Translation-skills

About The Translation汉语：竹竿型，主题述说，意合英语：葡萄型，主谓结构，形合 意合（parataxis）:不借助语言形式手段而借助词语或句子所含意义的逻辑联系来实现词语或句子的连接形合（hypotaxis）:借助语言形式手段（包括词汇手段和形态手段）来实现词语或桔子的连接一、The Conversion of Sentence Structure in C-E1、 Subject(主语)：the major task of converting sentence structure in C-E translation is to find the subject.（汉语只要能达意，有没有主语，主语的位置如何并不重要。）我们那时候不知道说些什么，只记得闰土很高兴，说是上城之后，见了许多没见过的东西。I dont know what we talked of them, but I remembered that Runtu was in high spirits, saying that since he had come to town he had seen many things.老师不来，我们能解决不了问题。We cant make any decision on it without the teacher.2、 Predicate Verb (主要动词)：More than one verb in Chinese sentence, only one major verb in English. While others appearing with preposition or in participle(分词) and clause form(从句).作为学生，每天不外乎看书、上课、做题、As a student, you do nothing more than reading, attending lectures and doing homework.他给我发了短信，请我到他老家去玩。He tested me, inviting me to visit his hometown.天下着大雪，他还在校园里散步。He is even taking a walk on campus in spite of the heavy snow.3、 Conform to Habit in English（符合英文习惯）:他歌唱得好，毛笔字写的不错。He is a good singer and excellent writer.他酷爱古典音乐。He is an ardent lover of classic music.4、 Compression And Adjustment(压缩和调整):他来到华盛顿，就国际形势来说，时机正合适。He arrived in Washington at a ripe moment internationally.2、 Translation From Chinese to English1、 Subordination（分清主从)汉语中各分句比较松散，所以动笔前认真分析句子要旨所在，句中重点往往在后。英译时，要突出重点或主句，其他部分可分别用介词短语、非谓语动词形式或各种从句表示。没有农业，人们就不能生存，社会生产就不能继续下去。Without agriculture, people cannot exist, neither can social production proceed.有人以为社会主义就了不起，一点缺点也没有，哪有这个事？Some believe that socialism is just perfect, without a single flaw. How can that be true?但是，像我们常说的那样，道路总是曲折的，前途总是光明的。But as we have often said, while the road ahead is tortuous, the future is bright.2、 Diction(选词用字)汉译英时，注意找与原文在意义上和风味上尽可能都类似的的词语。每个民族都有它的长处，不然它为什么能存在？为什么能发展？Every nation has its own strong points. If not, how can it survive? How can it progress?论技术，她那时还不如我，但思想却比我高得多。Professionally she was then not yet my equal, but ideologically she was head and shoulders above me.3、 Amplification(增译)交出翻译之前，必须读几遍，看看有没有要修改的地方。这样才能把工作做好。Before handing in your translation, you have to read it over and over again and see if there anything in it to be corrected or improved. Only then can you do your work well. (英语行文时人称代词、物主代词用得较多)他们一听说有新任务，就坐不住了。When they learnt that theyd been given a new task, they just couldnt sit still any longer.(增加notany longer表示“不再”)会用就不了得，不会用就一文不值。It works wonders when you know how to use it, but when you dont it is not worth a single penny.(增加连词与代词)3、 Omission（删减法）汉语不怕重复，英语中有相同的词语常可省略，行文较简练。汉语中出于行文需要而没有实意的一些词语在英译时也要省略。我们要培养分析问题、解决问题的能力。We must cultivate the ability to analyze and solve problems.(只用一个problems)我已提前完成了任务，他也提前完成了。Ive fulfilled my assigned work ahead of schedule, so has he.中国人民历来是勇于探索，勇于创造，勇于革命的。The people of China have always been courageous enough to probe into things, to make inventions and to make revolution.(一个courageous enough)5、 Conversion(转换)汉语中的某些词类在英译时常常要根据英语的句式转换成英语的另一类词，更符合英语的惯用法。不仅如此，有时整个句式也要转换。一定要少说空话，多做工作。There must be less empty talk and more hard work.（动词转成名词）警察把那个孩子的胳膊抓得更紧了，叫嚷道：“学规矩点！”Tightening his hold on the boys arm, the policeman yelled, “Learn some respect!”(句子的前部分转成分词结构)语言这个东西不是随便可以学好的，非下苦功夫不可。The mastery of language is not easy and requires painstaking effort.(句式不同但意思完全相同)6、 Inversion（词序调整）:入乡随俗，每种语言都有自己的自然顺序。我们上星期天在她家尽情地吃了一顿。我们从来没有看见过这样光明的前途。Never have we seen so bright a future before us.(Never句首，倒装)荷花虽好，也要绿叶扶持。With all its beauty the lotus needs the green of its leaves to set it off.(With的特殊用法，表让步，句首)7、Negation(正说反译、反说正译)英汉两种语言都有自己约定俗成的正反说法。英语中有些词汇本身就有否定的意思，要善于利用，如：failwithoutbeyonduntilunlessinstead of等）我认为他不对。他昨天没有露面。I dont think he is correct. He failed to turn up yesterday.证据确凿，毋庸置疑。The evidence is conclusive, excluding all possibilities of doubt.那件事没有减弱我们的决心，反倒增强了我们的决心。That served to strengthen instead of weaken our determination.8、 Division（长句拆译）:保持原文风格，适当断句。我们的一般企业很少注意经济效果，广泛存在着劳动无定员，生产无定额，质量无检查，成本无核算的现象，在人力、物力、财力上造成很多浪费。Our enterprises in general pay little attention to economic results, since usually the number of workers needed for a job is not fixed, production quota is not fixed, the quality of products is not checked and cost accounting is not earnestly practiced. All this has incurred a big waste of manpower, material resources and money.(因为原长句结尾处是表判断带有总结性的分句，所以在这里断句译较好)人民的觉悟是不容易的，要去掉人民头脑中的错误思想，需要我们做很多切切实实的工作。The political awakening of the people is not easy. It requires much earnest effort on our part to rid their minds of wrong ideas.(原句中包含着从一般到细节的过渡，断句分译才使译文更有条理)3、 Restructuring in E-C Translation1、 Keep The Original Sequence保持原文结构语序，只对个别措辞进行必要的调整。Laid out in the early 15th century, the Forbidden City unfolds powerfully in courtyard, as if the power of the emperor himself could never quite be reached.早在15世纪初，紫禁城就形成了现在的格局：重重庭院错落有致，气势显赫，犹如皇帝的龙威，可望而不可及。In order to survive, to feed, clothe and shelter himself and his children, man is engaged in a constant struggle with nature.为了生存，为了自己和子孙后代的衣食住行，人类和大自然不断进行斗争。2、 Reversing the original sequence颠倒原文顺序，将句首内容安排到句尾，句尾内容放在句首。即所谓的逆序法。He was dumb-founded at her insistence that he explain where every cent of his allowance had gone.她非要他讲他津贴中的每一分钱都到哪去了，这弄得他哑口无言。That our environment has very little to do with our abilities, character and behavior is central to this theory.该理论的核心是，我们的环境同我们的才能、性格特征和行为的关系甚微。3、 According to Time Sequence不考虑原文语序，按事件发生的时间先后顺序安排译文结构。汉语的表达方式一般按时间顺序或逻辑顺序展开。He had to quit the position and went into exile, having been deprived of his power.他被剥夺了权力之后，只好离职，流落他乡。As was cleared up some time later, news came from a distance that an earthquake was felt the very day the little copper ball fell.过了一些时候，从远方传来了消息：小铜球坠落的当天，确实发生了地震。这一切终于得到了澄清。4、 According to Logical Sequence不考虑原文语序，在准确理解原文的基础上抛开原文的框架结构，根据句子前后的逻辑关系和汉语习惯表达法重组译文。With the fear of largely imaginary plots against his leadership, his self-confidence seemed totally to desert him.由于害怕有人阴谋推翻他的领导，他似乎完全丧失了自信。但所谓的阴谋在很大程度上是他自己假象出来的。He cannot be operated upon as he is very weak.他身体很弱不能动手术。Many more visitors than it can comfortably accommodate poured into it, off chartered motorboats and off yachts; all day they ambled up the tow path, looking for what?游客太多了，这小地方接待不过来。搭班船的、坐包船的、架游艇的，一批批涌到，从早到晚，络绎不绝，漫步爬上纤路。他们想看什么呢？5、Complement(补充说明)：用汉字说明抽象概念时，如不加具体说明，造成句子不完整。All the people were exasperated by his irresponsibility .大家都被他那种不负责人的做法激怒了。No one is satisfied with his favoritism in his work.His arrogance(傲慢) sent him into isolation and helplessness.Her indifference kept many friends away from her.四、Translation From English to Chinese 1、 增译法(1)增动词We dont regret, we never have and never will.我们不会后悔，我们从来没有后悔过，我们将来也不会后悔。(2)增形容词或副词With what enthusiasm the Chinese people are building socialism!中国人名以多么高的热情建设社会主义啊！The crowd melted away.人群渐渐散开。She lingered long over his letter.她反反复复地回味着他的来信。(3)增名词First you borrow, then you beg.头一遭借钱，下一遭就讨饭。Mary washed for a living after her husband dies of cancer.玛丽的丈夫死于癌症后，她靠洗衣服维生。2、 省译法(1)省略代词He liked to go to dances and parties, where he could have a good time just sitting and watching.他喜欢参加舞会和聚会，就是坐在一旁观看，也很开心。Every afternoon when I came on duty as the evening nurse, I would walk the halls of the nursing home, pausing at each door to chat and observe.作为晚间护士，每天下午我执勤的时候，都要走过养老院的过道，在每个门口停下来看一看，聊一聊。(2) 省略连词He looked gloomy and troubled.(并列)他看上去有些忧愁不安We know winter vocation was coming asbecause we had seen the big stone in the river.(表原因)我们看到了河里的大石头，就知道寒假要来了。If winter comes, can spring be far behind?(表条件)冬天来了，春天还会远吗？When it is dark in the east, it is light in the west; when things are dark in the south there is still light in the north.东方不亮西方亮，黑了南方有北方。（3） 省略前置词（介词）出现在句首时，大都可省；出现在句尾时，大都不省。The Peoples Republic of China was founded in 1949.一九九四年，中华人民共和国成立。中华人民共和国成立是在一九四九年。In July, 1956, Egypt had seized the Suez Canal.一九五六年，埃及占领苏伊士运河。埃及占领苏伊士运河是在一九五六年。（4） 省略冠词A book is useful.书（是）有用（的）。The earth goes around the sun.地球围绕太阳转。（省略表独一无二事物的冠词“the”）A teacher should have patient in his work.当教员的应该有耐心。（省略表类别的不定冠词“a”）【有些场合，冠词不能省，如不定冠词“aan”表数量“一”时，定冠词“the”表“这个”“那个”时】3、 Negation（正说反译、反说正译法）-Are you not going tomorrow?-No, Im not going.(是的，我不去)（1） Some idiomatic expressionsRiot police防暴警察Crisis law反危机法案Spy film反谍影片原译:You must have a tiring journey.改译：Do you have a good journey?After you, sir.先生，您先请。路上辛苦了Keep in lane.不准换线。Keep off the law.请勿践踏草地。（正说反译）I couldnt agree more with you.我完全同意你的看法。Just make yourself at home.不客气。别见外。He was the last man to say such things.他绝不会说这样的话。（2） Negation-Affirmation(否定-肯定)Isnt it funny!真逗！We expected to meet an older man.没想到你这么年轻。Thats a thing that might happen to any man.这种事情谁也难说。His speech leaves much to be desired.他的讲话不如人意。Appearance are decepting.外貌是靠不住的。4、 Repetition（重复法）（1) 重复名词We have to analyze and solve problem.我们必须分析问题，解决问题。（重复作宾语的名词）John is your friend as much as he is mine.约翰是你的朋友，也是我的朋友。（重复作表语的名词）This has been our position(立场)-but not theirs.（重复作表语的名词）I have fulfilled my assigned work ahead of schedule, so has he.我已经提前完成了交给我的工作，他也提前完成了交给他的工作。（重复英语中省略的名词，“强调”）Ignorance is the mother of fears as well as of admiration.（重复英语中省略的名词，“强调”）But we still have defects, and very big ones.但是我们还是有缺点的，而且还有很大的缺点。A large family has its difficulties.大（家庭）有大（家庭）的难处。(2) 重复动词Is he a friend or an enemy?他是个朋友呢？还是个仇人？For a good ten minutes, he cursed me and my brother.足足有十分钟之久，他既骂我，又骂我兄弟。What are they after? They are after name, after position, and they want to cut small fingers.(3) 重复代词Jesse opened his eyes. They were filled with tears.(They=eyes)He hated failure, he had conquered it in his own life, wised above it and despised it in others.Happy family also have their own troubles.Each country has its own custom.Whoever violates the disciplines should be criticized.(强调关系代词或关系副词)谁犯了纪律，谁就该受批评。Some have entered college and others have gone to the countryside.有的上大学了，有的下乡了。（4) 重复形容词We want such materials as can bear high temperature and pressure.耐高温又耐高压的材料Everybody appreciates polite words and manners.They are loyal to the motherland and the people.(5) 为了生动而重复（英译汉，叠字或四字对偶。）They had been too much publicity about his love affairs.他的风流韵事已经是满城风雨、人尽皆知了。I have met with great difficulty in learning organic chemistry.在学有机化学这门课程的时候，我碰到了重重困难。5、 The Change of The Voice(语态变换法）（1） 把被动语态译成汉语被动句The company was enjoined from using false advertising.这家商号被禁止使用虚假广告。All around, the hill were black with oil, and some were hidden by gas and drifting oil spray.四周，由于蒙上了一层油，山峦是黑色的，有的山峦则被天然气和在空中飘洒的喷油遮住了。（2）把被动语态译成汉语主动句Poets are born, but orators are mode.诗人是天生的，而演说家则是后天造就的。Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.沙滩上的足迹是走出来的。（喻：不身体力行不足以成事。）In his late thirties, he was almost knocked down in his despondency of the unsuccessful career.近四十岁时，由于事业上的挫折，他几乎为失意所毁。（3） 把被动语态译成汉语无主句Power would be gotten if there were money to get it with.有了钱，就会以钱谋权。If water is heated, the molecules move more quickly.水如受热，水分子就运动得更快。It is generally accepted that 一般认为，大家公认It is alleged that 据称It is asserted that 有人断言，主张It is believed that 人们认为，据信（4） The Shift of Perspective(视觉转换)Good winner, good looser.胜不骄，败不馁。在美国，人人都能买到枪。In the United States, everyon