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1、汉译英主干及信息重心的确立汉译英主干及信息重心的确立汉译英时,如是单句,应首先确定主谓主干;如是复杂的句子或长句,则需要确立信息重心。这是英译的第一步,也是正确译文的基础。在许多情况下, 汉语的句子从外形上反映不出主干或信息重心,而且汉语句子的主干和信息重心与英语句子也有很多不同之处。所以汉译英时,必须正确确立英语的主干或信息重心,这样才有可能译出地道的英语而避免“中国式”的英语。一、正确确立单句主干(一) 主语的确立1汉语的主语非常灵活,几乎可以由各种类型的词汇和语言单位来担任;而英语主语的语法要求则非常严格,只能由名词或具有名词语法功能的语言单位(如动词不定式、动名词、名词从句)来充当。有
2、时介词也可充当主语,但数量极少。所以,英译的主语确立首先要考虑它是否符合英语组句和英语主语角色的逻辑。许多情况下,汉英主语不能“对等”照译。那个地方明年 5 月以前1000 万元调查研究快(用)这种方法能解决这个问题巧干从王教授那里把技术人员的积极性调动起来如果运用科学的方法人人都动手而不是坐而论道在上面的汉语句子中,动词、数词、形容词、短语以及介词短语、句子都可以充当主句。而按照英美人的思维逻辑, “那个地方”是地点; “明年 5 月”是时间;其余都是做事的方式、条件或手段,都应视为状语,而不能做主语。就这句汉语而言,英译时主语只能有两种选择:1)增添人称主语We/You/One;2)把“这
3、个难题”当作主语,谓语译成被动式:1We (You, One) can solvethis problem (or)This problem can be solved2汉语主语有时有隐蔽性,难以一眼看清楚。译者必须悉心体察,逐步缩小视点,找出合乎英美人思维方式的主语。例1在历史上,长江不断改道,在武汉地区形成了众多的湖泊。The constantchange of the course of the Changjiang River in history helped form agreat many lakes in the areas around Wuhan. /原文主语不明显,但其主
4、题意旨是明显的。这里把原因状语“ (由于)长江不断改造”译成抽象名词作主语,不仅行文简洁,而且突出了汉语的主题信息“使武汉地区形成众多湖泊” 。例2健康状况不佳就无法有效地工作。Ones poor health will incapacitate himfor efficient work. / 原文中主语也是隐蔽的。实际上, “健康状况不佳”表示条件,不宜做主语。但是英语则可把这种表示原因或条件短语变成抽象名词或某些具体名词(主要是时间、地点)并安排它们作主语,从而形成英语的优势。不过,如果原文是口语体,那就不宜这样译。可以译为 You can notwork efficiently if
5、you are in poor health.例3擒贼先擒王。/ 像这样的汉语句子,既可以翻译为祈使句,又可以译为较为复杂的陈述句。如译为陈述句就需要适当确立主语。这句话根据不同的语境可以有多种译法,例如:A) Capture the ringleader first in order to capture all his followers.B) Before you can get rid of the petty criminals you must catch theirboss.C) Destroy the leader and the gang will collapse.D) I
6、n capturing rebels it is necessary to capture their leaders.例4古今中外,在商贸市场上历来都是大鱼吃小鱼。 There exists a law at alltimes and in all countries that the great fish eat up the small in the world ofbusiness a law of jungle. / 由于主语过于隐蔽,所以使用 There be 句型引出逻辑上的主语。Law 在原文中没有,但它内涵于原文之中。例5古今中外,这种情况概莫能外。There is no e
7、xception to this in modern orancient times, in China or elsewhere. / 此句与第 4 例的情况有类似之处,但主语更加隐蔽。2at that place.before next May.with ten million yuan.through investigation and study.if at a high speed.(in) this way.by working ingeniously.with the help from Prof. Wang.bybringingintoplaythepositivefactor
8、 of the technical staff.by adopting a scientific method.when (if) all bear a hand instead ofindulgence in empty talk.例6北京地区由于近些年增加了植树造林,在一些地方飞来了稀有的鸟类。Afforestation in some places around Beijing these years attracts quite afew rare birds / Or: Quite a few birds come to settle down in some placesaroun
9、d Beijing thanks to the expansion of woods there these years. /此例的汉语主语也比较隐蔽,应从逻辑内涵上寻找并确立译文的主语。3中国人强调人的主观能动性,所以许多情况下往往喜欢以人作句子的主语,英美人则强调事物的客观性,所以常以物和具体的事实作为主语,而人则退到次要的位置。因此,汉译英确立主语时,有时要体现出英美人的这种思维方式。例1我看当然像这么会事。It certainly seems so to me. /“我”非但没有译成主语,而且被置于很次要的位置。例2他想到把这件事全都交给他的妻子去办。 It occurred to h
10、im to leave thewhole thing to his wife. / “他” 被译成状语。 类似的句型还有: It dawned (hasdawned) on sb. that ,如 Has it dawned on you that his story may befabrication?(你从来没想到过他的故事可能是捏造的吗?)例3你做这件事不费吹灰之力。 It is very easy for you to do such a thing. / 译文的主语换成了不定式。 英语类似的结构还有It is (was) + 形容词 + for sb. (ofsb.) to do 。
11、例4这时我激动得说不出话来。Words fail me here. / 译文的主语变成了Words。英语类似的句型还有:Your letter reached me yesterday. ( 我昨天收到你的来信。) His name just escaped me. (我一时记不起他的名字了。)4汉语由于很少用被动式,而英语则倾向用被动式;当然,无必要英语中最好也无须用被动式。所以汉译英确立主语时应与语态的变化一致起来。应该特别指出的是,汉语中的某些主动式最好能译成英语程式化的被动结构,例如:众所周知,大家一致认为,人们普遍认为,有人建议,人们预测,有消息说,报道说,等。一般多译为“It is
12、 (was) + 动词过去分词 + that 从句”这样的结构。5如果汉语句子中主语是地点(个别情况下是时间) ,谓语动词是状态动词或者“有” “发生” “出现”等词时,那么译成英语时大多使用 There be 句型,这种情况下就应把汉语句子中的那个宾语变成译文的主语。例1好像有点不大对头。There seems something wrong about it.例2街角躺着一个病得很重的老人。There lies at the corner of the street an oldman who is seriously ill.例3在这部小说里看来没有更为有趣的东西了。 There app
13、ears to be nothingmore interesting in this novel.例4北京近几年发生了重大变化。There have been great changes in Beijingthese years.6汉语无主句特别多,译成英语时,绝大部分需要增加主语。 (见相关章节)(二) 谓语的确立汉语的谓语同汉语主语相似,它的角色具有开放性,几乎所有的(汉语)词类和3各种语言单位都可以充当谓语。此外, 汉语的谓语可以横排式地连用几个动词做谓语。 而英语的谓语只能由一个主要动词来担任(个别情况下也可以由两个以上的动词作并列谓语) 。例如北京大。北京一千多平方公里。北京在中国
14、的北部。北京民风淳朴。北京人买东西方便。北京大地方。北京好玩。北京让前来参观的人流连忘返。北京乘火车到郑州要花十多个小时。北京许多外国人也都说好。上面的汉语谓语由多个词汇或语言单位担当, 但译成英语时只能用系动词或实意动词。翻译汉语的谓语时主要有两种情况。1汉语谓语如果没有动词,而只是名词、数词、形容词、介词短语,译成英语时必须在这些词之前加上系动词(be, seem, look, appear, feel, smell, sound,taste 等) ,否则译文句子不能成立。如“北京大地方” ,译为 Beijing is a big city。再如“这小伙帅。 ”译成 This young
15、man looks (is) handsome.2汉语的连动式谓语译成英时,只能保留一个主要动词(并列动词除外),而把其他动词译为名词、介词短语或者不定式、分词等。例1总统明天准备乘坐专机前往上海参观访问。 The president planned/expectedto leave for Shanghai by his special plane for a visit tomorrow. /译文把“准备” 作为主要动词充当谓语, “乘坐专机” 译成了介词短语, “前往上海”译为动词不定式作主要谓语动词 plan 的宾语; “参观访问” 被译为介词短语。d 晚上过来跟我们一块儿去打保龄球好
16、吗? Would you come to join us forplaying bowling this evening? / 译文把 come 确定为主要动词充当谓语, 把 “跟我们一块儿”译为动词不定式作目的状语;把“去打保龄球”译成介词短语。二、确立信息重心英语句子很注重信息的主次之分,往往把主要信息放在突出的和重要的位置,而把次要信息作为辅助性的描写或叙述手段。 汉语的信息重心在许多情况下都不表现在外形上,而是体现在内在的逻辑关系之中。所以汉译英时,应该善于把汉语隐蔽性很强的主次关系挖掘出来,尔后译成英语的主次表达方式。如体现不出这种主次关系,译文可能平铺直叙,把信息重心掩埋于散句之中
17、,既违背了原文的意思,又不符合英语的习惯表达。41. 这些新政策将使人民的购买力提高,市场繁荣,金融活泼,决不会如一些人所说将使国家财政一团遭。/ “决不会如 ”显然是次要信息,如译为并列结构,将冲淡前面的中心部分,也使句子太罗嗦。可采取两种译法。1) Far from making a mess of the countrys finances as some peopleargue, these new measures will increase the peoples purchasingpower and lead to thriving commercial and financi
18、al conditions.2) Thesenewmeasureswill,webelieve,increasethepeoplespurchasing power and lead to thriving commercial and financialconditions rather than make a mess of the countrys finances as somepeople argue.2. 他们患得患失,生怕丢掉这些东西。Swayed by considerations of loss andgain, they are most anxious not to lo
19、se these possessions. / 此句的两部分表面并列,但内含主次。后半部分是主要信息,前半部分表示原因。3. 他心里乱糟糟的,又退回门里,用手抓着那乱蓬蓬的头发,眉头拧成大疙瘩,在屋里走着。Distraught, he turned back from the door and paced up anddown the small room, running his hands through his unkempt hair, thisforehead furrowed. / 仔细分析一下,可判断主要动作是“退回门里”和“在屋里走着” ,其余都是伴随成份。4. 我们党已经胜利
20、地领导了一个伟大的民主主义革命,建立了以工人阶级为首的人民民主专政;也就一定能够领导全国人民,大约在三个五年计划的时期内,基本上完成社会主义工业化和对于农业、手工业、资本主义工商业的社会主义改造。Our Party has led the great peoples democratic revolution tovictory and established the peoples democratic dictatorship headed by theworking class and can certainly lead the whole nation in basicallyacc
21、omplishing socialist industrialization and the socialist transformation ofagriculture, handicraft and capitalist industry and commerce in the courseof roughly three five-year plans. / 这种译法把原文中的重点取消了。 后半部分是信息重心,前半部分是原因。因此,应该把译文改为 Having led , ourParty can certainly 。这里的原则是:把主要信息放在主句中,把次要信息(即不重要、解释性的、
22、手段性的、描写性的部分)译成定语、状语、独立主格等。5. 附近没有旁人,我得自己干了。There being nobody else at hand, I have todo it by myself. / 汉语是两个并列的句子,实际上前一句内含原因,后一句是信息重心。所以译者把后一句译为主句,而把前一句译为独立结构。6. 外面雨下得瓢泼似的,我们只好呆在家里。The rain being very heavy, wehad to stay at home. / 两句话似乎是并列关系, 但细加分析就可看出后一句才是信息重心。译时可把前一句译为独立结构,表示原因或伴随情况。7. 春天来了,树都绿
23、了。Spring coming on, the trees turned green. /后一句明显是信息重心, “春天来了”只是伴随情况,因此译成了状语结构。8. 她 50 岁时退休了,多年的劳累把身体搞垮了。By her retirement at 50, herhealth having been impaired by years of overwork. 第二句汉语是提前退休的原因,因此译为独立结构作状语。9. 老人在前面带路, 他们两人动身往山里去。 With the old man leading, the twostarted towards the mountains. /“
24、老人在前面带路”表示一种背景或条件,5“两人动身往山里去”才是信息重心。10.这地方周围都是树丛, 一股清澈的溪流从旁 边流过。The place wassurrounded by clumps of trees, with a clear stream running alongside. /后一句是一种伴随状态,译作状语。11.许多贫农,则因为生产资料不足仍然处于贫困地位,有些人欠了债,有些人出卖土地, 或者出租土地。 One the other hand, many poor peasants are stillliving in poverty for shortage of the
25、means of production, with some gettinginto debt and other selling or renting out their land. /“许多贫农仍然处于贫困地位”明显是信息重心, “有些人欠了债,有些人”是举例说明,支持中心句,所以译为带 with 的独立主格充当状语,以表示信息的次要地位。Readings 1.四月底了(1) ,要在北京,这时候正是百花盛开的好季节。但在戈壁滩上,春天还早呢。 (2)一出嘉峪关,你望吧,满眼是无边的砂石,遍地只有一丛一丛的骆驼草,略略透出点春意。 (3)四处有的是旋风,一股一股的,把黄沙卷起多高,像是平地冒
26、起的大烟,打着转在沙漠上飞跑。 (4)说声变天,一阵风,半空就飘起雪花来,紧靠戈壁滩的西南边是起伏不断的祁连山,三伏天,山头也披着白雪。 (5)可是不管你走的多远,走到多么荒凉的地方,你也会看见我们人们为祖国所创造的奇迹。就在这戈壁滩上,就在这祁连山下,我们来自祖国各地的人民从地下钻出石油,在沙漠上建设起一座“石油城” 。这就是玉门油矿。不信,你黑夜站在高岗上,张眼一望,戈壁滩上远远近近全是电灯,比天上的星星都密。 (6)背面天边亮起一片红光, 忽闪忽闪的。 (7) 你心里定会赞叹说: “多好的地方啊!哪像是在沙漠上呢?”但我们究竟还是在沙漠上。这里个每块砖,每块石头,每滴石油,都沾着我们人民
27、的血汗,都藏着我们人民的生命。我们不能不感谢那些地质勘探队。他们为了继续替祖国寻找石油,骑着骆驼,带着蒙古包和干粮,远远地深入到荒凉的大沙漠里去,多少天见不到个人。 (8)只有沙漠上的黄羊,山里的野马,有时惊惊惶惶跟他们打个照面。杨朔散文选Spring in the GobiIt is the end of April. In Beijing, it would be in the middle of the bloomingseason. But in the Gobi desert, it is far too early for spring. Once out of JiayuPass
28、, all you can see is a boundless stretch of sand; and here and there tuftsof camel grass, evoking some feeling of spring. Everywhere are whirlwinds,rising one after another, lifting smoke-like yellow sand from the ground andrapidly rolling and swirling about in the desert. As soon as the weatherchan
29、ges, with the slightest wind drifts of snow float down from the sky. In thehot summer, snow covers the peaks of the undulating Qilian Mountains whichrun along the southwest of the Gobi.6Not matter how far you walk and what desolate places you come to, you willsee the miracles created by our people f
30、or the motherland. Right under theQilian Mountains and in the desert, a “petroleum city” has been built by thepeople from all over China. This is the Yumen Oilfield. If you do not believe it,just stand on top of a hill at night and look around. Far and near, electric lightsin the desert are thicker
31、than the stars in the sky. In the north, the sky flashesred from the refinery. You cannot help thinking, “What a wonderful place! Itdoes not even feel like a desert!”But in actuality, we are in the desert. Here, each brick, each stone and eachdrop of oil contains the sweat of our people and a part o
32、f their lives. Wecannot but thank those geological surveyors. In order to find more oil for ourmotherland, they rode on camels, taking with them tents and dry provisions,deep into the desolate Gobi, without meeting anyone for days; only desertgazelles and wild horses showed their faces in panic. (A
33、Selection from ProsePieces by Yang Shuo)评论:1) 表示时间、天气等,多数选用 it 作主语;2) “春天还早着呢。 ”怎样确立主语?选用 it,正好可表示时间;3) “满眼是无边的砂石”译为 all you see is 主语选得很精当;4) 把 whirlwinds 确定为主语,采用倒装形式,尔后把后面的几个谓语动词都译成分词作定语;5) 把“白雪”译为主语,统领全句,采取倒装法;6) 把“电灯”译为主语,谓语确定为系表结构。7) 选用 sky 作主语,用动词 flash 作谓语,表达生动;8) 此句是连动式谓语, 译者把 rode on camel
34、s 作位主要动词, 把其他几个动词分别译成不定式,分词短语、副词短语、介词短语。2又说咱们中国道家讲阴阳,这开篇是借男女讲阴阳之气。阴阳之气相游相交,初不可太盛,太盛则折,折就是“折断”的“折” 太盛则折, (1)太弱则泻 。老头儿说我的毛病又太盛。又说,若对手盛,则以柔化之。可要在化的同时,造成克势, (2)柔不是弱,是容,是收,是含。含而化之,让对手入你的势。(3)这势要你造,需无为而无不为。 (4)无为即是道,也就是棋运之大可不变,你想变,就不是象棋,输不用说了,连棋边儿都沾不上。 (5)棋运不可悖,但每局的势要自己造。棋运和势既有,那可就无所不为了。玄是真玄,可细琢磨,是那么个理儿。T
35、hen he said that Chinas Taoists talked a lot about the Yin and the Yang. Th atopening chapter was using male and female to explain the Yin and the Yang.The Yin and the Yang principles sometimes move apart and sometimes jointogether. You mustnt be too given to winning. If you win too much youbreak “W
36、in too much and you will break, be too feeble and you will leakaway.” The old man said that what was wrong with me was that I was tookeen to win. Then he told me that if my opponent was too eager to win I7should use soft methods to transform him. While I was transforming him Ishould be setting up th
37、e situation in which to defeat him. Softness isntweakness. Its containing, drawing in, holding. By holding and transformingyour opponent you draw him into the strategy youre setting up. To create thisstrategic situation you do everything by forcing nothing. Forcing nothing is theWay. Its also the un
38、changeable nature of chess. Try to change it and it wontbe chess. You wont just lose; you wont be able to play at all. You cant goagainst the nature of chess, but you have to create your own strategy in verygame you play. Once youve sorted out both the nature of chess itself andyour own strategy the
39、res nothing you cant do. It really is mysterious, but ifyou think it over carefully youll find its true.1)本句是无主句,但从上下文的口气看,通篇是论理布道。所以这里译为Youmustnt be too given to winning。主语也可以确定为 We 或 one。2)这里的主语译为 I,根据上文,是一个老人在向作者讲授棋道,这里的第一人称是间接引语。3)把“让对手入你的势”译为信息重心,把“含而化之”译成了手段,说明译者对原文的精神理解得很透彻。4)“需无为而不为”被确立为信息重心
40、,把“这势你要造”译成了动词不定式充当目的状语,这样准确表达了原文作者的思想。5)译者把这两个并列的句子也译成独立的句子,中间用分号隔开,不仅符合英语的要求,而且也在内容、形式和字数上都基本与原文对等。Your exercises for today1. 天津大学的前身是创立于 1895 年的北洋大学,是中国近代建立的第一所高等学府。Peiyang University, the predecessor of Tianjin University, was establishedin 1895 as the first institution of higher learning in mod
41、ern Chinese history.2. 热烈欢迎世界各地客商来此进一步加强合作,建立和发展贸易关系。Travelling traders from around the globe are greatly welcomed to comehere to establish and develop trade relations.3. 我给你打国际直拨就跟给楼下的李姐打电话差不多,一拨就通。Just as I phone Li downstairs, I reach you easily by making theinternational phone call.4. 即使商品质量好,也不
42、能漫天要价。Even if the commodities bear good quality, outrageous prices cannot bedemanded.5. 虽然识字是很好的一件事,但是,按鲁迅的说法,还有一个弊端。Although becoming illiterate is good, it has one drawback according toLuxun.6. 将拨出专款支持这些属于五个高科技领域的项目即新材料、 机械电子学,电子信息,生物技术,新能源和节能技术。Special fund will be offered to these five high-tech
43、nology projects, namely,8new material, mechatronics, electronic information, biotechnology, andnew energy and energy conservation technology.7. 他那饱经风霜的脸,明显地刻着与海洋有着不解之缘的痕迹,蕴含着种种不平凡的经历。His weather-beaten face, left with the marks of sea, suggested a greatmany of unordinary experiences,8. 有些抒情的段落,描写大自然
44、,不啻出自诗人的手笔。Not just poets write many lyric paragraphs that describe the nature.9. 张先生腋下夹着一本字典,手里端着茶杯,一边踱着步一边哼着一首流行歌子。Mr. Zhang, holding a tea cup, paced forward and hummed a popular song,a dictionary under his arm.10.一切都考虑进去,她的建议似乎更切实可行。When everything taken into consideration, it seems that her adv
45、ice is morepracticable.11.他留下一封短信,对我表示欢迎:那信的字里行间热情洋溢,一如其人。He left a short letter to welcome me; the words in the letter were asebullient as he was.12.他的英语虽说得不流畅,还算差强人意,但毕竟表达不了他那行云流水般的思维。His English was good enough, though, not fluent, but still unable to affordhim to express his natural and smooth thought.13.我小时候梦寐以求想得到答案的问题,终于得到了圆满的回答。The question to which I dreamed of an answer when I was young wasfinally answered.14.对我滴水之恩,他涌泉相报。He returned great thanks to my little help.15.我从内心深处祷告,求上苍让我的儿子我那心肝儿子活下去吧。I prayed from the bottom of my heart to the god-let my son live.9
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