Omission(减词法)

1、Omission(减词译法,减词法),Definition: Opposite to the method of amplification, omission is however not contradictory to it. On the contrary, omission is supplementary to amplification. It means that some words or expressions may be omitted in translation in order to make the version brief, concise, clear,

2、not verbose or clumsy. In English, ellipsis means the omission of a word or words necessary for complete grammatical construction. The native speakers of English usually suppress a great many things in their modes of expressions. It seems that the English language is marked by its love of economy an

3、d simplicity of construction. Ellipsis might be one of the word-saving and economy-saving devices. So what is considered necessary, indispensable, and even a characteristic feature in Chinese language may be deemed useless, superfluous, and even a stumbling block in the English language and thus can

4、 be omitted in translation,(一) Omit some recurring (repetitive ) words in the original,1.这架电视机真是价廉物美. This television set is usually cheap (in price) and fine (in quality). 2. 那个小伙子有点楞头楞脑的. That young fellow is somewhat rash (in the head). 3.在中国,离开了武装斗争,就没有无产阶级的地位,就没有人民的地位，就没有共产党的地位. Without armed s

5、truggle, neither the proletariat, nor the people, nor the Communisit Party would have any standing at all in China. 4.他们为国家做的事,比我们所做的多的多. They have done much more for the state than we have. 5.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 mak

6、e inventions and to make revolutions. 6.你要觉得合适就干, 不合适就不干.你自个看着办吧. Go ahead if you think the job suits you and dont if not. Its all up to you to decide.,7.他们为国家所做的贡献比我们所做的贡献要大的多。 They have done much more contributions for the state than we have。 8。责任制度，条件成熟了的就可以实行，条件不成熟的的不要实行。 The system of job respo

7、nsibility can be adopted where the conditions are ripe, and not otherwise. 9.这是革命的春天，这是人民的春天，这是科学的春天!让我们张开双臂,热烈拥抱这个春天吧. Let us stretch our arms to embrace spring, which is one of the revolution, of the people, and of science.,(二)Omit some category words 有些汉语的抽象词语，有时有其具体含义，有时无具体含义，只用于表明范畴。一般说来，表范畴的词无

8、需译出。比如，完成工作中的工作，有具体含义，必须译出；而“他做了翻译工作”中的“工作”则是表明范畴，不必译出，译出反而不符合英语规范和习惯。汉语中表示范畴的词语主要有“现象、问题、情况、态度，局面、制度，行为“等等。 1。中国足球的落后状态必须改变。 The(state of/condition of) backwardness of the Chinese footaball must be changed. 2。1992年后，一些西方国家失业现象非常严重。 After 1992, there has been serious unemployment in some western cou

9、ntries. 3。我为他对您的粗暴行为表示歉意。 I am sorry for his rudeness towards you. 4。他对我的和蔼态度是无法形容的。 His kindness to me is beyond my power of expression.,更多的加范畴词的例子: fatuity 顽愚状态 allergy 过敏反应 readability 可读性 assimilation 同化现象 alienation 异化现象 transformation 转化现象 indifference 冷漠态度 lightheartedness 轻松愉快的心情 hostility 敌

10、对情绪（行为） antagonism 对抗性，对抗作用 gayety 欢乐气氛 dejection 沮丧情绪 complexity 复杂性（局面）,5.他们的乐观主义精神令我们大为感动。 Their optimism moved us greatly. 6。禁用迷信、暴力手段残害妇女。 Cruel treatment (causing injury or even death) of women by supervision or violence is prohibited. 7。那时他们最渴望的就是结束这摇摆不定的局面。 What they wanted most was an end o

11、f uncertainties. 8。见到自己的故乡,他想起了童年的情景。 The sight of his native place called back his childhood. 9。无数先烈为中国革命事业献出了生命。 Countless martyrs have laid down their lives for the Chinese revolution. 10。师生关系俞好，就俞有利于教学质量的提高。 The closer relations between teachers and students, the more chances for improving teach

12、ing.,11. 这种现象是很好的，是很有教育意义的。 All this is very good and is of great educational value. 12.在解放战争时期. During the war of liberation. 13.讨论的范围涉及中美关系,中苏关系. The discussion covers Sino-US relations, Sino-Soviet relations. 除了范畴词，汉语往往在前面说“例如，后面说“等等”，译成英语时，“等等”是可以不译出。但是，“等“有两种含义，一是列举已尽，是虚的，可以不译出，如例14；二是列举未尽，有实义，

13、要译出，如例15。要区别对待。 14.长江、黄河、黑龙江、珠江等四大河流。 15。我们正在采取措施，逐步加强京包、京广、陇海等主要铁路干线薄弱区段的改造。 14.The four largest rivers-the Changjiang , the Huanghe, The Heilongjiang and the Zhujiang. 15 Measures are being taken gradually to strengthen the transformation of the weak sections along the Beijing-Baotou, Beijing-Guan

14、gzhou, Longhai and other trunk railway lines.,(三)省去内容空洞的词语,所谓省去内容空洞的词语，1）是指一些词语或说法，无论是作者头脑还是在读者心目中，所表示的意思比其他字面上所表示的意义小。如果保留在译文中，会让译文读者费解，或感觉不可信。2）汉语喜欢重复，一是为了强调，表达一个意思后增添修饰语，加强语义；二是为了便于词语的搭配，或平衡节奏，增加可读性。而英语喜欢简洁。在英语读者看来，有些说法无必要，累赘等，可以省略。 1。它带来了社会主义科学文化事业的极大繁荣，极大昌盛。 It has brought about a flourishing s

15、ocialist culture. 2.自此而下，江面宽阔，水流平缓，一叶轻舟，顺流而下，沿江景色，饱览无遗。 Down form here， the river becomes wide and calm. If you take a light skiff down the stream， you will drink in the beauty along the river. 3.市政府正式禁止在公共场合吸烟。 Smoking in public is (officially) prohibited by the city government. 4.在工作中，我们必须避免不必要的错误

16、。 We must avoid making (unnecessary) mistakes in our work.,5.总理在出现在音乐会之前，还有许多事情要做。 The premier had a lot to do before (attending ) the concert. 6.胜利完成 accomlish （victoriously）/ finish (in victory) 7.不切实际的幻想 (impractical) illusion 8.毫无根据的诽谤 (groundless ) slander /defamation 9.彻底粉碎 (thoroughly) smash/

17、 crush 10.他连续讲了两个小时的法语,没有出现任何错误。 She has been talking in French for two hours without (making) any mistakes. 但是英语为了达到某种修辞效果有时也用重复。 1。不要自寻麻烦。 Never trouble yourself with trouble till trouble troubles you。 2。与人同乐才是乐。 The true joy of joys is the joy that joys in the joy of others。,（四)”四字结构”的翻译,汉语多用”四字结

18、构”,其中前后意思多有累赘，翻译时，汉语四字结构都不可能在英译中译得字字齐全。 1。相加式： 骄奢淫逸 Lordly / luxury-loving 比肩接踵 jostle with each other (in a crowd) 2.四字交错 改弦易辙 change ones course 字斟句酌 weigh every word,3。反复交错 貌合神离 be harmonious in appearance 无独有偶 fortunately; it so happened that 4。同义反义交错 左思右想 To think from different angles 走南闯北 To

19、travel a lot,练习,1.迅速改变我国贫穷落后的面貌，是我国各族人民的强烈愿望。 2。十分珍惜每一寸土地，合理利用每一寸土地，应该是我们的国策。 3。它的面积差不多四倍于西班牙的面积。 4.在银幕上，她是一位观众熟悉的演员；在文坛上，她又是一位享有声誉的作家。演员-作家，这两种不同的身份，在她身上融洽得这样恰切，仿佛天生来就应该是这样。许多人想了解这其中的奥秘。（有人说 有人说）这些话也不无几分道理。,练习参考答案,1.迅速改变我国贫穷落后的面貌，是我国各族人民的强烈愿望。 It is the burning desire of all the peoples to end our countrys poverty and backwardness quickly.