英语翻译中的“转换”思维大剖析
【摘要】在英译汉过程中,有些句子可以逐词对译,有些句子则由于英汉两种语言的表达方式不同,就不能用"一个萝卜一个坑"的方法来逐词对译。原文中有些词在译文中需要词类转换和结构转换,才能使汉语译文通顺自然。
一、词类转换
▶转译成动词
1.名词转换成动词
经典例题: Interest in historical methods has arisen,less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.
分析:interest在原文中是名词,而在译文中为了符合中文的表达方式,在不改变意思的前提下,将它改成动词。
参考译文: 人们之所以关注历史研究的方法,主要是因为史学家们内部分歧过大,其次才是因为外界并不认为历史是一门学科。(1999年真题)
经典例题: With the click of a mouse,information from the other end of the globe will be transported to your computer screen at the dizzying speed of seven_and_a_half times around the earth per second.
参考译文: 只要一点鼠标,来自世界另一端的信息便会以每秒绕地球七周半的惊人速度传输到你的电脑屏幕上。
2.形容词转换成动词
经典例题: Additional social stresses may also occur because of the population explosion problems arising from mass migration movements-themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport.
参考译文: 由于人口的猛增或大量人口流动(现代交通工具使大量人口流动变得相对容易)所造成的种种问题也会增加社会压力。(2000年真题)
经典例题: Doctors have said that they are not sure they can save his life.
参考译文: 医生们说他们不敢肯定能否救得了他的命。
Success is dependent on his effort.
参考译文 成功与否取决于他的努力。
3.副词转换成动词
经典例题: She opened the window to let fresh air in.
参考译文: 她把窗子打开,让新鲜空气进来。
4.介词转换成动词
经典例题: Many laboratories are developing medicines against AIDS.
参考译文: 许多实验室正在研制治疗艾滋病的药物。
经典例题: "Coming!"Away she skimmed over the lawn,up the path,up the steps,across the veranda,and into the porch.
参考译文: "来了!"她转身蹦着跳着地跑了,越过草地,跑上小径,跨上台阶,穿过凉台,进了门廊。
▶转换成名词
1.动词转换成名词
经典例题: The university aims at the first rate of the world.
参考译文学校的目标是世界一流。
经典例题: The net and electronic commerce will foster a large number of free_fancers,and this will affect social structure in a big way.
参考译文: 网络和电子商业将会造就一大批自由职业者,从而将对社会结构产生深远的影响。
经典例题: Numerous abstentions marked the French elections.
参考译文: 这次法国选举的特点是弃权的人多。
2.形容词转换成名词
经典例题: They did their best to help the sick and the wounded.
参考译文: 他们尽了最大努力帮助病号和伤号。
经典例题: The different production cost is closely associated with the sources of power.
参考译文: 生产成本的差异与能源密切相关。
3.代词转换成名词
经典例题: According to a growing body of evidence,the chemicals that make up many plastics may migrate out of the material and into foods and fluids,ending up in your body.
分析: your body直译是"你的身体",而细读原文,我们发现其实your body是泛指人体。作者为了引起与读者的共鸣,用了与读者更息息相关的your。在翻译时,应将此代词转换成名词,体现其真实含义。
参考译文 越来越多的证据表明,许多塑料制品的化学成分会移动到食物或流体上去,最终进入人体内。
经典例题: Though we can't see it,there is air all around us.参考译文虽然我们看不见空气,可我们周围到处都有空气。
4.副词转换成名词
经典例题: The new type of machine is shown schematically in Figure1.
参考译文 图一所示是这种新型机器的简图。
经典例题: Internally the earth consists of two parts,a core and a mantle.参考译文地球的内部由两部分组成:地核和地幔。
▶转换成形容词
1.副词转换成形容词
经典例题: The engineer had prepared meticulously for his design.
参考译文: 工程师为这次设计做了十分周密的准备。
经典例题: When tables and other materials are included,they should be conveniently placed,so that a student can consult them without turning over too many pages.
参考译文: 当书中列有表格或其他参考资料时,应当将这些内容编排在适当的位置,以便使学生在查阅时,不必翻太多的书页。
2.名词转换成形容词
经典例题: Most teenagers feel no difficulty in learning and operating computers.
参考译文: 绝大部分青少年在学习和操作电脑方面并不觉得困难。
经典例题: The instrument has been welcomed by users because of its stability in serviceability,reliability in operation and simplicity in maintenance.
参考译文: 该仪器性能稳定,操作可靠,维护方便,因而受到用户的欢迎。
▶转换成副词
形容词转换成副词
经典例题: The wide application of electronic machines in scientific work,in designing and in economic calculations will free man from the labor of complicated computations.
参考译文: 在科学研究、设计和经济计算方面广泛地应用电子计算机可以使人们从繁重的计算劳动中解放出来。
经典例题: By dialing the right number,you may be able to select a play,golf lesson or lecture in physics,from a pre-taped library in a remote city,for showing on your home screen.
参考译文 只要拨对了号码,你就可以在家里电视机上选看到由远方城市一座图书馆发出的预先录制的一出戏,一堂打高尔夫球的讲课,或者一次物理学讲演。
二、结构转换
结构转换着眼于句子成分的相互转换和基本句型的改变。句子成分的相互转换主要在主语与宾语,补语与表语,主语与定语,定语与状语,状语与主语之间进行。
▶句子成分的转换
1.非主语译成主语
经典例题: Since the invention of the transistor at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in1984,it has found its way into varied applications in the commercial,industrial and military fields.
参考译文: 自从1984年贝尔电话研究所发明晶体管以来,晶体管的种种应用已遍及商业、工业和军事各个领域。(状语译成主语)
经典例题: Television is different from radio in that it sends and receives pictures.
参考译文: 电视和无线电的不同点在于电视能收发图像。(表语译成主语)
经典例题: Matter is usually electrically neutral,that is,it has as many protons,as electrons.
参考译文: 物质通常是不带电的,就是说,它的质子和电子数量是相等的。(宾语译成主语)
2.非谓语译成谓语
经典例题: There is a need for improvement in your study habits.
参考译文: 你的学习习惯需要改进。(主语译成谓语)
3.非宾语译成宾语
经典例题: He is admired by everybody.
参考译文: 大家都很钦佩他。(主语译成宾语)
经典例题: Materials to be used for structural purpose are chosen so as to behave elastically in the environmental condition.
参考译文: 用于结构上的材料必须选择得使它们在周围环境条件下具有弹性。(状语译成宾语)
4.非状语译成状语
经典例题: He drew a deep breath.
参考译文: 他深深地吸了一口气。(定语译成状语)
经典例题: Pictures show him in the company of men like Churchill,Einstein and Gandhi.
参考译文: 在这些照片中我们可以看到他和邱吉尔、爱因斯坦、甘地这些人的交往。(主语译成状语)
▶基本句型的转化
1.简单句转换成复合句
经典例题: At the slightest improvement in my work they would show warm approval.
参考译文 我工作稍有进步,他们就热情肯定。
2.复合句转换成简单句
经典例题: This causes the construction of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together.
参考译文: 这样就盖起了许多人聚居的高楼大厦。
(我是实习小编松鼠:将来的你一定会感谢现在拼了命的自己。)