第八节反译法
由于讲英语国家的历史、地理、社会文化背景和生活习性与我国不同，因此这些国家人们的思维方式和生活习性亦与我国不同。这种差别体现在语言习惯七，便产生了两种语言各自不同的表达形式。在表示否定意义时，这种差异显得尤为突出。有的英语句子形式上是否定的而实质上是肯定的，有的形式上是肯定的而实质上是否定的。在翻译某些英文句子时，应当特别注意两点：一是英语里有些从正面表达的词语或句子，汉译时可以从反面来表达，即正说反译法；二是英语里有些从反面表达的词语或句子，汉译时可从正面来表达，即反说正译法。例如：
(1)The kind of machine is far from being complicated．
这种机器一点也不复杂。
这个句子如果译成“这种机器离复杂甚远”就使人感到不知所云。
(2)He wrote three books in the first two years，a record never reached before．
他头两年写了3本书，打破了以往的记录。
原文从反面表达，译文从正面表达。如译成“这是他从前从未达到的记录”则显得很别扭。
(3)I have read your articles，but，expect to meet an older woman．
我读过你的文章，但没料到你这样年轻。
本句如译成“我读过你文章，但我料想会见到一个年纪更大的女人”则不符合汉语表达习惯。
从以上例中可以看出，有些句子从正面译不顺，不妨从反面译；反面译不顺，则不妨从正面译，因为同一个概念，一个民族正着说，以为是合乎表达习惯的，而另一个民族则认为反着说才顺口。因此，在恰当的场合灵活运用反译法不失为确保译文语义明晰、文从字顺的有效手段。
一、正说反译法
英语中有些否定概念是通过含有否定意义或近似否定意义的词来表达的。一些语言学家称这些词为“含蓄否定词”，另一些语言学家则称之为“暗指否定词”。英语中的含蓄否定词或含蓄否定短语一般都要译成汉语的否定词组。
(一)名词
(1、Shortness of time has required the omission of some countries．
由于时间不够，没能访问某些国家。
(2)All international disputes should be settled through negotiations and avoidance
of any armed conflicts．
一切国际争端应通过谈判，而不是武装冲突来解决。
(3 1 There was complete absence of information on t11e oil deposit in that country．
关于该国的石油储量情况，人们毫无所知。
(4)Politeness is not always the sign of wisdom，but the want of it always leaves
room for．the suspicion of folly．
尽管有礼貌并不一定标志着此人有智慧，但是无礼貌却总是使人怀疑其
愚蠢。
(5)A lack of awareness of cultural differences or local customs Can create
problems．
不注意文化差异或当地风俗可能会产生问题。
作为名词用的含蓄否定词还有：defiance(不顾，无视)，denial(否认，否
定)，exclusion(排除)，freedom(不，免除)，refusal(不愿，不允许)和loss(失去)等。
(二)动词或动词短语
(1) Scientists reject authority as an ultimate basis for truth·
科学家不承认权威是真理的最终根据。
(2)Water is a good lubricant, if you can devise a way to keep it from leaking out or evaporating.
如果能设法使水不漏出来或蒸发掉，那么水就是一种很好的润滑剂。
(3)English differ from French in having no gender for nouns.
英语和法语不同，英语名词没有性的变化。
(4)To preserve the fiction，he refrained from scolding his son until the guests left.
为了不漏破绽，他强忍着不责骂自己的儿子，直到客人们离去。
(5)An investment in the money market fund has tied up the money until the end
of the term of the investment．
投资于货币市场的资金在投资期满之前是不能动用的。
类似的动词还有refuse(不愿，不肯，无法)，lack(缺乏，没有)，defy(不
服从，不遵守，不让)，forbid(不许)，stop(不准)和ignore(不理，不肯考虑)等。
(三)形容词或形容词短语
(1)My younger brother would be the last man to say such things．
我弟弟决不可能说这种话。
(2)They were watching the fluid situation with concern．
他们关切地注视着动荡不安的局面。
(3)It is said that it is only a marginal agreement．
据说．那只不过是一个无关宏旨的协议。
(4)These official documents shall form an integral part of this contract．
这些正式文件是合同不可分割的组成部分。
(5)These elements are shielded SO that they are free from the influence of
magnetic field．
这些元件已加屏蔽，因此不受磁场的影响。
类似的形容词及其短语还有：absent(不在，不到)，awkward(不熟练，不
灵活，使用起来不方便)，bad(令人不愉快的，不受欢迎的，不舒服的)，blind
(看不到，不注意)，dead(无生命的，无感觉的，不毛的)，difficult(不容易
的)，：foreign to(不适合的，与……无关)，short of(不够)和poor(不好的，不幸的)等。
(四)介词或介词词组
(1)That kind of thing is very extraordinary. It seems against nature.
不过那种事情很不寻常，似乎不符合自然规律。
(2)These planes were held back to protect our home inlands instead of being used
where they were badly needed．
这些飞机被留在后方保卫后方本岛，未用于其他急需的地方。
(3)It was beyond your power to sign such a contract．
你无权签订这种合同。
(4)It is generally believed that the men who are habitually behind time are as
habitually behind success．
人们普遍相信，习惯不准时的人通常也不会成功。
(5)Only one of us has ever gone to live in the village and he was back in town
within five months．
我们中只有一个人真正在乡村生活过，不过这个人待了不到5个月就返回了城里。
(五)副词
(1)Slowly the old man pulled the letter out of the envelope，and unfolded it．
这位老人不慌不忙地从信封里抽出信纸，然后打了开来。
(2)The officers and soldiers blazed away until they had no ammunition left．
官兵们连续不断地射击，直到用尽所有的子弹。
(3)The subversion attempts of the enemy proved predictably futile．
不出所料，敌人的颠覆活动证明毫无效果。
(4)Time is what we want most，but what many use worst·
时间是我们最缺少的，但许多人却最不善于利用时间。
(5)So far，experts have had about the same degree of success as stock—market
forecasters，which is to say they do badly．
到目前为止，汇率预测专家的成功率与股票市场上的预测者大体一样，
这就是说他们做得不好。
(六)连接词及其短语
(1)He is too careful not to have noticed it．
他那么小心，不会不注意到这一点的。
(2)Unless English team improves their game，they are going to lose the match.
如果英格兰队不改进打法，就会榆掉这场比赛。
(3)The old lady would rather be buried with her money under a mountain of rock
than trust another bank．
老太太宁可和她的钱一起被葬入石山下，也不再相信任何一家银行了。
(4)Until he spoke I had not realized he was foreign．
他要是不说话，我还一直不知道他是外国人。
(七)某些固定短语
(1)The restaurant was anything but satisfactory．
这家餐馆太不让人满意了。
(2)Both sides thought that the peace proposal was one they could accept with
dignity．
双方认为，那个和平建议他们可以接受，而又不失体面。
(3)1 was at a loss to understand what she alluded to．
我无法领会她谈话中的所指。
(4)The escaped criminal is still at large．
逃犯仍未捉拿归案。
(5)The islanders in this small country found themselves far from ready to fight the war．
这个小国的岛民们发现自己远远没有做好作战准备。
(6)There are many energy sources in store．The problem has been to use the
energy at a reasonable cost．
有许多能源尚未开发。问题在于要以一个合理的代价利用这些能源。
(八)句子
(1)Let me watch you at it again．
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再让我逮着，可饶不了你。
(2)If it worked once，it Can work twice．
一次得手，再次不愁。
(3)It’S human nature to want something better．
人总是不满足于现状。
(4)We are wiser than to believe such stories．
我们还不至于蠢到竟然相信这种谎言。
(5)Her grandfather is already 80，but he carries his years lightly
她祖父已80岁了，可是并不显老。
(九)某些含有否定意义的谚语和警句
英语中有些谚语和警句翻成汉语时，也可采用正说反译法，尽可能用简练的
汉语或相应的汉语成语来表达。例如：
(1)Seeing is believing．
百闻不如一见。
(2)Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven．
宁为鸡头，不为牛后。
(3)Let sleeping dog lie．
莫惹事生非。
(4)Bite off more than one Can chew·
贪多嚼不烂。
(5)Call a spade a spade．
直言不讳。
(6)A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。
二、反说正译法
反说正译法指的是将英语中有些与not等否定词连用的词语或带有否定词缀
的词语译成汉语的肯定形式。这样做有时是为了将原文中某些否定形式所具有的
肯定含义清楚地表达出来；在另外一些时候也许是为了将译文组织得更加自然流
畅。当然，也常常可能两种目的兼而有之。
(一)名词
(1)It was said that someone had sown discord among us.
据说有人在我们中间挑拨离间。
(2)The dishonesty of the government officials was exposed by the newspaper.
政府官员们的欺诈行为在报纸上披露了出来。
(3)A look of disbelief replaced the smile on her face．
怀疑的神色取代了她脸上的微笑。
(4)He manifested a strong dislike for his mother’s job．
他对他母亲的工作表示出强烈的厌恶情绪。
(5)These slums ale a disgrace to the city government.
这些贫民窟是市政府的耻辱。
(6)They were puzzled by the sudden disappearance of their guide.
他们向导的突然失踪使他们感到困惑不解。
(7)There has been serious disagreement between the two countries over this
question．
关于这个问题两个国家之间存在着严重分歧。
(二)动词
(1)T}le employer could dismiss any employee who had ever displeased him·
雇主可以解雇任何曾得罪过他的雇员。
(2)How he longed to unsay his tactless words!
他多么希望收回他那些不得体的话啊!
(3)The mother gently disengaged her hand from that of her sleeping daughter·
母亲小心翼翼地从熟睡的女儿手里抽出自己的手。
(4)We are now unprovided with the techniques necessary for the manufactoring of
rags into paper．
我们目前缺乏用破布造纸所需的技术。
(5)The thief jumped over a neighboring garden wail and disappeared among the crowds．
这个小偷从邻居的花园墙头上翻了出去，在人群中消失了。
(三)形容词
(1)This kind of bird is unusual winter visitors to America.
这种鸟冬季很少到美国来。
(2)It was inconsiderate of her to mention the matter in his hearing.
她实在轻率，竞当着他的面谈论此事。
(3)All the articles are untouchable in the museum.
博物馆内一切展品禁止触摸。
(4)APEC will have to be non-discriminatory and it will have to seek to be open
rather than closed in its approach．
亚太经济合作组织必须一视同仁，而且态度上必须是开放的，而不是封闭的。
(5)Peter was an indecisive sort of person and could not be a good leader.
彼得这人优柔寡断，当不了好领导。
(四)副词
(1)The show was，unfortunately，one of the dullest we have ever seen.
可惜的是，这次演出是我们所看过的最乏味的演出。
(2)She carelessly glanced through the note and got away.
她马马虎虎地看了看那张便条就走了。
(3)All things invariably divide into two．
事物都是一分为二的。
(4)“I don't know if I ought to have come，”he said breathlessly，grasping Sandy’s arm．
“我不知道我该不该来”，他气喘吁吁地说，一把抓住了桑迪的胳膊。
(5)Johnson believed that the Minister of Education had in fact dishonorably
resigned from office．
约翰逊认为该教育部长辞职实际上是很丢面子的。
(五)短语
(1)His escape was nothing short of being miraculous·
他的脱险可以说是个奇迹。
(2)The examination left no doubt that the patient had died of lung cancer.
调查结果清清楚楚地说明，人死于肺癌。
(3) It would be foolish，not to say mad，to sell your house.
你要卖房子真蠢，简直是疯了。
(4)There is nothing like mineral water to quench one’s thirst．
矿泉水是解渴的最好饮料。
(5)She meant to help，no doubt，but in fact she has been a hindrance．
她的的确确是想帮忙的，可实际上却成了累赘。
(6)The enemy’s spies were not going to lose sight of us．
敌人的密探一直在监视我们的行踪。
(7)A11 men between 18 and 45 without exception are expected to serve in the
army during the War．
所有18岁至45岁的男子统统要在战时服役。
(六)句子
(1)For many years there was no closeness between the two countries．
两国关系曾疏远了很多年。
(2)The significance of these incidents wasn’t lost on us．
这些事件引起了我们的注意。
(3)The United Nations Organization has not，so far，justified the hopes which the people of the world set on it．
到目前为止，联合国辜负了世界人民寄予的希望。
(4)A book may be compared to your neighbor；if it be good，it cannot last too
long；if bad，you cannot get rid of it too early．
书好比邻居，如果是本好书，相伴得越久越好；如果是本坏书，越早摆脱掉越好。
(5)Knowledge about the most powerful computers man has ever developed is too
valuable not to share．
人类已经开发出功率极大的计算机，这方面的知识极为宝贵，应为人类共享。
三、英语中的双重否定旬
英语中的双重否定句，除了有时可以译成汉语的双重否定句外，一般说来应
译成肯定句。不过，它是一种特殊的强调句式。以have to(不得不)为例，两个
“不”字去掉以后意思不变，但语气强度就差多了。例如：
(1)There is no evil without compensation．
恶有恶报。
(2)There is not any advantage without disadvantage．
有一利必有一弊。
(3)There is no grammatical rule than has no exception．
条条语法规则都有例外。(也可译为“世上没有不例外的语法规则”。)
(4)It never rains but pours．
不雨则已．雨必倾盆。
(5)The charging of a condenser from a battery is not unlike the filling of a tank
from all oil reservoir．
电池给电容器充电就像油罐给油箱加油一样。
(6)We can’t be too careful in doing this kind of experiment．
我们在做这类实验时应尽可能小心。(也可译为“我们在做这类试验时
无论怎样小心也不过分”。)
(7)I 8nl not reluctant to accept your proposal．
我非常愿意接受你的建议。(也可译为“你的建议我并非不愿接受”。)
当然，有的英语双重否定句译为汉语的双重否定句更为通顺。
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(1)There is no story without coincidence．
无巧不成书。
(2)The significance of this report and importance Can never be overemphasized．
这个报告的意义和重要性，不管怎样强调，也不算过分。
四、委婉式肯定
英语中的这种句子是一种迂回的表示肯定的方式，字面上看似否定，实际上
是委婉的肯定。例如：
(1)I couldn’t feel better·
我感觉好极了。
(2)He can’t see you quickly enough-
他很想尽快和你见面。
(3)I couldn’t agree with you more-
我太赞成你的看法了。
f41 He didn’t half like the girl-
他非常喜欢那姑娘。
五、否定的陷阱
英语中的一些否定结构如果按字面意义理解很容易出错，这些结构我们称之
为“否定的陷阱”。下面就是一些有代表性的结构。
(一)cannot…too(怎么……也不)
(1)You cannot be too careful in proofreading.
校对时，越仔细越好。
(2)We shall never be able to stress too much for his kindness.
不管我们怎么感谢他，都不足以报恩于万一。
(3)The importance of this conference cannot be overestimated
这次大会的重要性无论怎么强调也不过分。
(二)not…because(并非因为……而)
(1)Don’t scamp your work because you are pressed for time．
不要因为时间紧而敷衍搪塞。
(2)This project is not placed last because it is difficult to be put into practice
此方案并非因为它不好实施而被放在最后。
(3)The engine didn’t stop because the fuel was finished．
发动机并不是因为燃料耗尽而停止运转的。
(三)for all…(尽管……，不，说不定)
(1)You may leave at once for all I care．
你尽可立即离去，我才不管呢。
(2)For all we knew，the files we were supposed to fetch were already on
their way．
说不定该由我们去取的文件已在途中。
(3)She seemed as fresh as ever，for all that I never saw her drink or eat．
尽管我从未见到她喝点什么或吃点什么，她似乎仍然精神饱满。
(四)both…not(并非两者……都)
(1)Both the instruments are not precision ones.
这两件东西不都是精密仪器。
(2)But you see，we both cannot go together．
但是我告诉你，我们俩不能同时都走。
(五)all／every…not(并非……都)
(1)All towns did not look like as they do today．
在过去，城镇并不都像今天这样个个千篇一律。
(2)All that glitters is not gold．
发光的并一定都是金子。
(六)It be+a．+n．+that…(再……也难免)
(1)It is all ill wind that blows nobody good．
坏事未必对人人都有害处。(也可译为“再坏的事也不是对人人都有害处”。)
(2)It is a good workman that never blunders．
智者千虑，必有一失。(也可译为“再聪明的工匠也难免出错”。)
(3)It is a long lane that had no end．
路必有弯。(也可译为“再长的胡同也有尽头”。)
最后值得一提的是，在英汉翻译过程中，反译法的使用必须要针对具体情况
灵活掌握，切不可一概而论，机械套用。有些英语词语或句子正译、反译皆可，
两者并无实质性差别，究竟采用何种译法主要依据个人行文习惯或视具体的上下文而定。
(1) We have found your terms and conditions agreeable．
译文l：我们同意你方条款。
译文2：我们对你方条款没有异议。
(2)Much to our regret，the packing of the landed goods is quite different from
that you have promised．
译文l：十分遗憾，到货的包装与贵方承诺的相差很大。
译文2．十分遗憾，到货的包装与贵方承诺的大不相同。
(3)The works of art were left intact，the money gone·
译文l：艺术品还在，钱却不翼而飞。
译文2：艺术品原封未动，钱却不翼而飞。
1．将下列句子译成汉语，并注意将斜体部分反说正译。
(1)The doubt was still unsolved after our repeated explanations·
(2)We are not completely satisfied with your manner of doing business·
(3)After the ship unloads at the dock，the goods will go to the container freight
(4)Students，with no exception，are to hand in their papers tomorrow afternoon．
(5)The thought of returning to our native land never deserted us at that time．
(6)It is generally believed that there is nothing like jogging as a means of exercise．
(7)The system of gas supply in the city leaves nothing to be desired．
(8)The significance of these incidents wasn't lost on them．
(9)Their undisguised effort to persecute the leaders of opposition party met with
nationwide condemnation．
(10)Suddenly she heard a sound behind her，and realized she was not alone in the room.
2．将下列句子译成汉语，并注意将斜体部分正说反译。
(1)While trade is good in my company，money is very tight at present.
(2)The Foreign Minister doubted the desirability of a negotiation to be held at that time．
(3)Charles dived into the water fully clothed and rescued the 0ld man．
(4)In your eagerness to secure profits，you have failed to give due consideration to
the sellers’ standpoints．
(5)If the weather holds a few days，the team of the explorers will set off．
(6)While I liked his work，I pointed out areas where improvement was possible．
(7)In the event of any contingencies beyond our control，we shall not be held responsible for the late delivery of the goods．
(8)In the absence of a settlement through negotiation，the case under dispute call be submitted to arbitration．
(9)Cowards die many times before their death；the valiant never taste of death but
0nce．
(10)One of the advantages of the fibre-optic communications is freedom from direct
effect of interfering radio transmission．