中译英常见惯用法错误例析

1、中译英常见惯用法错误例析一、Choosy的惯用法错误甚至连我老婆都说， 自从积攒外币着魔以后， 连吃饭都不再 挑嘴了。英语世界 8/2014 ，p.114 ，所给的译文如下：Even my old wife cannot help praising me that I have no longer been choosy with food after I reclaimed my hobby of collecting foreign coins.原译文中形容词 choosy 后跟 with ，不符合英语的表达习 惯， be choosy 后要跟介词 about 搭配使用。例如：1.I m

2、very choosy abo ut my clothes. 我对自己的衣着很 讲究。2.Shes very choosy about what airline she travels on. 她对旅行时乘哪家航空公司的航班非常挑剔。3. Europeans are getting choosier about what they eat. 欧洲人对食品越来越挑剔了。另外，在 fussy ，picky ， selective ， fastidious及particular 后，都可跟 about 搭配连用。例如：1.She was always very fussy about her clo

3、thes.她对自菲尔并不十己的衣服总是十分挑剔。2. Phil s not picky about his appearance.分关注自己的外表3. People are becoming more and more selective about what foods they buy. 人们对买什么样的食品变得越来越爱精挑 细选了。4. He is very fastidious about how a suitcase should be packed. 他对如何打点行装要求很严格。5. Marty s very particular about his food.马蒂对食物很讲究。因

4、此，原译文宜改为： Even my old wife cannot help praising me for the fact that I have no longer been choosy about food since I reclaimed myhobby of collecting foreign coins. 原译文中除了 choosy with 用得不妥外，动词 praise 处 的句型也有问题，根据英语的表达习惯， praise 后一般不可跟 that- 从句，常见的句型是： praise sth. ， praise sb. 及 praise sb.for sth. 。此外

5、，原译文中的连词 after 也应改为 since ， after 不跟现在完成时连用，而 since 则可以。二、Clue 的惯用法错误 由此看来，贴年画的风俗在宋代已经初露端倪。英语世界 3/2014 ，p.114 ，所给的译文如下：This is a suggestive clue of the NewYear picture custom in the making during the Song Dynasty.根据英语的表达习惯， clue 后不跟介词 of ，要跟 to 或 about ， 有时也可跟 as to 。例如：1.Unexplained weight loss may

6、 be an early clue to a health problem. 不明原因的体重减轻可能是早期健康问题的迹 象。2.The police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer. 警方认为那盘录像带可 能录有能确认凶手身份的一些重要线索。3.Scientists examine fossils for clues about how dinosaurs lived and died.科学家们研究恐龙化石寻找恐龙如何生活和死亡的线索。4. This research mig

7、ht provide an important clueabouthow cancer develops. 这项研究可能为癌症如何发展提供一个重 要的线索。5. Childhood experiences may provide a clue as to why some adults develop eating disorders.童年经历可能提供线索，为什么有些成年人会饮食失调。因此，原译文宜改为： This is a suggestive clue to（或about 或 as to ） the New Year picture custom in the making during

8、the Song Dynasty.三、Find 的惯用法错误 绝大部分在国内已无从得见。英语世界 8/2014 ，p.107 ，所给的译文如下：Most of them are not anywhere to find in China today. 原译文有误， 根据英语的表达习惯， how 不可同 think of/about 搭配连用，要改为 what。例如：1. What did you think of the film？你觉得这部电影怎么样？2. What do you think of his wife/my new hairstyle？你对他的妻子 / 我的新发型怎么看？3.I

9、 still do not know what he really thinks about it. 我还不知道他对此的看法。4.What do you think about this latest governmentscheme?你觉得政府的这个最新计划怎么样？但是，how和what都可同feel about搭配连用，意思同what 和 think of/about 搭配用法相仿。例如：1. How do you feel about all these changes in the curriculum ？ 你觉得课程中的所有这些变化怎么样？2. The survey asked what people felt about abortion. 调查征求人们对堕胎的看法。因此，原译文宜改为： They are everything they seem.But deep in their hearts what do they think of their future？也可改为： They are everything they seem.But deep in their hearts how do they feel