自考英语:英语翻译技巧7
爱思英语编者按:在英译汉时有时需要将整个句子的结构转换。例如,把英语的简单句译成汉语的复合句,把一种从句译成另一种从句,把并列句译成复合句等,这主要是为了使译文通顺自然,符合汉语的习惯。
翻译时句子结构的转换:
在英译汉时有时需要将整个句子的结构转换。例如,把英语的简单句译成汉语的复合句,把一种从句译成另一种从句,把并列句译成复合句等,这主要是为了使译文通顺自然,符合汉语的习惯。
转译成主从复合句1.简单句转译成复合句a. At the slightest improvement in my work they woiuld show warm approval.我工作梢有改进,他们就热情肯定。
b. His wish is to become a doctor born of a desire to help sick people. 他之所以想当医生是因为他想帮助病人。
c. With the boy leading , the two started towards the village. 孩子在前面带路,两人朝村里走去。
d. Now we have shown their srory to be false. 现在我们已经证明他们的这套话是虚假的。
e. I have read of people living sevral weeks on nothing but a gladss of warter a day.我曾经从书报上看到过有人一连几个星期只靠一杯水维持生命。
F. He differed from his workmates in spending his spare time reading. 他跟他的伙伴们不同,他把业余时间用在读书上了。
并列句转译成复合句:有时,英语的几个小分句译成汉语后就变成了一个主从复和句,例如:
a. Choosing the right career is very important. Most of us spend a great part of our lives at our jobs. For that reason we should try to find out what our talents are and how we can use them. (选则适合自己的工作是很重要的,因为工作占据了我们一生中的大部分时间,所以,我们应尽可能认识一下自己的天赋在什么地方以及怎么样发挥等。)
分词短语还原译成复合句:b. People exposed to bright red show an increase in heartbeat,and blood pressure; red is exciting. (如果将人暴露给红颜色,他们就会显露出心跳加快、血压增高等;红颜色让人兴奋。)
c. Those living in countries with long dark winters are apt to be less talkative and less vivacious than inhabitants of countries where the climate is more equable(稳定的)。
(一些人如果生活在有漫长、灰暗冬天的农村比起气候稳定地区的人来说较容易沉默寡言,也不活泼。)
短语转译成主从复合句a. He always tries his utmost to extend help to others whenever necessary.(不管什么时候,只要有可能,他都会帮助别人。)
b. If pressed further , they would become angry. (如果追问急了,他们会很生气的。)
c. Although he didn ‘t like his job, Bill didn’t want to disappoint his wife by giving up his well-paid new position. (尽管不喜欢他的工作,可他不想放弃,因为那样会让他的妻子很失望。)
d. Something fell in, for I heard a splash.有东西掉进去了,因为我听到扑通一声。
e. This machine is simple in design , yet it is efficient in operation.虽然这台机器结构简单,但功效很高。
2.复合句转译成简单句While I sympathize, I can‘t really do very much to help.我真是爱莫能助。
This is what the molecular frmula means.这就是此分子式的含义。
There ‘s something (that)you don ’t know. 这些事你不知道。
I must get down to work tonight , as I ‘ve got exams next week. 今晚我得开始认真复习功课,下星期要考试了。
This cause the construction of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together.这样就盖起了许许多多聚居的高楼大厦。
When we praise the Chinese leadership and the people, we are not merely being polite.(我们赞美中国领导人和中国人民不仅仅是出于礼貌。)
3.转译成并列句主从复合句转译成并列句a. It couldn‘t have happened except that it did.按理说,那是不会发生的,但却发生了。
Besides that the teacher explained the theory , he gave the students a lot of examples.教师不仅讲解了理论,而且还给学生举了许多例子。
b. While wheels have brought better and more convenient transportation, they have also brought new and unforeseen problems. (轮子带来了更便利的交通手段,可也带来了新的、原来没有过的问题。)
独立结构译成并列句:a. With the job finished, they went to the seaside for a holiday.(工作做完以后,他们就到海边度假去了。)
b. With all his savings gone, he started to look for a job.(积蓄都用完以后,他就开始去找工作。)
简单句转译成并列句:He was terribly frightened. He had no gun in the shop. His only weapon was the pair of scissors he used for cutting cloth.(他一下子给吓懵了,店里有没有武器,唯一有的就是剪布用的一把剪刀。)
3.副词译成介词短语:And although you may not like it, if she chooses your doorway as her place to sleep in the night, it is morally hard to turn her away as it is a lost dog.(不管你喜不喜欢,如果她把你家的门廊作为她晚间栖息的场所,从道义上讲,你很难将她赶走,这就象很难赶走一个丧家犬一样。)
4.不同种类从句的相互转换Electonic computers , which have many advantgages, cannot carry out creative work and replace man.虽然电子计算机有很多优点,但它们不能进行创造性工作,因此代替不了人。(定语译成状语)
Gases are different from solic in that the former have greater comprssibililty than the latter. 气体不同与固体,因为气体比固体有更大的压缩性(定语从句译为状语从句)