第三章 英譯漢的基礎(chǔ)知識(shí)
第二節(jié) 英譯漢句法對(duì)比(下)
二、英譯漢的句式結(jié)構(gòu)轉(zhuǎn)換
4.英語(yǔ)倒裝句的漢譯長(zhǎng)句的翻譯中經(jīng)常還涉及英語(yǔ)倒裝句結(jié)構(gòu)的漢譯問題,我們?cè)诖酥皇亲龊?jiǎn)單的介紹。倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)主要出于上下文或語(yǔ)氣上的需要,以使說話或文章重心突出有力。而在漢語(yǔ)中,很少使用倒裝結(jié)構(gòu),這主要是因?yàn)闈h語(yǔ)本身所固有的特點(diǎn)決定的,所以翻譯時(shí),翻譯成正常結(jié)構(gòu)就可以了,只是在必要時(shí)增加某些強(qiáng)調(diào)詞,如“正是,就是,恰恰是”等。
在考研英語(yǔ)的英譯漢試題中,倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)主要有:①虛擬條件句中的倒裝;②“only+狀語(yǔ)”結(jié)構(gòu)位于句首的倒裝;③具有否定意義的詞或詞組位于句首時(shí)的倒裝;④as/thought引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語(yǔ)從句的倒裝;⑤so/neither引導(dǎo)的倒裝句;⑥修辭倒裝等。
下面舉幾個(gè)這方面的例子:「例1」Odd though it sounds, cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementaryparticle physics,and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true.(1998年考研試題)(畫線部分為語(yǔ)法倒裝)
譯文:宇宙膨脹說雖然聽似奇特,但它是基本粒子物理學(xué)中一些公認(rèn)的理論在科學(xué)上看來似乎可信的推論。許多天體物理學(xué)家七八年來一直確信這一論說是正確的。
「例2」Animals fight,so do savages,hence to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good,but it is not to be civilized.(畫線部分為語(yǔ)法倒裝)
譯文:動(dòng)物彼此相斗,原始時(shí)代未開化的人也是這樣,因此善于爭(zhēng)斗就是善于做動(dòng)物或者原始時(shí)代人所善于做的事情,但這不是文明或開化的表現(xiàn)。
「例3」Central to the communicative approach is the perception that language is not just a system of rules,but“a dynamic source for creation of meaning”。(本題是修辭倒裝的一個(gè)典型例子)
譯文:語(yǔ)言不僅僅是一整套規(guī)則,而且是“創(chuàng)作意義的極有潛力的源泉”,這一概念是交際法的中心內(nèi)容。
「例4」Only rarely does a coherent picture emerge;in a sense coherence must be imposed on events by the decision maker,who seizes the challenge and turns it into opportunity by assessing correctly both the circumstances and his margin for creative action.(畫線部分為語(yǔ)法倒裝)
譯文:決策人要能對(duì)自己采取獨(dú)到的行動(dòng)的情勢(shì)作出正確的估量,對(duì)自己采取這種行動(dòng)的回旋余地作出正確的估計(jì),而后才能抓住時(shí)機(jī),將危機(jī)轉(zhuǎn)化為良機(jī)。這時(shí)才有可能出現(xiàn)事態(tài)的順利發(fā)展。有條不紊的景象自行出現(xiàn)的情況是十分罕見。
「例5」As families move away from their stable community,their friends of many years,their extended family relationships,the informal flow of information is cut off,and with it disappears the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable.(畫線部分為修辭倒裝)
譯文:由于許多家庭離開舊地,離開了多年好友和各種家屬關(guān)系,日常信息的隨意交流中斷了。對(duì)于信息的及時(shí)性、確切性和可靠性的信心也隨之喪失。
5.英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的漢譯英語(yǔ)中被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的使用范圍極為廣泛,尤其是在科技文體和說明文體中,被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)幾乎隨處可見。英漢對(duì)比,英語(yǔ)的被動(dòng)句顯然多于漢語(yǔ)。在很多情況下,漢語(yǔ)在主謂之間的關(guān)系上并不十分重視,而一律用主動(dòng)式。這是因?yàn)闈h語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞不具備英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞那樣的形態(tài)變化,因而主要依賴于詞匯手段以及句式來表示被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài),而且在很多情況下主謂之間的被動(dòng)關(guān)系是隱含的。對(duì)于英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)句的翻譯,我們經(jīng)常采用以下方法:(1)被動(dòng)隱含法。這種方法是指將被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)譯為主動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)時(shí),被動(dòng)形式隱含,即原文中的主語(yǔ)在譯文中做主語(yǔ),有時(shí)我們需要添加諸如“加以、予以、給以、經(jīng)過、用……來、由……所、靠……來”等詞來體現(xiàn)原文的被動(dòng)含義。例如:「例1」This ability to speak was of great value because it allowed men to share ideas,and to plan to gether,so that tasks impossible for a single person could be successfully undertaken by intelligent teamwork.譯文:這種說話能力具有非常重要的意義,因?yàn)樗苁谷藗兘涣魉枷?,一起商量問題。這樣,單個(gè)人不勝任的任務(wù)可以靠集體智慧來順利完成。
「例2」In other words,mineral substances which are found on earth must be extracted by digging,boring holes,artificial explosions,or similar operations which make them available to us.譯文:換言之,礦物就是存在于地球上,但須經(jīng)過挖掘、鉆孔、人工爆破或類似作業(yè)才能獲得的物質(zhì)。
「例3」They consider the increase in various forms of cancer may possibly be explained by other factors in the complex human environment——atmospheric pollution,increased nervous stress,chemical substances in processed food,or chemical pesticides that are now being used by farmers in vast quantities to destroy insects and small animals.譯文:他們認(rèn)為各種癌癥的增多也許可以說是由于人類復(fù)雜環(huán)境中另外一些因素所引起的,像大氣污染、神經(jīng)緊張加劇、經(jīng)過加工的食品中的化學(xué)物質(zhì),或者農(nóng)民大量用來殺死昆蟲和小動(dòng)物的化學(xué)殺蟲劑等等。
「例4」Those who support the“nature”side of the conflict believe that our personalities and behavior patterns are largely determined by biological factors.(1990年考研試題)
譯文:在這場(chǎng)爭(zhēng)論中,贊成“天性”一方的那些人認(rèn)為,我們的性格特征和行為模式大多是由生物因素所決定的。
「例5」I would suggest,however,that this minimum of subsistence should be limited to a definite period of time,lets say two years,so as to avoid the encouraging of an abnormal attitude which refuses any kind of social obligation.譯文:然而,我想建議,這種生活維持費(fèi)必須限制在一定的期限內(nèi),譬如說兩年,以避免鼓勵(lì)一種反常的態(tài)度,即不肯承擔(dān)任何社會(huì)義務(wù)。
(2)主語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換法。這種轉(zhuǎn)換方式有以下幾種:1)英文中的主語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換成漢語(yǔ)譯文中的賓語(yǔ),英文中介詞by后的賓語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換成漢語(yǔ)譯文中的主語(yǔ)。
「例1」By the end of 1994,more than 9600 patients had been cured of leukaemia by Dr. Black Smith,a famous medical doctor.譯文:到1994年底,醫(yī)生布萊克。史密斯大夫已為9600人治好了白血病。
「例2」Cigarette smoking is believed by most research workers in this field to be an important factor in the development of cancer of the lungs and cancer of the throat,and is believed to be related to cancer of the oral cavity.譯文:大多數(shù)研究人員都相信,吸煙是導(dǎo)致肺癌、喉癌的重要因素,還認(rèn)為口腔癌也與此有關(guān)。
「例3」The association of“substances”in the environment with the development of cancer was suggested in 1975 by Sir Percivall Pott,who reported the frequent occurrence of cancer of the scrotum in chimney sweeps chronically exposed to flue dusts.譯文:1975年,Percivall Pott爵士提出,自然界中的“物質(zhì)”與癌癥的產(chǎn)生有聯(lián)系。他說,在清掃煙囪時(shí),長(zhǎng)期和煙道中的灰塵接觸使患陰囊癌的幾率大大提高。
「例4」In the immeasurable length of time since this form of behavior was acquired by the human race,language has always been the best integrated and most often used medium of cultural expression.譯文:在漫長(zhǎng)的歷史長(zhǎng)河中,自從人類習(xí)得了語(yǔ)言這種形式,它一直是最完整、最常用的文化交流媒介。
2)其他介詞,如in,for后的賓語(yǔ)翻譯成漢語(yǔ)譯文中的主語(yǔ),而英語(yǔ)原文中的主語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換成了漢語(yǔ)譯文中的賓語(yǔ)。
「例1」Agricultural technique spreading centers have been set up everywhere in that province,helping farmers to do their work in a more scientific way.譯文:該省已普遍成立了農(nóng)技推廣中心,幫助農(nóng)民以更加科學(xué)的方法種田。
「例2」And it is imagined by many that the operations of the common mind can be by no means compared with these processes,and that they have to be acquired by a sort of special training.(1993年考研試題)
譯文:許多人以為,普通人的思維活動(dòng)根本無(wú)法與科學(xué)家的思維過程相比,認(rèn)為這些思維過程經(jīng)過某種專門訓(xùn)練才能掌握。
「例3」Its crystal clear:whats been schemed for in his plan is power rather than money.譯文:很清楚,他這個(gè)計(jì)劃圖謀的是權(quán),而不是錢。
(3)使用泛指主語(yǔ),或譯成無(wú)主句,即用“有人、人們、大家、據(jù)說、據(jù)報(bào)道”等表達(dá)法來轉(zhuǎn)換被動(dòng)意義;或者漢語(yǔ)譯文中缺省主語(yǔ)或沒有必要指出動(dòng)作的執(zhí)行者。通??梢赃@樣翻譯的有如下結(jié)構(gòu):It is asserted that… 有人主張……
It is enumerated that… 有人列舉……
It is sometimes asked that… 人們有時(shí)會(huì)問……
It is generally agreed that… 人們通常認(rèn)為……
It is suggested that… 有人建議……
It is recommended that… 有人推薦……
It is generally considered that… 大家認(rèn)為……
It is well known that… 大家知道(眾所周知)……
It is reported that… 據(jù)報(bào)道……
It is supposed that… 據(jù)推測(cè)……
It is estimated that… 據(jù)估計(jì)……
It is predicted that… 據(jù)預(yù)測(cè)……
It is found that… 據(jù)發(fā)現(xiàn)……
It is said that… 據(jù)說……
It is told that… 據(jù)傳……
It is hoped that… 希望……
It must be pointed out that… 必須指出的是……
It will be seen from this that… 由此可見……
It may be said without fear of exaggeration that… 可以毫不夸張地說……
It can be safely said that… 可以有把握地說……
下面舉例說明:「例1」But in 1890s a person might have thought it unlikely if he had been told that the entire urban landscape of the planet would be modified to accommodate the automobile.譯文:對(duì)于一個(gè)生活在19世紀(jì)90年代的人來說,如果有人告訴他要改變地球上的城區(qū)面貌以便適應(yīng)汽車的使用,他認(rèn)為這不可能。
「例2」It was long been assumed that aggression is caused by male hormones.Scientists today believe that male hormones are only part of the explanation,however.They say aggressiveness in boys is also caused by mothers.譯文:長(zhǎng)期以來,人們一直認(rèn)為,這種進(jìn)取精神是雄性激素所致。不過現(xiàn)在科學(xué)家們相信雄性激素只是部分原因。他們說,男孩子的進(jìn)取心也是他們的母親所致。
(4)譯成“被”字句,“被”也可以用“叫、讓、給”等介詞替代。
「例1」Children will play with toys equipped with personality chips,computers with in-built personalities will be regarded as workmates rather than tools,relaxation will be in front of smell television,and digital age will have arrived.(2001年考研試題)
譯文:兒童將與裝有個(gè)性化芯片的玩具玩耍,具有個(gè)性內(nèi)置的計(jì)算機(jī)將被視為工作伙伴而不是工具,人們將在氣味電視機(jī)前休閑,屆時(shí)數(shù)字化時(shí)代就來臨了。
「例2」They may have been a source of part of the atmosphere of the terrestrial planets,and they are believed to have been the planetesimal——like building blocks for some of the outer planets and their satellites.譯文:它們可能一直是地球行星的一部分大氣的來源。它們還被認(rèn)為是構(gòu)成外部行星以及其衛(wèi)星的一種類似微星的基礎(chǔ)材料。
「例3」There is also the danger of more people knowing things we would like to keep private.The more information is stored in computer,the greater the possibility of it being misused or accessed by the wrong people.譯文:人們希望秘而不宣的隱私也將遇到被較多人探測(cè)出來的危險(xiǎn)。在電腦存儲(chǔ)的信息越多,被無(wú)關(guān)的人盜用或攫取的可能性就越大。
「例4」Any time we would surely be spotted by enemy planes flying in and out of the airfield.譯文:我們隨時(shí)都會(huì)被出入機(jī)場(chǎng)的敵機(jī)發(fā)現(xiàn)。
「例5」The murder was caught yesterday,and it is said that he will be hanged.譯文:兇手已于昨天被捕,據(jù)說他將會(huì)被絞死。
(5)譯成“……的”或“……是……的……”:有些句子可以根據(jù)上下文的需要譯成帶表語(yǔ)性的主動(dòng)句。例如:「例1」The idea of human society and of man himself as a reasoning being can not be separated from the fact men possess language.譯文:人類社會(huì)的建立和人類自身之所以有理性是與其掌握了語(yǔ)言分不開的。
「例2」Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.譯文:沙灘上的足跡是走出來的。
「例3」On the whole such an conclusion can be drawn with a certain degree of confidence,but only if the child can be assumed to have had the same attitude towards the test as the other with whom he is being compared,and only if he was not punished by lack of relevant information which they possessed.譯文:總的來說,得出這樣的結(jié)論是有一定把握程度的,但必須具備兩個(gè)條件:能夠假定這個(gè)孩子對(duì)測(cè)試的態(tài)度和與他比較的另一個(gè)孩子的態(tài)度相同;他也沒有因?yàn)槿狈e的孩子已掌握的有關(guān)知識(shí)而被扣分。(注意上述翻譯技巧在本題中的綜合運(yùn)用。本題中的其他三處被動(dòng)形式“can be assumed”、“is being compared”、“was not punished”分別按“無(wú)主句法”、“被動(dòng)隱含法”以及“被動(dòng)譯法”分別譯出。)
「例4」Poets are born,but orators are made.譯文:詩(shī)人是天生的,而演說家是后天造就的。
「例5」They(visual images)are formed,in ways we do not understand,out of the signals or information reaching us from the environment.譯文:它們(視覺影像)是通過我們從外界環(huán)境中接受的信號(hào)與信息而形成的,而這一過程是我們無(wú)法理解的。除此之外,對(duì)于被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的翻譯還有諸如譯成“受、遭受、遭到、受到、叫做”等多種譯法。如:「例6」The behavior of a fluid flowing through a pipe is affected by a number of factors,including the viscosity of the fluid and the speed at which it is pumped.譯文:流體在管道中流動(dòng)的情況,受到諸如流體粘度、泵送速度等各種因素的影響。
「例7」Throw a tennis ball on the floor.The ball bounces back.In the same way,when light falls on certain things it bounces back.When this happens,the light is said to be reflected.譯文:將網(wǎng)球扔到地板上,球會(huì)彈回來。同樣,光照到某些物體上時(shí)會(huì)彈回來。這種情況叫做受到反射。被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的翻譯方法不僅僅局限于上述幾種方法。因?yàn)闅w根究底,翻譯的方法和技能技巧的發(fā)揮必須以語(yǔ)言的交際功能為依據(jù)和依歸。在實(shí)際的語(yǔ)句翻譯中,被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的翻譯要求以上種種方法的綜合的、靈活的運(yùn)用,這是顯而易見的。
如上所述,我們根據(jù)近年來研究生英語(yǔ)入學(xué)考試中“英譯漢”試題中所出現(xiàn)的有關(guān)句法現(xiàn)象,對(duì)句子的內(nèi)在結(jié)構(gòu),尤其是對(duì)長(zhǎng)句的內(nèi)在結(jié)構(gòu)做了詳盡的分析。
要透徹分析長(zhǎng)句的深層結(jié)構(gòu),我們可以總結(jié)如下三點(diǎn):
● 一句話的意義大致可以分為三個(gè)互相制約的層次:詞匯意義、語(yǔ)法關(guān)系及主題關(guān)系。錯(cuò)誤的翻譯是表層詞匯意義的拼綴。句子的意義必須深入到詞項(xiàng)的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和句子的主題關(guān)系層。
● 要抓住句子中詞項(xiàng)與詞項(xiàng)之間的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和主題關(guān)系。必須識(shí)別英語(yǔ)的兩大類詞,即形態(tài)詞與結(jié)構(gòu)詞。形態(tài)詞即我們經(jīng)常所說的名詞、形容詞、動(dòng)詞、副詞等;結(jié)構(gòu)詞即介詞、連詞、冠詞、關(guān)系代詞、關(guān)系副詞等。
● 考生抓住了一個(gè)句子的骨架含義后,對(duì)句子的分析并沒有告終,這時(shí)必須做的工作就是要找出每一個(gè)修飾成分的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和主題關(guān)系,以便確定其在深層結(jié)構(gòu)中的位置。
長(zhǎng)句的復(fù)雜性不言而喻,但只要考生對(duì)它們做出正確的拆分,理解各個(gè)組成部分之間的關(guān)系,再加上大量的練習(xí),相信會(huì)取得好成績(jī)的。
總之,在翻譯長(zhǎng)句時(shí),首先,不要因?yàn)榫渥犹L(zhǎng)而產(chǎn)生畏懼心理,因?yàn)椋瑹o(wú)論是多么復(fù)雜的句子,它都是由一些基本的成分組成的;其次,要弄清英語(yǔ)原文的句法結(jié)構(gòu),找出整個(gè)句子的中心內(nèi)容及其各層意思,然后分析這幾層意思之間的相互關(guān)系,再按照漢語(yǔ)的特點(diǎn)和表達(dá)方式,正確地譯出原文的意思,而不必拘泥于原文的形式。
第二節(jié) 英譯漢句法對(duì)比(下)
二、英譯漢的句式結(jié)構(gòu)轉(zhuǎn)換
4.英語(yǔ)倒裝句的漢譯長(zhǎng)句的翻譯中經(jīng)常還涉及英語(yǔ)倒裝句結(jié)構(gòu)的漢譯問題,我們?cè)诖酥皇亲龊?jiǎn)單的介紹。倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)主要出于上下文或語(yǔ)氣上的需要,以使說話或文章重心突出有力。而在漢語(yǔ)中,很少使用倒裝結(jié)構(gòu),這主要是因?yàn)闈h語(yǔ)本身所固有的特點(diǎn)決定的,所以翻譯時(shí),翻譯成正常結(jié)構(gòu)就可以了,只是在必要時(shí)增加某些強(qiáng)調(diào)詞,如“正是,就是,恰恰是”等。
在考研英語(yǔ)的英譯漢試題中,倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)主要有:①虛擬條件句中的倒裝;②“only+狀語(yǔ)”結(jié)構(gòu)位于句首的倒裝;③具有否定意義的詞或詞組位于句首時(shí)的倒裝;④as/thought引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語(yǔ)從句的倒裝;⑤so/neither引導(dǎo)的倒裝句;⑥修辭倒裝等。
下面舉幾個(gè)這方面的例子:「例1」Odd though it sounds, cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementaryparticle physics,and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true.(1998年考研試題)(畫線部分為語(yǔ)法倒裝)
譯文:宇宙膨脹說雖然聽似奇特,但它是基本粒子物理學(xué)中一些公認(rèn)的理論在科學(xué)上看來似乎可信的推論。許多天體物理學(xué)家七八年來一直確信這一論說是正確的。
「例2」Animals fight,so do savages,hence to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good,but it is not to be civilized.(畫線部分為語(yǔ)法倒裝)
譯文:動(dòng)物彼此相斗,原始時(shí)代未開化的人也是這樣,因此善于爭(zhēng)斗就是善于做動(dòng)物或者原始時(shí)代人所善于做的事情,但這不是文明或開化的表現(xiàn)。
「例3」Central to the communicative approach is the perception that language is not just a system of rules,but“a dynamic source for creation of meaning”。(本題是修辭倒裝的一個(gè)典型例子)
譯文:語(yǔ)言不僅僅是一整套規(guī)則,而且是“創(chuàng)作意義的極有潛力的源泉”,這一概念是交際法的中心內(nèi)容。
「例4」Only rarely does a coherent picture emerge;in a sense coherence must be imposed on events by the decision maker,who seizes the challenge and turns it into opportunity by assessing correctly both the circumstances and his margin for creative action.(畫線部分為語(yǔ)法倒裝)
譯文:決策人要能對(duì)自己采取獨(dú)到的行動(dòng)的情勢(shì)作出正確的估量,對(duì)自己采取這種行動(dòng)的回旋余地作出正確的估計(jì),而后才能抓住時(shí)機(jī),將危機(jī)轉(zhuǎn)化為良機(jī)。這時(shí)才有可能出現(xiàn)事態(tài)的順利發(fā)展。有條不紊的景象自行出現(xiàn)的情況是十分罕見。
「例5」As families move away from their stable community,their friends of many years,their extended family relationships,the informal flow of information is cut off,and with it disappears the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable.(畫線部分為修辭倒裝)
譯文:由于許多家庭離開舊地,離開了多年好友和各種家屬關(guān)系,日常信息的隨意交流中斷了。對(duì)于信息的及時(shí)性、確切性和可靠性的信心也隨之喪失。
5.英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的漢譯英語(yǔ)中被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的使用范圍極為廣泛,尤其是在科技文體和說明文體中,被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)幾乎隨處可見。英漢對(duì)比,英語(yǔ)的被動(dòng)句顯然多于漢語(yǔ)。在很多情況下,漢語(yǔ)在主謂之間的關(guān)系上并不十分重視,而一律用主動(dòng)式。這是因?yàn)闈h語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞不具備英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞那樣的形態(tài)變化,因而主要依賴于詞匯手段以及句式來表示被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài),而且在很多情況下主謂之間的被動(dòng)關(guān)系是隱含的。對(duì)于英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)句的翻譯,我們經(jīng)常采用以下方法:(1)被動(dòng)隱含法。這種方法是指將被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)譯為主動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)時(shí),被動(dòng)形式隱含,即原文中的主語(yǔ)在譯文中做主語(yǔ),有時(shí)我們需要添加諸如“加以、予以、給以、經(jīng)過、用……來、由……所、靠……來”等詞來體現(xiàn)原文的被動(dòng)含義。例如:「例1」This ability to speak was of great value because it allowed men to share ideas,and to plan to gether,so that tasks impossible for a single person could be successfully undertaken by intelligent teamwork.譯文:這種說話能力具有非常重要的意義,因?yàn)樗苁谷藗兘涣魉枷?,一起商量問題。這樣,單個(gè)人不勝任的任務(wù)可以靠集體智慧來順利完成。
「例2」In other words,mineral substances which are found on earth must be extracted by digging,boring holes,artificial explosions,or similar operations which make them available to us.譯文:換言之,礦物就是存在于地球上,但須經(jīng)過挖掘、鉆孔、人工爆破或類似作業(yè)才能獲得的物質(zhì)。
「例3」They consider the increase in various forms of cancer may possibly be explained by other factors in the complex human environment——atmospheric pollution,increased nervous stress,chemical substances in processed food,or chemical pesticides that are now being used by farmers in vast quantities to destroy insects and small animals.譯文:他們認(rèn)為各種癌癥的增多也許可以說是由于人類復(fù)雜環(huán)境中另外一些因素所引起的,像大氣污染、神經(jīng)緊張加劇、經(jīng)過加工的食品中的化學(xué)物質(zhì),或者農(nóng)民大量用來殺死昆蟲和小動(dòng)物的化學(xué)殺蟲劑等等。
「例4」Those who support the“nature”side of the conflict believe that our personalities and behavior patterns are largely determined by biological factors.(1990年考研試題)
譯文:在這場(chǎng)爭(zhēng)論中,贊成“天性”一方的那些人認(rèn)為,我們的性格特征和行為模式大多是由生物因素所決定的。
「例5」I would suggest,however,that this minimum of subsistence should be limited to a definite period of time,lets say two years,so as to avoid the encouraging of an abnormal attitude which refuses any kind of social obligation.譯文:然而,我想建議,這種生活維持費(fèi)必須限制在一定的期限內(nèi),譬如說兩年,以避免鼓勵(lì)一種反常的態(tài)度,即不肯承擔(dān)任何社會(huì)義務(wù)。
(2)主語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換法。這種轉(zhuǎn)換方式有以下幾種:1)英文中的主語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換成漢語(yǔ)譯文中的賓語(yǔ),英文中介詞by后的賓語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換成漢語(yǔ)譯文中的主語(yǔ)。
「例1」By the end of 1994,more than 9600 patients had been cured of leukaemia by Dr. Black Smith,a famous medical doctor.譯文:到1994年底,醫(yī)生布萊克。史密斯大夫已為9600人治好了白血病。
「例2」Cigarette smoking is believed by most research workers in this field to be an important factor in the development of cancer of the lungs and cancer of the throat,and is believed to be related to cancer of the oral cavity.譯文:大多數(shù)研究人員都相信,吸煙是導(dǎo)致肺癌、喉癌的重要因素,還認(rèn)為口腔癌也與此有關(guān)。
「例3」The association of“substances”in the environment with the development of cancer was suggested in 1975 by Sir Percivall Pott,who reported the frequent occurrence of cancer of the scrotum in chimney sweeps chronically exposed to flue dusts.譯文:1975年,Percivall Pott爵士提出,自然界中的“物質(zhì)”與癌癥的產(chǎn)生有聯(lián)系。他說,在清掃煙囪時(shí),長(zhǎng)期和煙道中的灰塵接觸使患陰囊癌的幾率大大提高。
「例4」In the immeasurable length of time since this form of behavior was acquired by the human race,language has always been the best integrated and most often used medium of cultural expression.譯文:在漫長(zhǎng)的歷史長(zhǎng)河中,自從人類習(xí)得了語(yǔ)言這種形式,它一直是最完整、最常用的文化交流媒介。
2)其他介詞,如in,for后的賓語(yǔ)翻譯成漢語(yǔ)譯文中的主語(yǔ),而英語(yǔ)原文中的主語(yǔ)轉(zhuǎn)換成了漢語(yǔ)譯文中的賓語(yǔ)。
「例1」Agricultural technique spreading centers have been set up everywhere in that province,helping farmers to do their work in a more scientific way.譯文:該省已普遍成立了農(nóng)技推廣中心,幫助農(nóng)民以更加科學(xué)的方法種田。
「例2」And it is imagined by many that the operations of the common mind can be by no means compared with these processes,and that they have to be acquired by a sort of special training.(1993年考研試題)
譯文:許多人以為,普通人的思維活動(dòng)根本無(wú)法與科學(xué)家的思維過程相比,認(rèn)為這些思維過程經(jīng)過某種專門訓(xùn)練才能掌握。
「例3」Its crystal clear:whats been schemed for in his plan is power rather than money.譯文:很清楚,他這個(gè)計(jì)劃圖謀的是權(quán),而不是錢。
(3)使用泛指主語(yǔ),或譯成無(wú)主句,即用“有人、人們、大家、據(jù)說、據(jù)報(bào)道”等表達(dá)法來轉(zhuǎn)換被動(dòng)意義;或者漢語(yǔ)譯文中缺省主語(yǔ)或沒有必要指出動(dòng)作的執(zhí)行者。通??梢赃@樣翻譯的有如下結(jié)構(gòu):It is asserted that… 有人主張……
It is enumerated that… 有人列舉……
It is sometimes asked that… 人們有時(shí)會(huì)問……
It is generally agreed that… 人們通常認(rèn)為……
It is suggested that… 有人建議……
It is recommended that… 有人推薦……
It is generally considered that… 大家認(rèn)為……
It is well known that… 大家知道(眾所周知)……
It is reported that… 據(jù)報(bào)道……
It is supposed that… 據(jù)推測(cè)……
It is estimated that… 據(jù)估計(jì)……
It is predicted that… 據(jù)預(yù)測(cè)……
It is found that… 據(jù)發(fā)現(xiàn)……
It is said that… 據(jù)說……
It is told that… 據(jù)傳……
It is hoped that… 希望……
It must be pointed out that… 必須指出的是……
It will be seen from this that… 由此可見……
It may be said without fear of exaggeration that… 可以毫不夸張地說……
It can be safely said that… 可以有把握地說……
下面舉例說明:「例1」But in 1890s a person might have thought it unlikely if he had been told that the entire urban landscape of the planet would be modified to accommodate the automobile.譯文:對(duì)于一個(gè)生活在19世紀(jì)90年代的人來說,如果有人告訴他要改變地球上的城區(qū)面貌以便適應(yīng)汽車的使用,他認(rèn)為這不可能。
「例2」It was long been assumed that aggression is caused by male hormones.Scientists today believe that male hormones are only part of the explanation,however.They say aggressiveness in boys is also caused by mothers.譯文:長(zhǎng)期以來,人們一直認(rèn)為,這種進(jìn)取精神是雄性激素所致。不過現(xiàn)在科學(xué)家們相信雄性激素只是部分原因。他們說,男孩子的進(jìn)取心也是他們的母親所致。
(4)譯成“被”字句,“被”也可以用“叫、讓、給”等介詞替代。
「例1」Children will play with toys equipped with personality chips,computers with in-built personalities will be regarded as workmates rather than tools,relaxation will be in front of smell television,and digital age will have arrived.(2001年考研試題)
譯文:兒童將與裝有個(gè)性化芯片的玩具玩耍,具有個(gè)性內(nèi)置的計(jì)算機(jī)將被視為工作伙伴而不是工具,人們將在氣味電視機(jī)前休閑,屆時(shí)數(shù)字化時(shí)代就來臨了。
「例2」They may have been a source of part of the atmosphere of the terrestrial planets,and they are believed to have been the planetesimal——like building blocks for some of the outer planets and their satellites.譯文:它們可能一直是地球行星的一部分大氣的來源。它們還被認(rèn)為是構(gòu)成外部行星以及其衛(wèi)星的一種類似微星的基礎(chǔ)材料。
「例3」There is also the danger of more people knowing things we would like to keep private.The more information is stored in computer,the greater the possibility of it being misused or accessed by the wrong people.譯文:人們希望秘而不宣的隱私也將遇到被較多人探測(cè)出來的危險(xiǎn)。在電腦存儲(chǔ)的信息越多,被無(wú)關(guān)的人盜用或攫取的可能性就越大。
「例4」Any time we would surely be spotted by enemy planes flying in and out of the airfield.譯文:我們隨時(shí)都會(huì)被出入機(jī)場(chǎng)的敵機(jī)發(fā)現(xiàn)。
「例5」The murder was caught yesterday,and it is said that he will be hanged.譯文:兇手已于昨天被捕,據(jù)說他將會(huì)被絞死。
(5)譯成“……的”或“……是……的……”:有些句子可以根據(jù)上下文的需要譯成帶表語(yǔ)性的主動(dòng)句。例如:「例1」The idea of human society and of man himself as a reasoning being can not be separated from the fact men possess language.譯文:人類社會(huì)的建立和人類自身之所以有理性是與其掌握了語(yǔ)言分不開的。
「例2」Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.譯文:沙灘上的足跡是走出來的。
「例3」On the whole such an conclusion can be drawn with a certain degree of confidence,but only if the child can be assumed to have had the same attitude towards the test as the other with whom he is being compared,and only if he was not punished by lack of relevant information which they possessed.譯文:總的來說,得出這樣的結(jié)論是有一定把握程度的,但必須具備兩個(gè)條件:能夠假定這個(gè)孩子對(duì)測(cè)試的態(tài)度和與他比較的另一個(gè)孩子的態(tài)度相同;他也沒有因?yàn)槿狈e的孩子已掌握的有關(guān)知識(shí)而被扣分。(注意上述翻譯技巧在本題中的綜合運(yùn)用。本題中的其他三處被動(dòng)形式“can be assumed”、“is being compared”、“was not punished”分別按“無(wú)主句法”、“被動(dòng)隱含法”以及“被動(dòng)譯法”分別譯出。)
「例4」Poets are born,but orators are made.譯文:詩(shī)人是天生的,而演說家是后天造就的。
「例5」They(visual images)are formed,in ways we do not understand,out of the signals or information reaching us from the environment.譯文:它們(視覺影像)是通過我們從外界環(huán)境中接受的信號(hào)與信息而形成的,而這一過程是我們無(wú)法理解的。除此之外,對(duì)于被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的翻譯還有諸如譯成“受、遭受、遭到、受到、叫做”等多種譯法。如:「例6」The behavior of a fluid flowing through a pipe is affected by a number of factors,including the viscosity of the fluid and the speed at which it is pumped.譯文:流體在管道中流動(dòng)的情況,受到諸如流體粘度、泵送速度等各種因素的影響。
「例7」Throw a tennis ball on the floor.The ball bounces back.In the same way,when light falls on certain things it bounces back.When this happens,the light is said to be reflected.譯文:將網(wǎng)球扔到地板上,球會(huì)彈回來。同樣,光照到某些物體上時(shí)會(huì)彈回來。這種情況叫做受到反射。被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的翻譯方法不僅僅局限于上述幾種方法。因?yàn)闅w根究底,翻譯的方法和技能技巧的發(fā)揮必須以語(yǔ)言的交際功能為依據(jù)和依歸。在實(shí)際的語(yǔ)句翻譯中,被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的翻譯要求以上種種方法的綜合的、靈活的運(yùn)用,這是顯而易見的。
如上所述,我們根據(jù)近年來研究生英語(yǔ)入學(xué)考試中“英譯漢”試題中所出現(xiàn)的有關(guān)句法現(xiàn)象,對(duì)句子的內(nèi)在結(jié)構(gòu),尤其是對(duì)長(zhǎng)句的內(nèi)在結(jié)構(gòu)做了詳盡的分析。
要透徹分析長(zhǎng)句的深層結(jié)構(gòu),我們可以總結(jié)如下三點(diǎn):
● 一句話的意義大致可以分為三個(gè)互相制約的層次:詞匯意義、語(yǔ)法關(guān)系及主題關(guān)系。錯(cuò)誤的翻譯是表層詞匯意義的拼綴。句子的意義必須深入到詞項(xiàng)的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和句子的主題關(guān)系層。
● 要抓住句子中詞項(xiàng)與詞項(xiàng)之間的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和主題關(guān)系。必須識(shí)別英語(yǔ)的兩大類詞,即形態(tài)詞與結(jié)構(gòu)詞。形態(tài)詞即我們經(jīng)常所說的名詞、形容詞、動(dòng)詞、副詞等;結(jié)構(gòu)詞即介詞、連詞、冠詞、關(guān)系代詞、關(guān)系副詞等。
● 考生抓住了一個(gè)句子的骨架含義后,對(duì)句子的分析并沒有告終,這時(shí)必須做的工作就是要找出每一個(gè)修飾成分的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和主題關(guān)系,以便確定其在深層結(jié)構(gòu)中的位置。
長(zhǎng)句的復(fù)雜性不言而喻,但只要考生對(duì)它們做出正確的拆分,理解各個(gè)組成部分之間的關(guān)系,再加上大量的練習(xí),相信會(huì)取得好成績(jī)的。
總之,在翻譯長(zhǎng)句時(shí),首先,不要因?yàn)榫渥犹L(zhǎng)而產(chǎn)生畏懼心理,因?yàn)椋瑹o(wú)論是多么復(fù)雜的句子,它都是由一些基本的成分組成的;其次,要弄清英語(yǔ)原文的句法結(jié)構(gòu),找出整個(gè)句子的中心內(nèi)容及其各層意思,然后分析這幾層意思之間的相互關(guān)系,再按照漢語(yǔ)的特點(diǎn)和表達(dá)方式,正確地譯出原文的意思,而不必拘泥于原文的形式。