汉译英主语的确定.doc

Determining the Subject of a Sentence汉译英的一个关键步骤是考虑译文的整个句子怎么摆放，如何构建译文句子的总体框架，主要确定那拿什么作为英语主语。汉英句法结构有相似性，即传统语法认为汉英句子总统框架相同，都属于主动宾（SOV），但同时也存在着许多差异。英语是一种注重主语的语言（subject-prominent language）,而汉语则是注重主题的语言(topic-prominent language)。具体地说，汉语经常采用主题述题（topiccomment）的句式，主语的句法功能弱，有时还不容易识别；英语主语的句法功能强，几乎都采用主语谓语（subjectpredicate）的句式，主语是整个句子最关键的成份。就英语而言，主语一旦选定，句子总体框架大致就确立了。e.g.这件事你不用操心。（通顺）This you dont need to worry about. ()You dont need to worry about this. ()This is not something you need to worry about. ( )It is unnecessary for you to worry about this. ( ) (汉语没有对应结构)There is no need for you to worry about this. ( ) （汉语没有对应结构）汉语是主题显著的语言，其句法特征是意合，这一特征往往使句子中的指代关系（尤其是主语）在形式上不明显（有时主语不清）。而英语是主语显著的语言，它所突出的是主语，除省略句外，每个英语句子都必须有主语。再者，由于英语句法特征是形合，这一特征要求英语句子各成分之间的关系要明晰，以免句子结构混乱，影响意义传达。因此，译者必须善于认准和确定原文句子中不明显、被省略或未说明的主语，并在译文中妥贴地表现出来。I. Rules for determining the subject of a sentence：1、必须符合英语语言习惯和英美等国的文化习俗；2、必须符合英美人的思维方式；3、必须是句中应该突出的信息；4、必须符合句中的逻辑关系；5、在篇章翻译中，必须符合上下文行文的需要。1. 主语必须符合英语的语言习惯和英美等国的文化习俗热烈欢迎世界各地客商来此进一步加强合作，建立和发展贸易关系。Customers from various countries and regions are warmly welcome to establish and develop business contacts.希望今后上海能够与更多的外国城市结为友好城市。It is hoped / anticipated that shanghai will establish friendly relations with more foreign cities in the future.“it is+过去分词+that从句”的结构。主句中的主语“it”是形式主语，真正的主语是后面的从句。当然也可以将“it is+过去分词+that从句”看作是一种常用句式。类似的有：It is / was + suggested / said / reported / believed / well-known / considered / accepted / expected / etc. + that 从句2. 主语必须符合英美等西方人的思维方式中国人有“天人合一”的观点，强调人与自然的浑然一体，因而汉语句子习惯以人作主语。英美人则较强调客观，因而英语句子主语常以物或抽象观念做主语。这反映了讲汉语的中国人与讲英语的英美人等西方人思维方式上的差异。汉译英时，所确定的主语是否恰当，必须考虑译文是否符合西方人的思维方式。例如：在历史上，由于长江不断改道在武汉地区形成了众多的湖泊。The constant change of the course of the Changjiang River in history helped form a great many lakes in the areas around Wuhan.她从来没想到他是个不诚实的人。It never occurred to her that he was a dishonest man. (强调客观事实“他是个不诚实的人”)She has never thought that he is a dishonest man.（强调主观印象）众所周知，中国在1980年成功地发射了第一颗洲际导弹。As is known to all, 1980 saw the successful launching of Chinas first intercontinental guided missile.如：这个运动首先在北京兴起。Beijing first saw the rise of the movement.在南京城发生过许多重大的历史事件。Nanjing witnessed many great historic events.下倾盆大雨了。It is raining cats and dogs.如：“几点了？”“七点了”（What time is it? Its seven oclock.）（汉文化是人文文化，西方文化是科学文化）3. 主语必须时句中应该突出的部分句子由主谓构成。主语是谓语陈述的对象，是一个句子中值得突出的信息。并非所有汉语的主语都能被转换成译文句子的主语。通常，应该选取一个句子中应该突出的被阐述的对象作为主语。如：到去年年底，我部已同有关省市签订了100余艘中小船舶的建造合同和协议。By the end of last year, contracts and agreements were signed with some provinces and cities for the construction of more than 100 medium-and-small-sized vessels.长飞公司严格执行自上而下的一条线管理和自下而上的一条线汇报制度，确保了公司高效率快节奏的运转。The strict management and report system have been carefully enforced, which ensures Changfei Corporation to run efficiently.4. 主语必须符合句中的逻辑关系英语句子一般要有主语并且以动词为核心，主语和谓语之间有许多制约关系，汉语则不是这样。汉语的六种主语：1）、名词性主语2）、动词性主语，如：“走行，不走也行。”3）、表时间处所和条件的词语4）、介词引出动作者作主语，如：“由主席召集会议。”5）、别的介词短语6）、主谓主语英语主语：1) 名词 2）主格人称代词 3）具有名词性质。我们武汉还在吸引外资企业进行老企业改造、房地产开发等方面制定了一系列优惠政策。We have also formulated a series of preferential policies to absorb foreign capitals in such fields as technical renovation of old enterprises, and real estate development.5. 主语必须符合上下文行文的需汉语篇章中的主语主要是通过原词复现、照应和省略的方式起着衔接篇章的作用。而英语的主语则往往避免重复原词而更多地使用照应和替代的方式来衔接上下文。因此汉译英时，应根据上下文确定主语。（略）II. Ways of subject determining：一般地说，无论汉语原句是典型的主题述题结构还是与英语类似的主动宾结构，假如直接把原文的主题或主语取作译文的主语后，译文显得生硬，句子结构不平衡，或者与上下文在语气上不连贯，那么就要设法把原文其他成分，也许是名词、形容词、副词或动词，取作译文的主语。在此过程中，我们必须考虑到汉英语言的各种差异，如英语里面以事物作主语的句子比汉语里面更常见，用名词结构表示动作也比汉语要普遍等。依此规律来选择译文主语，就能使译文更加地道，更符合英语的习惯表达。选择英译文主语的几种方式：1. 原文的形容词性成分取作译文主语汉语里的形容词性成分经常以“的”结尾，在句子中很容易识别。多数情况下，取为译文主语的形容词成分往往修饰原文的主语或者主题，但也有例外。这位母亲很为有个聪明漂亮的女儿而骄傲。The mother is very proud to have an intelligent and pretty daughter. （仍依照原文结构）The intelligence and beauty of the daughter makes her mother very proud.(正是“聪明漂亮”这两个特点“使母亲感到骄傲”)懒惰的人不会成功。A lazy person will never succeed. (依照原文结构)Laziness makes it impossible for one to succeed. （懒惰）Laziness makes success impossible. （懒惰，省略人）我的头疼得要命。My head aches badly.My head is killing me.I have a terrible headache.I have a splitting headache.I have a migraine. 2. 原文的名词性成分取为译文的主语：在原文中起名词作用的任何词语都有可能被选择为译文的主语。多数情况下，它们在原文中充当主语或宾语。一个星期前我遇上了一件最不可思议的事情。I had the most incredible experience a week ago.I had the most inconceivable encounter a week ago.The most unbelievable thing happened to me a week ago.一个企业的前途怎样，在很大程度上要看它的经营管理人员，尤其是市场管理人员的素质。(主题述题)析：从主题“一个企业的前途怎样”中选取关键词“前途”作为主语，表达为“前途取决于”(the future depends on); 或者从述题中选取关键词“素质”作为主语，表达为“素质决定了” （the quality determines）The future success of an enterprise depends heavily upon its managing executives, especially those with marketing responsibilities.The quality of the management, especially of the marketing executives, largely determines he future of an enterprise.The quality of managing executives, especially those with marketing responsibilities, goes a long way in determining the future of an enterprise.3. 原文的副词性成分取为译文主语：把原文副词性成分取为译文主语时，需要我们抓住该副词性成分的主要或关键内容，把它用英语的名词或名词词组表达出来。因为天气太糟，我们未能成行。Because of poor weather, we did not go.Bad weather prevented us from going. Bad weather caused us to cancel (postpone) our trip.在刚刚结束的中国八运会上，辽宁女子田径队有出色的表现。The Liaoning womens track and field team put on an excellent performance at Chinas just-completed Eighth National Games.Chinas just-completed Eighth National Games saw the outstanding performance by the womens track and field team from Liaoning. 英语表示某个时间或者地点发生了某事，经常可以用时间或者地点作为句子主语，以see, witness,或者find 等作谓语动词。如：Last year witnessed a serious financial crisis in many countries of this region.去年该地区许多国家发生了严重的金融危机。4. 原文的动词性成分取为译文的主语与汉语相比，英语更经常用名词结构来描写动作，所以把动词转化成名词是汉译英的惯用法。昨天他们表演得很成功。They performed very successfully yesterday.Their performance yesterday was very successful.如“昨天他们表演很成功，引起了媒体的广泛关注”，这种译法就更为明显：their highly successful performance yesterday has attracted wide media attention.)必须特别强调我国某些高级政府官员贪污腐败的严重性。We must put great emphasis on the seriousness of corruption and embezzlement among some high-ranking officials in China.Special emphasis must be placed (put) on the gravity of corruption and graft among some high officials in China.The seriousness of corruption and embezzlement among some high officials in China must be specially emphasized. (头重脚轻)航空公司在最后一刻取消了航班，旅行团被迫改变行程。As the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, the travel group had no choice but to change its itinerary.(因果关系，采用副词性从句)The airline canceled the flight at the last minute, so the travel group had no choice but to change its itinerary.The airline canceled the flight at the last minute, which compelled the travel group to change its itinerary.(前半部分迫使旅行团改变行程，后半部分处理为非限制性的形容词从句。)The last-minute cancellation of the flight by the airline compelled the travel group to change its itinerary. (把原句前半部分转化为名词词组，把其中的动词“取消”转化为名词形式cancellation, 作为译文句子的主语。)5. 添加主语（分两种情况）：一是原文可视为无主句，翻译时把原文隐含的主语作为译文主语，二是原文有主语，但译文的主语在字面上并不对应于原文中任何词语，而是根据整个句子的含义酌情添加的，如“你不该大叫大嚷”There is no occasion to scream and yell.广告既可能吸引也可能排斥顾客。Advertising can either attract or repel customers.Customers may be attracted or repelled by advertising.The power of advertising is such that it can repel as well as attract customers.(添加)不怕一万，只怕万一。1）Though it is unlikely that anything unpleasant will happen, youd better take precautions.(添加泛指的you作主语，但显得冗长)2）You can never be too careful. 3）It is always wise to play safe. (2）3）都为意思相同，但形式相差，较长的习惯表达法，属于整体翻译技巧。)我公司根本不需要像他这样无知狂妄的人。our company has absolutely no use for an ignorant and presumptuous man like him.Someone as shallow and conceited as him is the last person our company wants.Shallow and conceited, he is the last person our company wants.The last thing our company needs is someone as ignorant and self-important as him.III. Paraphrase the two mini-essays:No.9 滑溜与攀登No. 6 Coping with CrisisIV. Assignments：1. Prepare the mini-essay: No.11出走/No.7 How to Avoid Foolish Opinions?2. Bilingual reading: Education a Means to an end (彭长江p196) 3. Read the Skills of Translation (英汉互译中对主语的处理)（英语笔译实务p152-154）4. Translate the two short passages5. Translate the following sentences:1、成功者与失败者的区别就在于成功者坚持不懈，失败者半途而废。（选择原文形容词成分作译文主语）2、今年年底将落实机构改革方案，把政府工作人员的人数减少一半。（选择原文名词成分作为译文主语）3、每到元宵节晚上，这条街总是张灯结彩，热闹非凡。（选择原文副词成分作为译文主语）4、我们只要仔细探询一下，就会发现这一宏伟规划漏洞百出。（选择原文动词成分作为译文主语）5、只有发生奇迹才能挽救公司倒闭的命运。 （添加主语 ）6、中国自七十年代末实行改革开放政策以来，服务行业平均每年以10.9的幅度增长。 （至少给出三种不同的选择主语的方法）Keys：1选择原文形容词成分作译文主语：成功者与失败者的区别就在于成功者坚持不懈，失败者半途而废。A successful person differs from an unsuccessful one in that the former perseveres (continues striving) whereas the latter gives up halfway. The difference between a successful is that the successful person goes on whereas the unsuccessful one gives up.在我国传统社会，商人和手工艺人的社会地位历来不如读书人和农民。In China, merchants and artisans were traditionally assigned a lower social status than either scholars or peasants.In traditional Chinese society, merchants and artisans were inferior to scholars and peasants in social status.2选择原文名词成分作为译文主语：今年年底将落实机构改革方案，把政府工作人员的人数减少一半。 An institutional restructuring plan involving a 50% reduction in the number of government functionaries will be put in place at the end of the year.3选择原文副词成分作为译文主语：1) 在该国十个主要城市里，通货膨胀的势头越来越猛。a. Inflation in ten major cities of this country gained momentum.b. The countrys top ten cities saw (experienced) the gathering momentum of inflation.每到元宵节晚上，这条街总是张灯结彩，热闹非凡。The night of the lantern festival always finds this street decorated with lanterns and festoons and bustling with noise and excitement.4选择原文动词成分作为译文主语：我们只要仔