翻译技巧-3
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Conversion of Parts of Speech(2)词性转换法(2)在英汉翻译实践中,尽管其他词性转换不如转换为动词那样普遍,但也是一种解决翻译问题的有效手段。
下面介绍一些在英汉翻译过程中其他常见的词性转换情况。
2.转换为汉语的名词(1)动词转换为名词由名词词根派生的动词,或由名词转用的动词,其词义用汉语中的动词直接表达往往比较困难,通常转译为汉语中的名词。
如:例1:What characterizes his work is a lack of attention to detail.译文:他工作的特点是不注重细节。
例2:To those small children, their teachers personified absolute power.译文:对这些小孩子来说,他们的老师就是绝对权威的化身。
例3:All the people concerned would be motivated to work together.译文:所有相关人员都会受到鼓励,一起工作。
例4:His wife has done everything to mother him.译文:他妻子竭尽全力,象母亲一样照顾他。
例5:The reform aims at increasing the work efficiency of the whole department.译文:这次改革的目的是提高整个部门的工作效率。
有一些动词尽管不是名词派生或转化而来,但在翻译过程中为了表达自然通顺也可以转换为名词,如:例6:He objected that the plan is not practical.译文:他反对的理由是这项计划不切实际。
例7:A young man, who looked and talked like a student, attracted my attention.译文:一个言谈举止都像学生的年轻人引起了我的注意。
(2)形容词转换为名词英语中用定冠词“the”加上某些形容词来表示一类人或事物。
这样的形容词通常要转译为汉语中的名词。
如:例8:They tried their best to help the sick and the wounded.译文:他们尽最大的努力帮助病人和伤员。
例9:All the countries, whether rich or poor, should pay more attention to environmental protection.译文:不论是穷国还是富国,都应该更加注意保护环境。
例10:Under certain conditions, the harmful can be transformed into the beneficial. 译文:在特定的条件下,坏事可以变成好事。
另外,一些由名词派生的形容词在翻译过程中也常可转译为汉语中的名词,例如:例11:Official Moscow is going to object to this proposal.译文:莫斯科官方准备反对这项提议。
例12:In fission processes the fission fragments are very radioactive.译文:在核裂变过程中,裂变碎片的放射性很强。
有一些形容词在具体的上下文语境中难以直接译为汉语中的形容词,也可以考虑转译为汉语中的名词。
如:例13:He was elegant and eloquent, but soft.译文:他有风度,有口才,但是很软弱。
例14:This new machine is much more efficient than the old one.译文:这台新机器的效率比旧的要高得多。
例15:This room is 7 meters long, 5 meters wide and 3 meters high.译文:这房间的长度是7米,宽度是5米,高度是3米。
(3)副词转换为名词一些由名词派生的副词在翻译的过程中经常转译为名词,如:例16:The figure of deaths was officially announced two days later.译文:两天后官方宣布了死亡的人数。
例17:He is physically weak but mentally sound.译文:他身体虽弱,但心智健全。
例18:Leaders are emotionally and intellectually oriented to the future, not wedded to the past.译文:领导者在感情上和理智上都是面向未来的,而不是沉溺于过去。
3.转换成汉语的形容词(1)名词转换为形容词通常转译为形容词的名词,大多是由形容词词根派生的名词,如:例19:The security and warmth of this room are wonderful.译文:这个房间既安全又暖和,非常好。
例20:I found great difficulty in solving this problem.译文:我发现这个问题很难解决。
例21:We are fully aware of the necessity in introducing new schemes.译文:我们清楚地认识到,引进新的机制是十分必要的。
例22:The performance was quite a success.译文:演出非常成功。
例23:I recognized the absurdity of dealing with them through intermediaries.译文:我认识到,通过中间人跟他们打交道是很愚蠢的。
有些情况下,为了使译文自然通顺,也可以灵活地把英语中其他名词转译为汉语的形容词。
例如:例24:They said my story was a yawn.译文:他们说我讲的故事很乏味。
例25:He is a perfect stranger in the city.译文:他对这座城市完全陌生。
例26:That fellow is a typical fool.译文:那个家伙笨得出奇。
(2)副词转换为形容词在翻译的过程中,若副词所修饰的动词或形容词转译成名词,则相应的副词也就要转译成形容词,如:例27:I was deeply impressed by their hospitality.译文:他们的热情好客给我留下了深刻的印象。
动词“impre ss”转译为汉语中的名词“印象”时,修饰“impress”的副词“deeply”也就相应转译成汉语的形容词“深刻的”。
类似的例子还有:例28:The flood was closely related to the heavy rain in the upper reaches of the river. 译文:洪水与河流上游的大雨有密切的关系。
例29:It is demonstrated that gases are perfectly elastic.译文:已经证实,气体具有理想的弹性。
4. 转换为汉语的副词(1)形容词转换为副词形容词所修饰的名词如果转译为动词则形容词要相应转译为副词。
如:例30:He whispered a hurried goodbye to his mother.译文:他匆匆地跟母亲小声道别。
例31:They can speak good English.译文:他们英语讲得很好。
例32:The electronic dictionary is a fairly recent development.译文:电子词典是最近才发展起来的。
(2) 名词转换为副词因汉语的某一些固定表达习惯,英语的名词有些情况下要转译为相应的汉语的副词,如:例33:It's my honor to inform you that you have won the first prize.译文:我很荣幸地通知您荣获了一等奖。
例34:The United States was unhappy with the slowness of Japan to advance free trade. 译文:美国对日本缓慢地推进自由贸易感到不满。
词性转译是翻译实践中一种非常有效的技巧。
尽管对一些常见的词性转译进行了分类,但实际上词性的转换非常灵活。
具体转译为什么词,一定要视上下文而定。
我们应当确立一个观念,即词的翻译是灵活的,不要受到词类的太多限制。
但无论转译为何种类型的词都应当遵守翻译的最基本原则:一方面要忠实于原文的意思,另一方面要表达流畅自然,符合汉语的习惯。
Exercises:1.将下列句子译成汉语,并注意划线词的词性转换:(1) Formality has always characterized their relationship.(2) Our age is witnessing a profound political change.(3) He was efficient in his work.(4) Everyday experience shows us that heavy objects are more stable than light ones.(5) The paper said editorially that such behavior is against the spirit of the Central Committee of our Party.(6) The image must be dimensionally correct.(7) They believe in the correctness of the key.(8) This new device is chiefly featured by its convenience of operation.(9) "Yes", he said, with a slow nod or two.(10) I had the fortune to meet the president.2.将下列短文译为汉语:The year 2002 sees that the start of one of the most exciting missions in almost half a century of space exploration, as the 2001 Mars Odyssey space probe begins it first journey to uncover the secrets of Mars.The 2001 Mars Odyssey is not the first probe to visit Mars. Since 1964 the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has sent several probes to orbit and land on the planet, and all have made significant observations. However, it is hoped that 2001 Mars Odyssey will make the most thorough exploration yet, possibly ever marking our first ever discovery of extraterrestrial life.The Mars Odyssey mission began on April 7, 2001. Because Earth and Mars have verydifferent orbits around the Sun, the timing of the launch was crucial, and was carefully planned to take place at the moment when the journey between the two planets would be at its shortest. In January 2002, three months after going into orbit around Mars, the Odyssey embarked on its ultimate mission---- a three-year-program to search for life. The name "2001 Mars Odyssey" is a tribute to science fiction author, Arthur Clark, and his most celebrated work 2001: A Space Odyssey, a story of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.1.(1) 他们之间的关系有一个特点,就是非常拘于礼节。