文献阅读与翻译P36-53.doc

Translation skills (2): DictionBy “diction” we mean the proper choice of words and phrases in translation on the basis of accurate comprehension of the original.通过用词，我们意味着在准确理解原义基础上的翻译中选择合适的短语和词组。In the practice of translation, what perplexes a translator most is how to find the equivalents in the language to be translated into. Great care is called for in the translation of “familiar” English words into Chinese, as their meanings vary with the change in collocation 排列or context. Take the following simple sentence for example:在翻译的实践中，使译者最为困惑的如何在译文中找到替换词。Tension is building up.Without a given context, both “tension” and “build up” may have various explanations. Thus this simple English sentence can be translated into different Chinese versions:(1) 形式紧张起来。(2) 张力在增大。(3) 电压在增加。(4) 压力在增强。(5) As regards this phenomenon, a noted British philosopher puts it very well: “The meaning of a word is its use in the language.” A noted British linguist puts it even bluntly: “Each word, when used in a new context, is a new word.”In comparison with Chinese, English words are more flexible both in form and in meaning: English words of different parts of speech often assume different forms and the meaning of each word mainly depends on the context. Therefore it is often a hard task for a translator to find the Chinese equivalent of a given English word. Take the word “story” for example：(1) This war is becoming the most important story of this generation.(2) It is quite another story now. (3) Some reporters who were not included in the session broke the story.(4) Hell be very happy if that story holds up.(5) The Rita Haywoth story is one of the saddest.(6) A young man came to Scottis office with a story.Each of the six “story” here manifests its own connotation. In sentence(1)it refers to “event”; (2) “situation”; (3) “inside information”; (4) “statement”; (5) “experience”; (6) “law case.” And therefore, the corresponding Chinese versions are:(1) 这场战争将成为这一代人经历的最重大的事件。(2) 现在的情况完全不同了。(3) 有些没让参加那次会议的记者把内情捅出去了。(4) 如果这一说法当真，那他就太高兴了。(5) 丽泰海华丝的遭遇算是最惨的了。(6) 一个年轻人来到斯科特的办公室报案。Diction in Chinese-English translation is somewhat different from that in English-Chinese. If the crux of the latter lies in picking out the right Chinese word from among those we have known very well, the former then is much more different-we are confronted with an English vocabulary that we are not so familiar with. For example, the Chinese word”书”：(1) 申请书 Letter of Application(2) 报告书 Report(3) 协议书 Agreement(4) 成绩通知书 Grade Report(5) (使用)说明书 Directions(6) 旅行委托书 Booking Form(7) 成交确认书 Sales Confirmation(8) 电视机使用说明书 Television Operation Guide(9) 白皮书 White book(10) 家书 a Letter from HomeApparently, the translation of the same original word varies with the context.1. Correspondence Between English and Chinese at Word LevelFrom the above illustrations, we may come to the realization that in many cases there is no fixed pattern in the practice of translation,nor is there always ready-made equivalents for each word or phrase.Generally speaking,the correspondence between English and Chinese at word level may be categorized as follows:1)Word-for-word CorrespondenceThis is most evidently shown in proper nouns and technical terms.For example:Marxism=马克思主义aspirin=阿司匹林激光=laser白血病=leukemia2）One Word with Multiple Equivalents of the Same MeaningThis is a common case in translation.For example:wife:妻子、爱人、夫人、老婆、老伴、媳妇、堂客、内人.potato:马铃薯、洋芋、土豆、山药蛋.医生:doctor,physician,surgeon,medical man.3)One Word with Multiple Equivalents of Different MeaningThis is also very common in translation.For example:cousin:堂兄、堂弟、堂姐、堂妹、表哥、表弟、表姐、表妹、卿.president:总统、总裁、主席、董事长、议长、委员长、会长、社长、校长.carry:搬、运、送、提、拎、挑、担、抬、背、扛、搂、抱、端、举、夹、捧.羊：sheep,goat,ram,ewe,lamb.猎犬:hound,spaniel,mastiff，pointer，setter，retriever，terrier.4)Equivalents Interwoven with One AnotherIn this case,a certain word may be treated differently according to various circumstances or collocation.For example:say(speak,talk,tell,relate.):说（讲、谈、扯、叙、唠、侃.）拿（取、打、带.）:take(fetch,get,bing.)5)Words Without Corresponding EquivalentsIn this case,an explanation is given instead of an equivalent.For example:teenager:13-19岁的青少年prey:被捕食的动物阴：（in yin Chinese thought）the soft inactive female principle or force in the world阳：（in yang Chinese thought）the strong active male principle or force in the world2. Methods to Discriminate the Original Meaning of an English Word Since English words are prone to various meanings,it is of vital importance for a translator to discern the right meaning of a given word in the context.And the following are the major methods of discriminating the meaning of words.1) Judging from the Word Formation In order to discriminate the original meaning of an English word,it is necessary for us to have a knowledge of English lexicology.English vocabulary consists of a large number of compound words,and many more come from derivation, affixation, blending, acronym, or clipping.If we have a good command of English word-formation,well then be in a better position to discriminate their meaning. For example, the word “parabiospheric”consists of para - (outside) + bio - (biologic) + spheric(having the form of a sphere), therefore, it can be translated as“外生物层的.”Another more complicated instance, pneumonoultramicrosco -picsilicovolcanoconiosis. This extremely long word seems appallingly complicated. However, an anatomic study of its composition enables us to get a clear understanding of its meaning: pneumono - (of lung) + ultra - (beyond) + micro(very small) + scopic - (of viewing or observing) + silico - (of silicon) + volcano + coni- (koni, of dust) + osis (forming the name of a disease). Even if we are not sure of this medical term,we may roughly get the meaning of the long word: a kind of lung disease caused by extremely small silicon particles. And a subsequent consultation of a dictionary leads us to the definite answer: 硅酸盐沉着病，肺尘病（一种矿工易染的病）。2） Judging from the References(1) Referential pronouns, indefinite pronouns such as some, any, each, both; and definite pronouns such as much, many, few, little, etc. For example:He father had sent John to the university and he was eager to have him distinguish himself.他约翰上大学，巴望能让儿子出类拔萃。(2)Demonstrative pronouns, such as this, that, these,t hose, and demonstrative adverbs such as here, there, now, then, etc. For example: Health is above wealth, for this cannot give so much happiness as that. 健康比财富更重要，因为财富不能象健康那样给人以幸福。 (3) References of comparison. For example: I hate blue shirt; white shirt suits me but gray is the most preferable. 我讨厌穿蓝衬衫，喜欢穿白衬衫，而最喜欢穿灰色衬衫。 Without the reference words “father”, “health”, “wealth” and “shirt” in the above three sentence, it would be very difficult to make out the real meaning of such words as “him”, “himself”, “this”, “that” and “the most preferable.”3) Judging from the Context and CollocationThe contextual meaning of the words“tension” and “story” is clear enough as shown in the previous section, and here is another example of context and collocation meaning. Look at “develop” in the following cases.(1) His plane developed engine trouble only seven miles after takeoff. (发生故障)(2) Modern aircraft are so heavy that the wings must develop a very large lift force in order to sustain the aircraft. (产生升力)(3) Inspired by these ideas, in 1752 Franklin developed a practical lightning rod.(发明避雷针)(4) A hypothesis is a specific statement developed by a scientist from observations.(得出结论)(5) Until the domain theory of magnetism was developed, they did not have much success.(提出结论)(6) To develop the capabilities of geophysical prospecting, the renewal of the techniques and equipment is the first thing to be considered.(提高能力)(7) Most of the money came from selling the secret of a new type of potato he had developed. (培育新品种)(8) As young Goddard grew into manhood, he developed tuberculosis.（患上结核病）(9) We must develop all the natural substances in our country which can make us rich.（开发资源）(10) Several attempts have been made through the years to develop the deposit.（开采矿床）(11) In developing a design, the engineer must apply his knowledge of engineering and material science.（进行设计）4）Judging from Different Branches of learning and SpecialtiesFor example, the word “base”: (1) The lathe should be set on a firm base.车床应安装在坚实的底座上。（机械）(2) As we all know, a base reacts with an acid to form a salt.众所周知，碱与酸反应生成盐。（化学）(3) A transistor has three electrodes, the emitter, the base and the collector.晶体管有三个电极， 即发射极，基极和集电极。（电子）(4) Line AB is the base of the triangle ABC.AB线是三角形ABC的底线。（数学）(5) He is on the second base.他在二垒。（体育）3Some Techniques Employed in Translating a Given English Word 1) Deduction Deduction means deducting the original meaning in the light of the explanation given in an English dictionary. For example: Stopout n. (U.S.) a student who interrupts his education to pursue some other activity for a brief period 辍学学生 Community-a social group or class having common interests派（界），界人士 Challenge-to question the lawfulness or rightness of (sth. or . sb.)对表示怀疑，质疑；对提出异议 2）Transplant Transplant means translating without alteration, namely, literal translation of the corresponding parts of an English word. dataphone 数据送话（机） microwave 微波 supermarket 超级市场 splashdown 溅落3) ExtensionExtension means developing the original meaning either from specific to general or from concrete to abstract, and vice versa.bottleneck 瓶颈交通狭口阻塞 (from concrete to abstract)brain trust 脑托拉斯智囊团 (from specific to general)It is more than transient everydayness. 远非一时柴米油盐问题。日常状态油盐柴米 (from abstract to concrete)4) SubstitutionSubstitution means replacing English idioms with Chinese idiomatic ex