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Sometimes an expression in a sentence may appear like an idiom, but actually the words are used literally. When translating such expressions, a translator must think carefully so as not to make mistakes. Here is an example:
A. For a time I actually believed that his wife had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg. B. Certainly he was never to have taken the smallest physical interest in a woman, although at the same time in no way setting his face against all truck with the opposite sex.
A. In May 1935, the lobbies of the House of Commons and the newspapers were full of rumors of the impending reconstruction of the Government.
B. Leonard here lives in the same block of flats.
C. Their tables are piled with it (junk), their bureau drawers are stuffed with it, their closet rods bend with the weight of the clothes not worn for years. (Malcolm Cowley Vices and Pleasures: The View from Eighty)
C. He didn’t come to see me. 他没来看我。 他来不是看我。
4. not or no A. He is not wiser than his brother.
B. He is no wiser than his brother. 5.It is a/an + adj.+n.+that clause A. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. B. It is a long lane that has no turning. C. It is a good horse that never stumbles. D. It is a good workman that never blunders.
D. He was returned three times to the Senate.
E. The elevator boys ooze the split and polish of West Point cadets, and in polite English remind you that you must not smoke inside their lifts. Some words and expressions are easily misunderstood when they are taken too literally. If a translator does not consult dictionaries often enough, he may make mistakes when coming across such words and expressions. The following are some of them:
All above can be called false friend in translation. That is, words in another language that look like the same English words but mean entirely different things.
撒切尔说：“我这样说并不因为我认为（英国）该用任 何形式挑衅苏联或其他（国家）。
2. all…not…; every…not…; both…not… TIP: When “not” is used together with the indefinite pronouns :all, every and both, it expresses partial negation, which must be kept in mind when a translator comes across sentences with such structures. For example: A. All are not here. B. Everybody cannot do it. C. We both cannot go. D. All is not gold that glitters.
Sometimes, grammatical analyses may be useful in determining the meaning of the sentence in this structure.
For example: It is too ridiculous to imagine life without electricity in a city. To imagine life without electricity in a city is too ridiculous.
两种语言中字面意义相同而实际意义全然不同的词语。 貌合神离的假朋友是翻译中的一大陷阱，如不予辨别， 会惹出麻烦。
III. British English and American English
Some words have different meanings in British English and American English. If a translator does not pay attention to this, he may make mistakes in translating such words. Look at the following examples:
busboy go moonlighting panda car bookkeeper ballroom drug store mad doctor horse sense English disease
an apple of love bring down the house pull up one’s socks pull one’s leg
6. too…to Atoms are far too tiny to be seen even with the strongest microscope.
= Atoms are so tiny that they cannot be seen even with the strongest microscope. A. He is too excited to speak. B. He is too ready to speak.
3. not…to… A. We don’t come here to discuss the weather.
B. He said, “Now, look, I didn’t come here to get along with you guys. You are going to have to get along with me.” 我到这里是你们要和我相处好，而不是我要和你们相处好。
C. Jeff’s an Air Vice-Marshal now. Isn’t that grand? Burdened with gong百度文库.
D. I’ll have to proceed back now with all possible speed, or Jeff will be having kittens. E. It’s a gas to ride the buses, see all the mountains and the jackrabbits.
English feel quite natural, may cause trouble in understanding for a translator whose mother tongue is Chinese. 1. not…because A. You can’t do it because it will hurt you. B. You can’t do it because it hurts nobody.
IV. Idioms and slang expressions
English is a language rich in idioms, and slang expressions are so widely used by English writers. A translator whose native language is Chinese must be careful when dealing with such things.
II. Some Words
Sometimes some particular words in a sentence may cause trouble in understanding. For example: A. Edward, later Duke of Windsor, rather steals the book. B. He was obviously quite impressed by the arguments that the Chinese were advancing. C. When he announced himself a candidate, few were so sanguine as to expect that he would be returned.
Translation(3-4)
Understanding and Expressing Factors that Affect Understanding in E-C Translation
In English-Chinese translation, the following might be some of the factors that affect correct understanding. I. Some Negative Structures some negative structures, which the native speakers of
More examples: In South Carolina we had never suffered discrimination because we were Jews. Thatcher said, “I do not say this because I believe that we should be in any way provocative toward the Soviet Union or anyone else.” 在南卡罗莱纳，没有因为我们是犹太人而受到歧视。
