汉译英翻译过程
翻译过程包括理解和表达两个重要阶段。只有在正确理解原文的基础上,才能正确地表达原文。理解原文词句不应脱离上下文。词义总是受上下文制约的,没有上下文就没有词义。比如说:
甲乙两人见面,甲说:“上课了?”这句话的含义,如果脱离了当时的环境和背景,就不好翻译。
如果这句话是在乙夹着书本刚从教室里走出来时甲对乙说的,那么它的意思是:“(你刚才)上课了?”译成英语便是:(Have you)Just finished your class?
如果乙以前没有教过课,最近才开始任课,那么甲的这句话就可以译为:How’s your first class?
倘若甲乙相遇时,甲正好急急忙忙向课堂走去,担心误了上课,见到乙便问:“上课了?”那么这句话就成为“(是不是已经)上课了?”的意思,应译为:Has the bell gone?或译为:Am I late for class?
由此可见,同样的词句在不同的语言环境里包含着不尽相同或全然不同的意思,理解和翻译时必须加以区别,不然就会造成错误,也就无法忠于原文内容。
至于表达,涉及的问题很多。其中最重要的一点是:考生必须避免机械照搬的死译和望文生义的乱译。例如:
1)他(听到这话)心里一跳,脸色也变了。
译文:At this his heart missed a beat and he became pale.
原文“心里一跳”译成missed a beat,两者字面意思完全相反,但表达了同样的含义。如果机械照搬原文形式,译成:His heart jumped and the colour of his face changed就不符合译文语言表达习惯了。在翻译时,如果不根据汉英两种语言表达上的差异作必要的变动,而采取词与词“对号入座”的办法,既不能达意,又无法忠实于原文。
2)三四个筛酒的酒保,都手忙脚乱,搬东搬西。(施耐庵《水浒传》)
译文:But these serving men were so busy,their hands and feet were all in confusion,and they were moving things hither and thither,east and west.(All Men Are Brothers)
以busy表达“手忙脚乱”本已够了,把“手忙脚乱”按字译出,反而费解。
“东西”实为“物件”或“酒饭”,并不指方向;“搬”也不指“搬动”。这里,“手忙脚乱”和“搬东搬西”的译法是拘泥原文字面的一个比较典型的译例。
在另一译文中,虽未照搬原文字句却表达出原文的含义。
...the four or five waiters were busy rushing from one to another serving food and drink.(Outlaws of the Marsh)
3)你不知道,金八这家伙背景复杂,不大讲面子。(曹禺《日出》)
译文:Don't you realize that this fellow Jin has all kinds of dubious connections and that he's no great respecter of persons?
原文中的陈述句在译文中转换为疑问句,同时利用英语成语no respecter of persons(不是看人行事的人,不偏心的人,对任何人一律看待的人)译出“不大讲面子”的含义,形式虽有改变,但却表达出原文的思想内容。
理解和表达常是相互联系、相辅相成的。考生在理解原文的同时,也在选择表达方式;在表达的同时,又会进一步加深理解。这样,经过反复推敲,使译文达到忠实于原文这一基本要求。
提高翻译能力,绝无捷径。初学者应不断提高汉英两种语言的水平,在实践中学习翻译理论和常用技巧,提高翻译能力。只有遵循“实践——认识——再实践——再认识”这一规律,不断练习,不断总结,逐步认识汉英两种语言在表达方面的相同之处与不同之处,才能积极而有效地提高翻译能力。(https://www.daowen.com)
每日训练
1 科学技术是第一生产力。振兴经济首先要振兴科技,只有坚定地推动科技进步,才能在激烈的竞争中取得主动。我国经济正面临着加速发展,调整结构,提高效益的重大任务,尤其需要全社会提高科技意识,多方面增加科技投入,真正依靠科技进步。
2 英语现在是60多个国家使用的官方或半官方语言。它是书籍出版、科学技术、广告和通俗音乐、计算机信息存储所使用的主要国际语言。现在有4亿多人以英语为母语,另外大约有4亿人将英语作为第二语言,至少还有5亿人把英语作为外语使用。
3 中国已经发展成为一个全球极富吸引力的、现实的大市场。世界各国和地区不少有远见卓识的企业家,都将目光投向了中国,并从投资活动中获得了丰厚的回报。
4 现在我们面临健康研究中的4大挑战:道德价值、公平和美德、可持续的健康研究体系、良好的研究环境及知识的产生和应用。为了应对挑战,保障体系和健康研究体系两者应向一个学习的和解决问题的模式推进,把创新包括到运作之中,更好地掌握未来发展的机遇。没有效果明显的锦囊妙计,没有简单的解决方法,只是有许多事情要去学习。
5 千方百计扩大就业。各级政府务必坚持就业优先战略,继续实施更加积极的就业政策。今年年底前实现新型农村社会养老保险和城镇居民社会养老保险制度全覆盖。城镇居民医保和新农合补助标准提高到每人每年240元。继续稳定低生育水平,综合治理出生人口性别比偏高问题,提高出生人口质量。继续推进保障性安居工程建设,在确保质量的前提下,基本建成500万套,新开工700万套以上。
6 着力排查化解各类社会矛盾。积极稳妥推进户籍管理制度改革。加强和改进互联网管理,营造健康的网络环境。
7 进一步转变政府职能,完善宏观调控体系,理顺政府与市场的关系。深化财税金融体制改革。深化土地、户籍、公共服务改革。推进社会事业、收入分配等改革。推进依法行政和社会管理创新。鼓励民间资本进入铁路、市政、金融、能源、电信、教育、医疗等领域。
8 保持对外贸易稳定发展。引导外资更多投向先进制造业、高新技术产业、节能环保产业、现代服务业和中西部地区。加强对外投资风险管理,维护我境外企业人员和资产安全。
9 全力支持香港、澳门发展经济,改善民生,推进民主。新的一年,我们要继续坚持中央对台工作的大政方针,增强两岸关系发展的政治、经济、文化和民意基础,拓展两岸关系和平发展新局面。
参考译文
1 Science and technology are primary productive forces.The first step of reviving the economy is to revitalize the science and technology.Only to firmly promote thescientific and technological progress can the initiative be obtained in the fierce competition.China's economy is faced with the major task to accelerate development,adjust structure and improve efficiency.In particular,the whole society is required to raise awareness of science and technology,increase multifaceted investment in science and technology,and truly rely on scientific and technological progress.
2 English is now the official or semi-official language used by more than 60 countries.It is the mainly used international language in book publishing,science andtechnology,ad,pop music and computer information storage.Today more than 400million people use English as their mother tongue.In addition,about 400 million people use English as a second language,and at least 500 million people use English as a foreign language.
3 China has developed into a big,extremely attractive and realistic market in the global context.Many farsighted entrepreneurs from countries and regions all overthe world have paid their attention to China and got generous profits in return from their investment activities.
4 Now we are faced with four key challenges for health research values of ethics,equity and excellence,sustainable health research systems,and favorable researchenvironment as well as knowledge production and application.To rise to the challenge,health systems and health research systems together should move into a learning and problem-solving mode,integrate innovation into their operations and better manage opportunities for future growth and development.There are no quick fixes,no simple solutions but much remains to be learnt.
5 China will make every effort to increase employment and the government must continue to follow the strategy of giving top priority to employment.By the end of theyear,the country will have achieved full coverage of the new old-age pension system for rural residents and the old-age pension system for non-working urban residents.Thegovernment will raise subsidies for medical insurance for non-working urban residents and the new type of rural cooperative medical care system to 240 yuan per person per year.It will continue to keep the birthrate low and redress gender imbalance.It will continue to develop low-income housing,and basically complete 5 million units and start construction on over 7 million units under quality control.
6 The government will work hard to resolve social conflicts.It will actively yet prudently carry forward the reform of the household registration system.It will strengthen andimprove management of the Internet and foster a healthy cyberspace environment.
7 China will further transform government functions,improve macro-control system and balance the relationship between government and the market.It will advancereform of the fiscal and taxation systems.It will deepen reforms of land,household registration and public services.It will carry forward reforms in social programs and income distribution.It will run the government in accordance with the law and promote innovation in social administration.It will encourage nongovernmental investment in railways,public utilities,finance,energy,telecommunications,education,and medical care.
8 The government will maintain steady growth in foreign trade.It will encourage more foreign investment in advanced manufacturing,new and high technologies,energyconservation,environmental protection,modern service industries,and the central and western regions.It will support companies making overseas investments,strengthen risk management of overseas investments and protect the safety of employees and assets of Chinese enterprises operating overseas.
9 The central government will fully support Hong Kong and Macao in growing their economies,improving the people's wellbeing and promoting democracy.In thenew year,the mainland will insist the strategy for Taiwan-related affairs strengthen the political,economic,and cultural foundation and public support for growing cross-Straits relations and make further progress in promoting peaceful development.