拉拉处于她的黑暗女神之一的状态，一时盛怒3.以虚代实，简单明了。例如： 1）Clara turned over and flicked off her light. 克拉拉转过身来，容光闪烁。 Into the darkness, she asked 突然，黯然失色，她问道(用突然表示面色变换)4. 名词短语转为动词短语。例如： 1） He accepted what she said as not a personal putdown. 他同意她所说的不是贬低人。 2) His eyes flew open, in dull sock. 他眼睛突然睁开，惊呆了。3） She had anything left inside her with which to be sick. 她体内存留致病之物。5. 据其意推导出词：例如： 1） She was generosity itself她是慷慨的化身。（人成为慷慨本身 = 化身） 2) and try to forgive her retroactively. 尽量原谅她，既往不咎。（逆向而行=追溯；追溯以往而原谅=既往不咎） 3）“And everybody,” Clara put in sardonically “而且，人人 ”克拉拉带有讽刺意味地插嘴说（put in 放入，把什么放入？把话放入=插嘴说，插话） 4）Had she put Martha up to this? 莫非她把玛莎推上前说这话？ 5）Ah, yes, Richlands was a paradise on Earth. Or hell. It all depended where you were standing. 啊，是的，里奇兰德（富地）是地上的天堂。或者是地狱。这完全决定于你的立场。（所站的位置=立场） 6）Cazimir was there before him, crouched on the fluffy white carpet and holding in twitching fingers a white-framed picture 卡兹米尔先他至此，蹲在毛绒绒的白地毯上，手握一幅镶白框的画（卷曲手指而持=握）（待续） 新视角，新解释 漫谈英语非限定动词主谓关系短语 问题的起因是近日网上有人求解下面的句子： People would love to be able to support that guy. His job, in a way, is to let them, in part by not being just another operative, plaything, or grievance-monger of the left-liberal establishment and left-liberal thinking. By standing, in fact, for real change. (人们会乐意，能支持那个家伙。他的工作，一方面是要让人们支持，在一定程度上，所依靠的，他不只是左翼自由主义机构和左翼自由主义思想的另一个操作者、所玩弄者，或兜售不满情绪的人，而实际上靠的是提倡现实改革。) 句中by后的非限定动词短语，实质是未出现行为主体的主谓关系短语，比较： His job is to let them support him by the way that he is not just another operativebut he stands for real change. 非限定动词短语相当于句子的这种用法，在各种文体的文章中均屡见不鲜，如小说中：1.Barney hates anyone knowing his business. (巴尔尼嫌恶任何人知道（打听）他的事业。) 比较 He hates it when anyone knows his business.2. They heard him urging her from time to time. (他们听说，他时而怂恿她。) 比较 They heard that he often urges her.3. Could you imagine us working in that school, bringing up that little tinkers baby.（你能想象到我们在那样的学校里工作、抚养那小修铁匠的孩子的情形。） 比较 Could you imagine how are we working in that school4. Well, do you see me getting married? （那么，你发觉我已婚了？） 比较 Well, do you see that I got married?5. She considered the money well spent. （她考虑钱要花的得当/要好好花钱。） 比较 She considered that she should spend the money well. / the money should be well spent.6. Imagine his family being held up to anyone as an example of domestic bliss! (可想而知，他的家庭展示给大家的是家庭无上幸福的典范。) 比较 Imagine what is his family held up to anyone as an example 按照英语传统语法，此种情况属于分词短语用作宾语补足语。要正确理解和翻译，仅知道是补足语还不够，必须进一步了解分词与宾语之间的逻辑关系。作为宾语的名词或代词与作为补足语的现在分词之间系潜在的主体与行为的关系，相当于主谓关系。如果是过去分词，与宾语的关系则是行为与客体的关系，相当于动宾关系，或则说被动主谓关系。这两种情况，不必细分宾语和补足语，不妨视为主谓结构或主谓关系短语作宾语，汉语语法称为复合宾语，通过句型转换，两相比较看得一清二楚。 如果分词短语独自作宾语，前无名词或代词，其行为主体或者逻辑主语与句子的主语同一。例如 7. He hated being in the office and loved being out with clients. (他不愿呆在办公室，爱陪同顾客出去。) 8. He said he didnt remember picking up the chair. (他说，他不记得拎起了椅子。) 介词后的分词短语，语法上分别有两种解释，现在分词为动名词，其行为主体用物主代词表示，过去分词则视为作介词补语的补语，其实性质和上述一样，只不过行为主体可用物主代词表示，也完全可以看作是主谓短语，只不过用介词表示与相关词语的关系而已。这样理解便于翻译。例如9. I dislike him / his driving my car. (我不愿意他开我的车。)10. We look forward to you / your becoming our neighbour. (我们期望你们成为我们的邻居。)12. She heard her sister and brother-in-law make no mention at all of anything being a waste of money. (她听说，她的姐姐和姐夫完全不提什么东西是浪费钱的。)13. Ria thought about telling him what the fortune-teller had said about her having a businessof her own one day. (瑞雅想要告诉他，算命先生说过，总有一天她会有自己的企业的。) 14. Anyway, theres nothing wrong with my hoping that friendships will continue into the next generation. (无论如何，我希望 我们的友谊将传续到下一代，这是不会错的。) 15. She was right about my being pregnant. I went to the doctor next day. (她说的对，我怀孕了。我明天去看医生。) 16. She didnt know her mother was sitting there with the letter telling her that her working life was over. (她不知道，她母亲正拿着那封信坐在那儿，信中告诉她，她的打工生活已经结束。) 17. If you saw that little hussy up at the school, with her stomach stuck out in front of her, and now it appears that her mother doesnt want to bring it up, so theres more drama. (你要是看见在学校那小家伙挺着肚子沉默不语，显然是她母亲不想抚养了，那简直是一场戏。) 18.Oh, please dont make a joke about it, its a nightmare. Ive never been so upset. I could tell you, not with all this going on. ( 哦，请别拿它开玩笑，那是一场恶梦。我从来没这样心烦意乱过，我可以告诉你，完全不会让这继续下去的。) 如果分词省略，只有名词或代词+形容词或名词，那便成为无动词主谓结构或短语，其间可加上being, 如19. Never had she seen her so happy. (她从未见过她如此高兴。)20. She felt that he found her attractive. (她感觉到，他发觉她有魅力。)21. She thought that he found the world too harsh and unloving a place(她认为他感到这世界太苛刻，是不招人爱的地方)22. You should keep the cabbage fresh. (你应该保持大头菜新鲜。)23. The secretary left all the letters unopened. (秘书留存所有信件均未开封。) 有些动词要连带动词不定式短语，有时动词不定式和分词均可用，但所表示的意思不同，如24. She wants me to be friends with these awful people(她想让我跟那些可怕地人做朋友。)25. Jack prefer his wife to drive the truck. (杰克宁愿他妻子开大货车。)26. I hate the children to quarrel. (or without TO) (我讨厌孩子吵架。)27. They dont like the house to be left empty. (我不愿意让房子空闲。) 比较 They dont like the house (being) empty.28 its hard for me to talk about this with you. (要我跟你谈论这个，那可太不易了。) 以上简要说明由非限定动词组成的主谓短语和由名词与形容词或名词组成的主谓短语从属于动词或与介词连用的情况，如果独立为句，就是所谓独立主格，若无行为主体，则是主题句或述题句,如：29. His brothers were in London, both of them. One married, one living with a girl. They didnt come home much. ( 他的两个哥哥在伦敦。一个已经结婚，一个和女朋友住在一起。他们不常回家。)30 He had been about to leave the office when she arrived, Pretty as a picture but definitely slurring her words. He didnt need a conversation with her now(他刚要离开办公室，她就来了。貌美如画，一定没留心听她讲话。此时此刻，他不必和她交谈。)（参阅语篇分析） 13/4 2009学英语修身养性2011-07-08 15:02学英语修身养性 (Self-cultivation with Learning English)Insperrational Sentences（激励格言）:Faith can move mountains.信心足以移山。Friendshipis to people what sunshine is to flowers. (友谊之于人如同阳光之于花草。)人需要友谊如同花草需要阳光。There will always be sunshine after the rain.雨后总会有阳光出