翻译不丢分,考研英语翻译全能技巧解析(上)
考研英语中的翻译一直是考生认为性价比最低的考点之一,尽管在复习前期投注诸多心血,但是往往却只能收获很低的分。对于这种难度系数较高的考察方式,解题技巧能够在很大程度上帮助你快速审题并解题。在强化了考研基础知识的同时,也是时候来一波技能的学习了。►长句翻译
●分句法
有时英语长句中主语或主句与修饰词的关系并不十分密切,翻译时可以按照汉语多用短句的习惯,把长句的从句或短语化成句子,分开来叙述,为了使语意连贯,有时需要适当增加词语。
例如:
例1. The number of the young people in the United States who can`t read is incredible about one in four.
上句在英语中是一个相对简单的句子,但是如果我们按照原文的句子结构死译,就可能被翻译成:
没有阅读能力的美国青年人的数目令人难以相信约为1/4。这样,就使得译文极为不通顺,不符合汉语的表达习惯,因此,我们应该把它译为:大约有1/4的美国青年人没有阅读能力,这简直令人难以置信。
例2. Television,it is often said,keeps one informed about current events,allow one to follow the latest developments in science and politics,and offers an endless series of programmes which bare both instructive and entertaining. (85年考题)
分析:在此长句中,有一个插入语“it is often said”,三个并列的谓语结构,还有一个定语从句,这三个并列的谓语结构尽管在结构上同属于同一个句子,但都有独立的意义,因此在翻译时,可以采用分句法,按照汉语的习惯把整个句子分解成几个独立的分句,结果为:人们常说,通过电视可以了解时事,掌握科学和政治的最新动态。从电视里还可以
看到层出不穷、既有教育意义又有娱乐性的新节目。
下面我们再举一个例子:
例3. All they have to do is press a button,and they can see plays,films,operas,and shows of every kind,not to mention political discussions and the latest exciting football match. (85年考题)
他们所必须做的只是按一下开关。开关一开,就可以看到电视剧、电影、歌剧,以及其他各种各样的文艺节目。至于政治问题的辩论、最近的激动人心的足球赛更是不在话下。
例4. Although perhaps only 1 per cent of the life that has started somewhere will develop into highly complex and intelligent patterns,so vast is the number of planets that intelligent life is bound to be a natural part of the universe.
虽然在某处已经开始的生命中可能仅有百分之一会发展成高度复杂、有智慧的型式,但是行星的数目如此之多,以致有智慧的生命一定是宇宙的一个天然组成部分。
●逆序法
英语有些长句的表达次序与汉语表达习惯不同,甚至完全相反,这时必须从原文后面开始翻译。
例如:
例1. Aluminum remained unknown until the nineteenth century,because nowhere in nature is it found free,owing to its always being combined with other elements,most commonly with oxygen,for which it has a strong affinity.
分析:这个句子由一个主句,两个原因状语和一个定语从句,“铝直到19世纪才被人
发现”是主句,也是全句的中心内容,全句共有四个谓语结构,共有五层意思:
A.铝直到19世纪才被人发现;
B.由于在自然界找不到游离状态的铝;
C.由于它总是跟其他元素结合在一起;
D.最普遍的是跟氧结合;
E.铝跟氧有很强的亲和力。
按照汉语的表达习惯通常因在前,果在后,这样,我们可以逆着原文的顺序把该句翻译成:铝总是跟其他元素结合在一起,最普遍的是跟氧结合;因为铝跟氧有很强的亲和力,由于这个原因,在自然界找不到游离状态的铝。所以,铝直到19世纪才被人发现。
例2. It therefore becomes more and more important that,if students are not to waste their opportunities,there will have to be much more detailed information about courses and more advice.
分析:该句由一个主句,一个条件状语从句和一个宾语从句组成,“……变得越来越重要”是主句,也是全句的中心内容,全句共有三个谓语结构,包含三层含义:
A.……变的越来越重要;
B.如果要使学生充分利用他们的机会;
C.得为他们提供大量更为详尽的信息,作更多的指导。
为了使译文符合汉语的表达习惯,我们也采用逆序法,翻译成:因此,如果要使学生充分利用他们(上大学)的机会,就得为他们提供大量关于课程的更为详尽的信息,作更多的指导。这个问题显得越来越重要了。
下面我们再举几个实例:
例3. It is probably easier for teachers than for students to appreciate the reasons why learning English seems to become increasingly difficult once the basic structures and patterns of the language have been understood.
一旦了解英语的基本结构和句型,再往下学似乎就越来越难了,这其中的原因,也许教师比学生更容易理解。
例4. They (the poor) are the first to experience technological progress as a curse which destroysthe old muscle-power jobs that previous generations used as a means to fight their way out of poverty.
对于以往几代人来说,旧式的体力劳动是一种用以摆脱贫困的手段,而技术的进步则摧毁了穷人赖以为生的体力劳动,因此首先体验到技术进步之害的是穷人。
例5.A great number of graduate students were driven into the intellectual slum when in the United States the intellectual poor became the classic poor,the poor under the rather romantic guise of the Beat Generation,a real phenomenon in the late fifties.
50年代后期的美国出现了一个任何人都不可能视而不见的现象,穷知识分子以“跨掉的一代”这种颇为浪漫的姿态出现而成为美国典型的穷人,正是这个时候大批大学生被赶进了知识分子的贫民窟。
例6. Such is a human nature in the West that a great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the privilege of becoming white collar workers.
许多人宁愿牺牲比较高的工资以换取成为白领工人的社会地位,这在西方倒是人之常情。
例7. Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world;they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds,if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals.
假如没有那些以昆虫为食的动物保护我们,昆虫将吞噬我们所有的庄稼,害死我们的牛羊家畜,使我们不能生存于世。
●顺序法
当英语长句的内容的叙述层次与汉语基本一致时,可以按照英语原文的顺序翻译成汉语。例如:
例1. Even when we turn off the beside lamp and are fast asleep,electricity is working for us,driving our refrigerators,heating our water,or keeping our rooms air-conditioned. (84年考题)
分析:该句子由一个主句,三个作伴随状语的现在分词以及位于句首的时间状语从句组成,共有五层意思:A.既使在我们关掉了床头灯深深地进入梦乡时;B.电仍在为我们工作;C.帮我们开动电冰箱;D.加热水;E.或是室内空调机继续运转。上述五层意思的逻辑关系以及表达的顺序与汉语完全一致,因此,我们可以通过顺序法,把该句翻译成:即使在我们关掉了床头灯深深地进入梦乡时,电仍在为我们工作:帮我们开动电冰箱,把水加热,或使室内空调机继续运转。
例2. But now it is realized that supplies of some of them are limited,and it is even possibleto give a reasonable estimate of their “expectation of life”,the time it will take to exhaust allknown sources and reserves of these materials. (84年考题)
分析:该句的骨干结构为“It is realized that…”,it为形式主语,that引导着主语从句以及并列的it is even possible to…结构,其中,不定式作主语,the time…是“expectationof life”的同位语,进一步解释其含义,而time后面的句子是它的定语从句。五个谓语结构,表达了四个层次的意义:
A.可是现在人们意识到;
B.其中有些矿物质的蕴藏量是有限的;
C.人们甚至还可以比较合理的估计出这些矿物质“可望存在多少年”;
D.将这些已知矿源和储量将消耗殆尽的时间。
根据同位语从句的翻译方法,把第四层意义的表达作适当的调整,整个句子就翻译为:
可是现在人们意识到,其中有些矿物质的蕴藏量是有限的,人们甚至还可以比较合理的估计出这些矿物质“可望存在多少年”,也就是说,经过若干年后,这些矿物的全部已知矿源和储量将消耗殆尽。
下面我们再列举几个实例:
例3. Prior to the twentieth century,women in novels were stereotypes of lacking anyfeatures that made them unique individuals and were also subject to numerous restrictionsimposed by the male-dominated culture.
在20世纪以前,小说中的妇女像都是一个模式。她们没有任何特点,因而无法成为具有个性的人;他们还要屈从于由男性主宰的文化传统强加给他们的种种束缚。
例4. This method of using“controls”can be applied to a variety of situations,and can beused to find the answer to questions as widely different as “Must moisture be present if iron is torust?” and “Which variety of beans gives the greatest yield in one season?”
这种使用参照物的方法可以应用于许多种情况,也能用来找到很不相同的各种问题的答案,从“铁生锈,是否必须有一定的湿度才行?”到“哪种豆类一季的产量最高?”
例5. It begins as a childlike interest in the grand spectacle and exciting event;it grows as amature interest in the variety and complexity of the drama,the splendid achievements and terriblefailures;it ends as deep sense of the mystery of man`s life of all the dead,great and obscure,who once walked the earth,and of wonderful and awful possibilities of being a human being.
我们对历史的爱好起源于我们最初仅对一些历史上的宏伟场面和激动人心的事件感到孩童般的兴趣;其后,这种爱好变得成熟起来,我们开始对历史这出“戏剧”的多样性和复杂性,对历史上的辉煌成就和悲壮失败也感兴趣;对历史的爱好,最终以我们对人类生命的一种深沉的神秘感而告结束。对死去的,无论是伟大与平凡,所有在这个地球上走过而已逝的人,都有能取得伟大奇迹或制造可怕事件的潜力。
例6. If parents were prepared for this adolescent reaction,and realized that it was a sign that the child was growing up and developing valuable powers of observation and independent judgment,they would not be so hurt,and therefore would not drive the child into opposition byresenting and resisting it.
如果做父母的对这种青少年的反应有所准备,而且认为这是一个显示出孩子正在成长,正在发展珍贵的观察力和独立的判断力的标志,他们就不会感到如此伤心,所以也就不会因对此有愤恨和反对的情绪而把孩子推到对立面去。
►句式翻译
●代词句式
(一)人称代词及物主代词的指代
【真题例句】
Additional social stress may also occur because of the population explosion or problems arising from mass migration movements--themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport.
【解析】
从结构来看,该句because of 的后边接两个名词短语the population explosion和problems arising from mass migration movements--themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport来表示原因。其中,第二个名词短语又含有一个短语themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport,来补充说明mass migration movements。因此,这里的代词themselves 指代名词短语mass migration movements。
【参考译文】由于人口的猛增或大量的人口流动(现代交通工具使这种流通变得相对容易)造成的种种问题也回对社会造成新的压力。
(二)不定代词的指代
【真题例句】
While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.
【解析】
不定代词one 指代名词短语definition of history。在这里one 和物主代词及人称代词在指代名词方面有所不同, one 指代上文出现的名词的同类名词,其中,one 表示单数,ones表示复数;而物主代词及人称代词必须指代上文中出现的名词本身,所以单复数必须一致。比如这里若要用人称代词,则必须用they/them来指代上文中复数形式的definitions of history。
【参考译文】几乎每个历史学家对史学都有自己的界定,但现代史学家的实践最趋向于认为历史学是试图重现过去的重大史实并对其作出解释。
(三)指示代词的指代
【真题例句】
Everybody has a responsibility to the society of which he is a part and through this to mankind.
【解析】
这里的this指代前面的a responsibility to the society,如果只是译成"这个",则会造成语义不明。在to mankind之前省去了Everybody has a responsibility (to)。
【参考译文】每个人都对他所属的社会负有责任,并且通过对社会负责任,而对人类负有责任。
●分词句式
1.分词作状语,可以表示时间、条件、原因、结果(补充说明)、让步、伴随等。分词做状语时,它的逻辑主语与句子的主语一致。作状语的分词相当于一个状语从句。分词在句子中作状语,使用何种分词,要取决于分词与句子主语的关系:主谓关系用现在分词,动宾或被动关系用过去分词。
2.分词作定语,做定语的单个的分词通常放在被修饰的名词之前,分词短语一般置于所修饰的中心词后面。现在分词修饰的是发出该动作的名词(与名词有主谓关系),过去分词修饰承受该动作的名词(与名词是动宾关系)。
在翻译时,需首先判断分词在句子中所承担的成分,然后参照定语从句和状语从句的相关翻译技巧来翻译即可。
【真题例句1】Being interested in the relationship of language and thought, Whorf developed the idea that the structure of language determines the structure of habitual thought in a society.
【解析】Being interested in…现在分词结构作状语,表原因。本句是一个主从复合句。句子的主干为"Whorf developed the idea",Being interested in…现在分词结构作状语,表原因。That引导同位语从句进一步解释说明idea。
【参考译文】沃尔夫对语言与思维的关系很感兴趣,因此逐渐形成了这样的观点:在一个社会中,语言的结构决定习惯性思维的结构。
【真题例句2】The emphasis on data gathered first hand, combined with a cross-cultural perspective brought to analysis of cultures past and present, makes this study a unique and distinctly important social science.
【解析】划线部分为过去分词作定语,句子的主干为"The emphasis makes this study a unique and distinctly important social science."。介词结构on data作后置定语修饰限定emphasis,过去分词结构gathered…作后置定语修饰限定data,过去分词结构combined with…作定语修饰限定emphasis,过去分词结构brought to作后置定语修饰限定perspective。
【参考译文】强调收集第一手资料,加上在分析过去与现在的文化形态时采用跨文化视角,使得人类学研究成为一门独特而且非常重要的社会科学。
【真题例句3】Feeling threatened, companies responded by writing ever-longer warning labels, trying to anticipate every possible accident.
【解析】现在分词结构Feeling threatened作状语,表原因;现在分词结构trying to…作状语,表目的。句子的主干为"companies responded by writing ever-longer warning labels",现在分词结构Feeling threatened作状语,表原因;现在分词结构trying to…作状语,表目的。
【参考译文】公司因此感到了威胁,便做出了反应,写出越来越长的警示标识语,力图预
先标明种种可能发生的事故。
●定语从句
定语从句的翻译方法主要有以下四种:
前置法:把定语从句的内容翻译成"……的",放在被修饰词的前面。
后置法:把定语从句的翻译放在被修饰词之后,定语从句的后置翻译分为三类:由which引导定语从句时一般翻译为"这";另一些引导词则在翻译时重复先行词,即被修饰词;还有一些引导词在翻译时可以省略不译。
融合法:将定语从句与主句融合为一个简单句的方法。这种用法往往用在"there be"结构带有定语从句的句型中。
状译法:如果主句和定语从句之间有明显逻辑关系,则翻译为状语。
【真题例句1】
Behaviorists suggest that the child who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his or her capacity for appropriate responses will experience greater intellectual development.
【解析】
可以拆分为:Behaviorists suggest //that the child //who is raised //in an environment// where there are many stimuli //which develop his or her capacity //for appropriate responses //will experience greater intellectual development.
本句的主干即是Behaviorists suggest that ...;that引导suggest的宾语从句,动词是will experience;who引导修饰child的定语从句,动词为is raised;where引导修饰environment的定语从句,动词为are;which引导修饰stimuli的定语从句,动词为develop。who引导的定语从句的翻译运用了"状译法",翻译为"如果……那么……";where引导的定语从句因比较短小而采取了前置法,放到了先行词environment的前面,翻译为"……的";which引导的定语从句翻译为转折关系。
【参考译文】
行为主义者的看法是,如果一个儿童在有许多刺激物的环境里成长,而这些刺激物能够发展其做出适当反应的能力,那么,这个儿童将会有更高的智力发展。
【真题例句2】
The Greeks assumed that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought, which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be.
【解析】
可以拆分为:The Greeks assumed //that the structure of language had some connection// with the process of thought, //which took root// in Europe //long before people realized //how diverse languages could be.
本句的主干即是:The Greeks assumed。That引导assumed的宾语从句,动词为had;which引导定语从句修饰前面的整个宾语从句,即希腊人的观点,句中动词是took;在此定语从句中,long before引导时间状语从句,动词是realized;其中how引导realized的宾语从句,从句动词为could be。which引导的定语从句在翻译时重复先行词,即前面整句,译为"这一观点"。
【参考译文】
希腊人认为,语言结构与思维过程之间存在着某种联系。这一观点在人们尚未认识到语言的千差万别以前就早已在欧洲扎下了根。
●词类转换句
词类转换就是把英语中的某种词性,转换成汉语中的另外一种词性来表达的翻译技巧。由于英汉语言的差异,在翻译时,需要进行此类的转换,下面介绍以下四种常考的词类转换技巧:
1.名词转换成动词
在翻译的过程中,会遇到大量由动词派生的名词或具有动作意义的名词,这些词在翻译时可以转译成汉语的动词。
【真题例句】
He disclaimed the possession of any great quickness of apprehension or wit, such as distinguished Huxley.
【解析】此处涉及到抽象名词具体化以及名词的词类转换。此处possession为名词,翻译中为了符合汉语表达习惯,翻译成动词。
【参考译文】他说自己并不像著名的赫胥黎那样拥有极好的理解力和敏锐的洞察力。
2.动词转换成名词
英语中有许多由名词派生的动词,以及由名词转用的动词,在翻译时往往不容易找到相应的动词,这时可以将其转译为名词。
The giraffe is characterized by its very long neck.
【参考译文】长颈鹿的特点是脖子很长。
3. 形容词转译成动词
在英语中,形容词常常与系动词搭配构成"系表结构"。"系表结构"做谓语,从而使这些形容词具有了动作的意味,翻译的时候需转换为动词。这些形容词包括表示知觉、思维、情感、欲望等心理状态的形容词。
常见的与思维和知觉相关的形容词有:aware, conscious, certain, sure, mindful, ignorant, alert等;与情感相关的形容词有:glad, pleased, cautious, careful, angry, happy, exhilarated, excited, confident, thankful, grateful, concerned, eager, afraid, doubtful, sorry等;与欲望相关的形容词有:desirous, hopeful, anxious, keen, enthusiastic, zealous等。
【真题例句】
Darwin was convinced that the loss of these tastes was not only a loss of happiness, but might possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character.
【参考译文】达尔文认为,没有了这些爱好,不仅仅意味着失去快乐,而且可能会损伤智力,更有甚者还可能损害道德品质。(或者"甚至可能导致一个人道德品质的下降")
4.形容词转译成副词
由于英语中的名词在翻译的时候可以转换成汉语动词,所以修饰该名词的形容词往往转译成汉语副词。
We must make full use of exiting technical equipment.
【参考译文】 我们必须充分利用现有的技术设备。
●被动语态
被动语态在英语中的使用得比汉语要多,在英语中极为重要。考研中常常涉及到这个问题。一般说来,当强调动作承受者,不必说出执行者或的执行者含糊不清时,多用被动语态。
主动和被动语态的对比:
主动语态
被动语态
一般现在时
①is\am\ are ②do/does(V.\V.s) am\is\ are +done(V. p.p)
一般将来时
will\be going to\be (about) to +do(V.) will +be +done(V. p.p)
一般过去时
①was\were ②did(V.-ed) was\were +done(V. p.p)
现在进行时
am\is\are +doing(V.-ing) am\is\are +doing +done(V. p.p)
过去进行时
was\were +doing(V.-ing) was\were +doing +done(V.p.p)
现在完成时
have\ has +done(V. p.p.) have\has +been +done(V. p.p)
过去完成时
had +done(V. p.p.) Had +been +done(V. p.p.)
情态动词
情态动词+V.
情态动词+be +done(V. p.p.)
过去将来时
would/should +V. would/should be + done(V. p.p.)
翻译时有以下几种翻译方法:
①译成汉语被动句:使用"被、受、遭、让、给、由、把、得到、受到、加以、得以、为……所"等词。
②增加主语,即动作的实际发出者,或虚拟发出者。
③译成汉语无主句
另外还有一些常用被动句型的习惯译法,需要平时积累,比如:
It is hoped that... 希望……,有人希望……
It is assumed that... 假设……,假定……
It is claimed that... 据说……,有人主张……
It is believed that... 有人想信……,大家相信……
It is reported that... 据报道……,据通报……
It is considered that... 人们认为……,据估计……
It is said that... 据说……,有人说……
【考研试题例句】
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 required by a sort of special training.
【解析】
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.
主句:it is imagined,其中it为形式主语,而that引导的 that the operations... compared with these processes和that they have to ... special training是并列的主语从句,为真正的主语。原文中有三个被动语态is imagined,be compared和be required,译成汉语都变成了主动表达:"认为"、"相比"和"掌握"。具体为:
(1)It is imagined by many 此处是"It+被动语态+that"形式的处理,译为"很多人认为"。
(2)that the operations of the common mind can be by no means compared with these processes, 此处所用的是译成汉语主动句的处理方法,并保存原文主语译为"普通人的思维活动根本无法与这些思维过程(科学家的思维过程)相比"。
(3)and that they have to be required by a sort of special training 此处所用的是译成汉语被动句的处理方法,译为"认为这些思维过程是必须由某种专门训练才能掌握"。
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