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当前位置 : 翻译公司 >>>中国人最容易犯的英汉翻译错误总结 一个词变成一个句 初学翻译的人之所以译得不好,就是因为摆脱不了原文各个单词和句子结构的影响,总觉得英语中每一个词译成汉语都是一个词。殊不知,为了说明原文的意思,有时候要将一个词译成几个词,乃至一个短句。这就是翻译中对某些词的‘增益’。 例如,英语中有些单词相当于汉语的一个词组:read“看书”,drive“开车”,giggle“咯咯地笑”,stumble“蹒跚而行”,等等。这些相对而言还比较简单,一般英汉词典上都能查得到。 再如,英语句子中有大量的“副词+动词”的结构(副词也可能在动词之后)。在不少情况下这种结构可以译成汉语“副词+动词”的偏正结构(汉语中副词修饰动词时只能放在动词之前),许多人往往用“……地”来译所有的英语副词,如: (1)They were patiently listening to him. 他们在耐心地听他讲。 (2)He quickly stood up. 他很快地站起来。 (3)I will gladly join you in the work. 我会乐意地和你一起工作。 这三句中都用了“地”字结构,第一句还可以,后两句就显得有点“翻译腔”,“地”字似乎可以省去,可分别改译为:“他很快站起来”和“我乐意和你一起工作”。但是这三句中的副词和动词仍然译成了偏正结构,这是因为三句中的副词表示的是动作的方式。 但是,是不是英语中所有的这种结构都可以这么译呢?请大家考虑一下下面这一句应如何翻译: This is a NATO matter and any comment on it should appropriately come from NATO. 将appropriately come from NATO译成“合适地来自北约”显然不通。从意义上看,appropriately与其说是表示动作come的方式,还不如说是表示其结果,因此该词应抽出来放到后面,将此句译为:这是北约的问题,关于此问题的评论应由北约做出,这才是适宜的。 再请看下面这一句: Law enforcement cannot responsibly stand aloof. 如将此句照字面译成“司法部门不能负责任地冷漠”会让人不知所云。问题在responsibly这个词的处理上,它也不表明动作的方式而是表示一种结果,因此可将此句译为: 司法部门对此不闻不问,那就是失责。 例如: 1. In the late 14th century, Marco Polo famously made his way along trade routes from Italy to China. 2. Their commander wisely judged to be safer in their works than in the field. 在翻译副词修饰形容词或另一个副词的结构时,有时也不能一概译成“……地”结构,而需要将该副词抽出来加以增益,才能说明其含义,如: 3. Chimpanzees are the animals closest biologically to humans. 4. Tami said it was possible, just statistically unlikely. 5. The second child she dreamed of might now be medically impossible. 6. Only 18 percent are officially unemployed. 7. Real-estate prices in downtown Manhattan looked prohibitively expensive. 8. She was remarkably silent when the others all talked and laughed. 9. It was a vast and treacherous landscape, but breath-takingly beautiful. 10. A schoolmaster, finding such errors in a schoolboy’s essay, would be justly indignant.
有时候,形容词做定语或表语时,也无法用一个词将其意思充分表达出来,翻译这个形容词时也需要进行增益,如: 12. The sleek turbines of the American windmills made economic and ecological sense. 当然不能将a respectful distance译为“尊敬的距离”,应将这一句译成“我们对他敬而远之”。 13. He had a sound feeling that idioms were the backbone of a language and he was all for the racy phrases. 14. The prisoners of war are allowed to write censored letter. 15. We should be very cautious when buying expensive things and ask ourselves if we are making a wise purchase. 又如:I wouldn’t have eaten it, only I’m too ladylike to take it out of my mouth. 这一句中的ladylike很难用一个中文词来表达,其意思是“像个有教养的女人那样”。这一句不妨译成:“我本来不想吃,只是觉得再从嘴里拿出来不太雅观。” |
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