◉5.转换法

5.转换法

由于英汉两种语言在语法和表达方式等方面存在着许多差异,因此英译汉时常常有必要改变表达方式,使译文通顺流畅、地道可读,这种变通技巧就是转换法。

在词性方面,把名词转换为代词、形容词、动词,把动词转换成名词、形容词、副词、介词,把形容词转换成副词和短语。

在句子成分方面,把主语变成状语、定语、宾语、表语,把谓语变成主语、定语、表语,把定语变成状语、主语,把宾语变成主语。

在句型方面,把并列句变成复合句,把复合句变成并列句,把状语从句变成定语从句。

在语态方面,可以把主动语态变为被动语态。被动语态的改译常有三种方法。(1)还原成主动句:将by后的动作发出者还原成主语;增加“人们”、“我们”等原文省略的动作发出者,还原成主动句。(2)构造成主动句:使用“把、由、使、让、给”等词译成主动句。③转化成自动句:通过选择汉语译文的动词,将原文动词的承受者(即主语)转变成汉语中那个动词动作的发出者(仍然做主语)。

汉译英

汉语中的词汇有其固定的意义和词性,如果篡改则可能导致语义不明,或因此引发笑料。相声演员常会借此来巧置“包袱”,使本不符合语法逻辑的语言变得顺理成章,即通过词性变更等方式变成自己的“包袱”。例如:

当初有这么一个电视剧叫《雷雨》。

哎,对。

哎呦,我特别喜欢这个戏。

好吗?

原因就是这里面有你。

我上这戏了?

他在这戏里面负责“雷雨”。

哎,这雷雨我怎么演呢?

就是一有下雨的戏,你弄个水管子站那浇。

Guo:There used to be a TV series named Thunder.

Yu:Yeah.

Guo:I liked it very much.

Yu:Is it fine?

Guo:Because you were playing a role in it.

Yu:Was I?

Guo:Yeah,you were the role of thunder.

Yu:How could I do that?

Guo:You found a tube to water the scene wherever it rained.

——相声《我要上春晚》

在这段相声中,“雷雨”从一个名词变成了动词,变成了负责“打雷下雨”,听起来新颖有趣,这也是运用汉语的词汇转变技巧设计的“包袱”,语言简洁又不失趣味性。

因为爱着你的爱,

因为梦着你的梦,

所以悲伤着你的悲伤,

幸福着你的幸福。

因为路过你的路,

因为苦过你的苦,

所以快乐着你的快乐,

追逐着你的追逐。

I love you,my love;

I dream of you,my dream;

When you are down I am down;

When you are high I am high;

I pass your path;

I suffer your suffering;

I am pleased with your pleasure;

I pursue your pursuit.

——歌曲《牵手》

苗家人人爱唱歌啰,

唱开寨里蓬蓬花哎,

那个唱开原野树树果哎,

那个唱绿一山又一山哎,

那个唱美一坡又一坡哎。

Everyone of Miao loves to sing,

Sing out all the flowers in the town,

Sing out all the fruits in the garden,

Sing to make the bricks green,

Sing to make the hills beautiful.

——歌曲《今日苗山歌最多》

其中,“绿”在《现代汉语词典》中为名词(通“菉”,一种野菜),也做形容词(指青中带黄的颜色),还可以发生词性转化做动词,常做词组“绿化”。“美”为形容词——美,甘也。歌词中的“绿”和“美”实际上都被活用为动词,即“使……绿”,“使……美”,不能与词组“绿化”和“美化”相混淆,因为前者是抽象概念,后者则带有具体含义。山歌显然不能真的绿化和美化山坡,因此英译时,我们就不能译为green和beautify,而这首歌曲的上述译文,会显得更为恰当和准确。

●今天有邪神在此,看谁给谁送终!

With the Beast here,let’s see whose funeral it is!(动词转换成名词)

——电影《功夫》

●中国各地

Around China(名词转换成介词)

——中央电视台栏目

●既然你觉得这事过去了,我心里也就踏实了。

Since you feel you are over me,then I am grateful.(动词转换成介词)

——电影《失恋33天》

●与你同行。

Always with you.(动词转换成介词)

——中国电信广告

●一个和尚挑水喝,两个和尚抬水喝,三个和尚没水喝。

One boy is a boy,two boys are half a boy,and three boys are no boy.

(动词转换成名词)

●我马上要进京赶考,我得回去读书!多有得罪了!

I have to go for an entrance examination and I need to go back to books.My apology!

(动词转换成名词)

——电影《画壁》

●宋丹丹:你太有才了!

Song Dandan You are a genius!(动词转换成名词)

——小品《策划》

●不要激动,不要忧郁,爱因斯坦长相也难看!

Don’t be mad;don’t be blue.Einstein was ugly too!(动词转换成形容词)

——网络流行语

●懂低头的女人,我喜欢!

Women who keep their heads down are the most beautiful.(动词转换成形容词)

——电影《画壁》

●我参与 我奉献 我快乐

My duty,my contribution,my happiness.

(动词转换成名词)

——2008年北京奥运会口号

●如果你感到孤独,我做你的影子。如果你想哭泣,我做你的肩膀。如果你想要拥抱,我做你的枕头。如果你想要快乐,我做你的微笑。如果你想要钱……等着发工资吧!

If you are alone,I’ll be your shadow.If you want to cry,I’ll be your shoulder.If you want a hug,I’ll be your pillow.If you need to be happy,I’ll be your smile.If you need money978-7-111-51691-0-Chapter03-5.jpgwait for your salary!(动词转换成形容词)

——网络流行语

●我本一心向明月,奈何明月照沟渠。

First my gaze was toward the moon,but the moon shines on the ditch.(动词转换成名词)

——电影:《天下无贼》

●她有病。我是精神病院的医生。我姓杨,这是我的病人。

She is a patient.I am a psychiatrist.My surname is Yang.That’s my patient.(动词转换成名词)

——电影《我愿意》

●新时代女性的标准:上得了厅堂,下得了厨房,杀得了木马,翻得了围墙,开得起好车,买得起好房,斗得过小三,打得过流氓。

In the new age,a woman should be a maid in the living room,a chef in the kitchen,an expert at killing Trojan virus and jumping over the wall,affordable for a luxury car and a villa,capable of beating the other woman and a corner man.(动词转换成名词和形容词)

——网络流行语

●心眼儿别太多,岁数别太小,允许时常有不切实际的想入非非,但三句话就能给哄回现实还不气恼,顶多有点儿难为情地咧嘴一笑就该干嘛干嘛去了。

You need not to play too many tricks or be tooyoung.From time to time,you’re allowed to have unrealistic dreams,but a few words is enough to get you back into reality without getting you angry—a little embarrassed grin at most,and then do what you ought to do.

——电影《非诚勿扰》

●慕白:师父说“放弃虚求,你才拥有实在”。

Mubai:The master would say,“A man’s primary need is to let go.Only then can he possess what is truly real.”(名词转换成宾语从句)

——电影《卧虎藏龙》

●我的心肝,我的挚爱,我美丽的贤妻,我这辈子就毁在你手里了。

My darling,my lover,my beautiful wife Marrying you has screwed up my life.(主语换序)

——短信

●自己选择的路,跪着也要把它走完。

You have to finish the route of your own choice,even on your knees.(状语换序)

——网络流行语

近两年网络上常常出现“被XX”的说法,这种异化的特殊用法的“被”字在网络中相当红火。“被”字俨然成了热门词汇,甚至有人说现在是“被时代”。

“被时代”(不妨译为the times of passiveness)的“被”字往往和及物动词连用,比如“被自愿”,这种用法明显带有讽刺意义。有人建议将“被自愿”译成be volunteered,但这样说可能有“经过别人做工作后真的自愿”的意思,不如把volunteer或voluntarily放在引号里,这样以英语为母语的人就可以体会到这种用法体现出来的弱势群体的无奈。

“被”字的这一用法扩大到了从意思上说不可能“被”的不及物动词和形容词。第一个这样用的是“被就业”(be said to have found jobs),一位大学毕业生在网上发帖爆料说,在他不知情的情况下学校却说已替他签好了就业协议书,目的在于虚报就业率(give a false report of a high frequency of graduates finding jobs)。

这种用法迅速流行开来,在一定的上下文中加上officially,falsely,deceptively等副词,可以突出弄虚作假的讽刺效果。下面这些流行词汇可以这样翻译:

被自杀be(officially)presumed to have committed suicide

被自然死亡to have died a natural death

被失踪tohavedisappeared

被全勤to have a record of full attendance

被代表be said to be represented

被辞职be said to have resigned

被幸福/开心/小康It is said/presumed that someone is happy/pleased/living a fairly comfortable life

有关“被”的最新实例:

他被小贝了。

He suffer the same fate as Xiao Bei.

这是网民们根据《蜗居》中主人公小贝的遭遇而创造出来的一种用法,意思是“遭遇和小贝一样的情况”。

女主播自曝被潜规则。

“潜规则”是没有明文规定,但大家都得遵守的规则,可以译为unspoken rules或latent rules。“被潜规则”事件说的是一位受害的女性自曝当年为了考上某个竞争激烈的专业的研究生而被迫献身,后来又为了进入电视行业而不得已再次献身的悲剧。“被潜规则”的说法表示出这些女性的无奈,常常是在人事或招生大权者的强迫或暗示下而不得不这样做,即:The distaff anchor said herself that she was forced to follow such unspoken dirty practice.

国足被出线了。

中国国家足球队在亚洲杯预选赛中被叙利亚队以1比1逼平,只是因为越南队也没有取胜而出线,进入决赛阶段的比赛,可以译为:China’s(national)football team was qualified to enter the finals by sheer luck.

人们被高速了。

武汉到广州的高速铁路开通后,普通列车减少了许多,人们不得不乘坐票价高得多的高速列车。英语是:People cannot but take high⁃speed train and have to pay much higher fees.

人情债,我肉偿了!从现在开始我就步入职业二奶的道路了!

My debts of gratitude have been repaid with my body!From now on,I have been one of those professional concubines!(主动语态转换成被动语态)

——电视剧《蜗居》

这事儿不能说太细。

It cannot be explained in detail.(主动语态转换成被动语态)

——网络流行语

你可知我百年的孤寂只为你一人守候,千夜的恋歌只为你一人而唱。

You know my loneliness is only kept for you,and my sweet songs are only sung for you.(主动语态转换成被动语态)

——网络流行语

清明时节雨纷纷,

路上行人欲断魂。

借问酒家何处有?

牧童遥指杏花村。

(主动语态转换成被动语态)

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;

The mourner’s heart is breaking on his way.

Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness

A cowherd points to Almond Flower Village in the distance.

——古诗《清明》

英译汉

●The night before I was heading for Scotland,I was invited to host the final of“China’s Got Talent”show in Shanghai,with 80,000live audience in the stadium.

来苏格兰的前一天晚上,我被邀请去主持在上海的“中国达人秀”决赛,有8万名观众在体育场里面观看。(介词转换成动词)

——杨澜TED演讲

●I am a slow walker,but I never walk backwards.

我走得很慢,但是我从来不会后退。(名词转换成动词)

——美国总统林肯

●Thank you,but I found your evilness is extremely annoying.

谢谢哦,不过我觉得你坏得非常讨厌。

(名词转换成动词)

——电影《功夫熊猫》

●A Modern Car for a Modern Driver.

现代的人开现代的车。(介词转换成动词)

——宝马汽车的广告

●Every time a good time.

分分秒秒欢聚欢乐。(名词转换成动词)

——麦当劳快餐的广告

●Work fascinates me.I can look at it for hours!

工作好有意思,尤其是看着别人工作。

(动词转换成形容词)

——电影《加菲猫》

●I’m having a bad hair day.

我今天的头发就是梳不好。(名词转换成动词,形容词转换成副词)

——美剧《绯闻少女》

●They were disamonds in your skies.You would be a sweet surrender.

让他们点亮你的天空,如果你心甘情愿放弃。(名词转换成动词)

——歌曲Gates of Dawn

●I said,are you being a smart ass?

我问你是不是喜欢讽刺人?(名词转换成动词)——电影《越狱》

●One more thing.It’s on,bitch.

还有一件事。等着瞧,泼妇。(形容词转换成动词)

——美剧《生活大爆炸》

●I hate guys who are not talk and all hands.

我最讨厌男人不善言辞而且毛手毛脚的。

(名词转换成动词)

——美剧《绯闻少女》

●Change is part of life and the making of character,honey.When things happen that you do not like,you have two choices:you get bitter or better.

变化是生活的一部分,而且也塑造了人的意志品德,亲爱的。当你不喜欢的事情发生了,你有两种选择:要么痛苦不堪,要么痛快达观。(形容词转换成动词)

——网络流行语

●Beggars cannot be choosers.

只好给什么要什么。(名词转换成动词)

●Blair is much more meticulous in her choice.

布莱尔很注重自己的选择。(形容词转换成动词)

——美剧《绯闻少女》

●The government of the people,by the people,and for the poeple shall not perish from the earth.

民有、民治、民享的政府永世长存。(介词转换成动词)

——美国总统林肯

●The remembrance of these will add zest to his life.

回想起这些事情,使他的生活增添了乐趣。(名词转换成动词)

●Will she pick me up after school?

我放学后,她(妈妈)会来接我吗?(介词转换成动词)

——电影《克莱默夫妇》

●Do not cry because it is over;smile because it happened.

不要因为结束而哭泣,微笑吧,因为你曾经拥有。(形容词转换成动词)

●A man falls in love through his eyes,a woman through her ears.

男人用眼睛恋爱,女人用耳朵恋爱。(介词转换成动词)

●The woman was both perfectly pleasant and an agreeable physical presence.

这个女人绝对讨人喜欢,非常好相处。(名词转换成形容词。Presence从形容词present演变而来,这里具体化指在场的人甚至伙伴。)

●His weariness determined him to sit down inthefirstconvenientshade.

他感到疲倦,因此下决心,一遇到就近的荫凉处,就坐下来休息。(名词转换成动词。)(his weariness含有主谓逻辑关系,改做he felt weary后处理成汉语句子,名词转换成动词。)

●Einstein,who worked out the famous Theory of Relativity,won the Nobel Prize in 1921.

由于爱因斯坦提出了著名的相对论,他于1921年获得了诺贝尔奖。(定语从句转换成状语从句)

●Love is much like a wild rose,beautiful and calm,but willing to draw blood in its defense.

爱情是一朵野玫瑰,它美丽、沉静,却会为捍卫自己将人刺得鲜血淋漓。(状语换序)

——网络流行语

●Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance.

世界上的所有生命都在微妙的平衡中生存。(状语换序)

——电影《狮子王》

●举得起放得下的叫举重,举得起放不下的叫负重。可惜,大多数人的爱情都是负重的。

If you can hold something up and put it down,it is called weight⁃lifting;if you can hold something up but can never put it down,it’s called burden⁃bearing.Pitifully,most people are bearing heavy burdens when they are in love.(主语转换成条件状语从句)

——网络流行语

●Some people see,who are blind,and others who are blind,see.

有些人虽然有眼睛,却是瞎子;有些人虽然是瞎子,却是明眼人。(定语从句转换成让步从句)

●And then you meet that one person and yourlife is changed forever.

接着你就邂逅了那么一个人,改变了你的生命直到永远。(被动语态转换成主动语态)

——电影《爱情与灵药》

●You and I remain the same in different time,at different places,among different people.Time is changing,space is changing and everything is changing except my miss to you!

不同的时间,不同的地点,不同的人群,相同的只有你和我。时间在变,空间在变,不变的只有对你无限的思念!(句型转换)

——短信

●It’s said that two heads are better than one.人们常说,三个臭皮匠抵上个诸葛亮。(被动语态转换成主动语态)

●When the ideas of a scientist are expressed in simple mathematical form,new relationships and new channels of investigation often suggest themselves.

科学家在用简单的数学形式表达概念时,研究工作常常会表现出新的关系和新的途径。(被动语态转换成主动语态)

●Beauty gains little,and homeliness and deformity lose much,by gaudy attire.

华丽的衣着增添不了多少美丽,也颇能掩饰丑陋与畸形。(被动语态转换成主动语态)

——德国外交家齐默尔曼A.

●You can’t change the past.

过去的事是不可以改变的。(主动语态转换成被动语态)

●Woman begins by shouting“Don’t!Stop!”to a man’s advance and“Don’t stop!”to his retreat.

在面对男人的追求时,女人常大喊“别,住手!”;在他退却时她又大喊“不要停!”(句型转换)

●What if you get run over by a truck and get killed?

万一你被卡车撞了,然后死翘翘了呢?(被动语态转换成主动语态)

——电影《克莱默夫妇》