英汉互译技巧4解析

第二章英汉语言对比

A comparison between English and Chinese

第一部分

Part One

If one wants to be a qualified translator, one should, first of all, have a penetrating study and careful comparison of the similarities and differences between these two languages so that one may find the corresponding laws and methods in the translation between them, do translation effectively and ensure the quality of translation.

刘重德《文学翻译十讲》

Procedures of today

?Similarities between English and Chinese

?Differences between English and Chinese (vocabularies and grammars) ?Exercises in class

?Assignments of today

英汉语言的相同之处

similarities

?词类划分:

?汉语：

实词（content word): 名词、动词、形容词、副词、代词、数词、量词

虚词（empty word)：介词、连词、语气词、助词（结构助词“的”、“地”、“得”，时态助词“着”、“了”、“过”，情态助词“吗”、“呢”、“吧”、“啊”、“嘛”、“了”等）?英语：

实词(content word): 名词、动词、形容词、副词、代词、数词

虚词（function word):介词、连词、冠词、助动词（shall, will, have/has, do/does/did/done, be）

?英语量词，汉语冠词

?E.g. a chair, the earth, a book, etc.

英汉语言的相同之处

similarities

?词类划分

?句子要素:都有主语、谓语、宾语（表语）、定语和状语的划分。特别是主语和谓语，从本质上来说都是英、汉两种语言的主要组成框架(S+V+O/P)

e.g. I like your new hairstyle.

我喜欢你的新发型。

It is cute.

它很可爱。

People are always talking about “the problem of youth”. If there is one –which I take leave to doubt –then it is older people who create it, not the young themselves. Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that the young are after all human beings – people just like their elders. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and the old one has a splendid future behind him: and maybe that is where the hub is.

人们总是在谈论“年青人问题”。如果真有这么一个问题——对此我不揣冒昧地表示怀疑——那也是年长者造出来的，而不是年青人自己造成的。让我们认真考虑问题的实质，而且我们要承认年青人毕竟是人——是跟他们长辈一样的人。年青人和老年人之间只有一点不同，那就是年青人的光辉未来在前头，而老年人的辉煌已经留在了身后，或许这就是问题所在。

?We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time or conditions of our death. But with all this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live our lives.

?中国的疆域处于温带和亚热带地区，光、热、水和土等自然资源和自然条件都比较适合农业经济的发展。特别是在黄河流域与长江流域，农耕生产是主要的经济方式。?With the territory in the temperate and subtropical zones, the natural resources such as light, heat, water and soil are fit for the development of the agricultural economy. Especially in the Yellow River Valley and the Yangtze River Valley, farming is the major economic mode.

英汉语言的差异

Differences

?词汇差异（vocabularies）

?语法形态的差异(grammars)

?句法差异(syntax)

?修辞差异(figures of speech)

?段落与篇章差异(paragraphs and discourses)

Differences between vocabularies (Ⅰ)

?各种词性的使用频率

?英语语法重在动词，但使用较少，汉语则惯用动词或动词词组

?英语的代词使用频率高

?英语中的介词数量多，具有巨大的搭配联结能力和表达功能

?英语形容词表达能力强

英语名词与汉语动词

?Out of his (Jefferson’s) tremendous energy came inventions, books, new ideas and new starts in every field of human endeavor.

?他(Jefferson) 精力极其充沛，他创造发明，著书立说，阐发新思想，并在人类努力从事的各个领域中有所开创。

?His preoccupation with business left little time for his family.

?他全神贯注于事业，因而能与家人共度的时间很少。

?他们慢慢地沿着整个北冰洋岸航行，一路仔细观察。

?Little by little they went along the entire coast of the Arctic Ocean, making careful observation on the way.

?天已经擦黑，虫鸣蛙噪，一片喧闹。

?It is already dark, and the chorus of insects and frogs is in full swing. More examples

?Spontaneity has never been my forte. As a 14-year-old, I would refuse to go for walks around the block with my friends if I was the least bit behind my schoolwork.

?一时冲动心血来潮的做事向来不是我的专长。14岁时我就这样，那排只有一点作业没做完，我都不会丢开书本和朋友去玩。

?畅游在卢瓦河上，仿佛行进在历史、艺术与现实的交错之中，这欧洲的一角已被深深的镌刻在人们心中。

?A journey on the Loire is a meander in history, art and daily life. It is a corner of Europe that etched itself deeply in the heart and mind.

代词的使用

?A painter hangs his or her finished picture on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed.

?江南的春天素称多雨，一落就是七八天。住在上海的人们，平日既感不到雨的需要，一旦下雨，天气是那么阴沉，谁也耐不住闷在狭小的家里；可是跑到外面，没有山，没有湖，也没有经雨的嫩绿的叶子，一切都不及晴天好；有时阔人的汽车从你身旁驰过，还得带一身泥回来。（唐弢《故乡的雨》）

?A painter hangs his or her finished picture on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed.

?画家将已经完成的作品挂在墙上，每个人都可以观赏到。作曲家写完了一部作品，得由演奏者将其演奏出来，其他人才能得以欣赏。

?江南的春天素称多雨，一落就是七八天。住在上海的人们，平日既感不到雨的需要，一旦下雨，天气是那么阴沉，谁也耐不住闷在狭小的家里；可是跑到外面，没有山，没有湖，也没有经雨的嫩绿的叶子，一切都不及晴天好；有时阔人的汽车从你身旁驰过，还得带一身泥回来。

?Spring in the south is known to be rainy. During this season, it never rains there but it remains wet for seven or eight days on end. Dwellers in Shanghai, who usually do not feel the need for rain, will be bored with having to confine themselves in their close quarters when outside it is gloomy with rain. While in the open, seeing no mountains, nor lakes, nor rain-drenched soft green leaves, you’ll find nothing comparable to a fine day. Sometimes, worse still, a rich man’s car flashing past may splash you all over with mud. (Tr. by Zhang Peiji)

介词的使用

?I think he is above doing such a thing.

?我想他是不会做出这种事情来的。

?That was done without my knowledge and without my consent.

?他们做这事我既不知道也没同意。

?处理事情应讲究轻重缓急。

?Matters should be handled according to priority.

?有人轻轻拍了拍我的肩膀。我放下正在批改的作业，抬头一看，原来是一个身材矮小的老太太，她满脸皱纹，慈祥地微笑着。

?Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and I looked up from the exercise books which I was correcting, into the lined, kind and smiling face of a little old woman.

Some more examples:

?The sight and sound of our jet planes filled me with special longing.

?看到我们的喷气式飞机，听见隆隆的机声，我感到心驰神往。

?徐悲鸿画马画得特别好。

?Xu Beihong’s drawings of horses are exceptionally good.

?Hundreds of people leave their village to seek their fortune in cities.

?成千上万的人离开村庄去城里找出路。

?日本研究人员发现，适度饮酒可以益智，或许还有使老年人思维敏捷的作用。?Drinking wine in moderation improves the IQ and may boost mental agility in old people, according to Japanese researchers.

英语形容词的强表达能力

?My sweet, clever, attractive, economical, sensible little girl, free at last.

?我那性子又好，又聪明，又好看，又会当家，又识大体的女儿，这可自由了。?An inch taller than I, he had a lean, muscular frame, clear blue eyes, blond hair and a strikingly handsome face.

?他比我高一英寸，身材修长，肌肉结实，蓝蓝的眼睛，金黄的头发，还长着一张异常英俊的面孔。

?He was at his time in his late fifties, a tall, elegant man with good features and thick dark hair only sufficiently graying to add to the distinction of his appearance.

?他这时已是将近六旬的人，一表人才，高个儿，眉清目秀，头发又多又黑，略带花白，恰好衬出他那堂堂的仪表。

Differences between vocabularies (Ⅱ)

?词的兼类

一词多类，而且越是常用词，其兼类越多

如：like,

?I like lobster but it does not like me. (vt.)

?It's not like you to take offense. (prep.)

?Do as you like. (vi.)

?Other Latin American countries present a like picture. (adj.)

?It will rain tomorrow as like as not. (adv.)

?I've never seen the likes of this before. (n.)

?To dance like she does requires great discipline. (conj.)

Differences between vocabularies (Ⅲ)

?词汇的涵义范围

?英语词义比较灵活，词的涵义范围比较宽，富于变化，其词义对上下文的依赖性比较大，独立性比较小，No context, no text.

?汉语用词讲究精确、规范和严谨。汉语的词义比较严谨，词的涵义范围比较窄，比较精确和固定，词义的伸缩性和对上下文的依赖性比较小，独立性比较大。

?The snake charmer reached out gingerly to touch the snake in his basket.

?耍蛇人小心翼翼地伸手去摸他筐子里的那条蛇。（作“伸手”讲）

?The ladder won't reach the window.

?梯子够不到窗户。（作“延伸”、“伸展”讲）

?The heat of summer has reached its climax.

?已经是夏季最热的天气了。（作“到达”讲）

?"I've been trying all day to reach him on the telephone, but he's very elusive."

?“我整天都在打电话找他,但是找不着。”（作“联系”讲）

?No one seems able to reach her anymore.

?看起来没有人能够再对她产生任何影响。（作“影响”讲）

?Sales reached the thousands.

?商品卖出了数千件。（作“合计”、“累计”讲）

Some more examples

?big storm(强), big cleft（宽）, big gorge（深）, big chimney（高）, big mountain（高）, big river（长）, big radio（功率强）, big stone（重）, big brother（年龄大）, big dictionary （详细）, big landlord（富有）, big army（人多）, big man（重要）, big difference （显著）, big problem（严重）,

?get too big for one’s boots（目中无人，自命不凡）, go over big（走红，受欢迎）, make big（飞黄腾达）, talk big（说大话）, pay big（付高薪）, be big with young（怀孕）, be big with rage（怒气冲冲）, get a big hand（受到热烈欢迎）, be big on（偏爱，热衷）, big beat（摇滚音乐）, big board（热门股票）, big stink（没完没了的抱怨）, big bug, big gun, big game, big shot, big wig, big wheel （名人，要人）

Differences between grammars （Ⅰ）

?英语:屈折语言( inflectional language ),名词有数和格的变化；动词有时态、语态、情态等的变化；形容词、副词有级的变化；英语词汇还可以通过添加前后缀引起词义或词类的变化等, “法治”

?汉语:非屈折语言( non-inflectional language) ,词与词之间的关系常要由读者自己来解读，“人治”

Differences between grammars （Ⅱ）

?名词的形态

可数与不可数，单数与复数

英译汉时注意适当添加表示复数的汉语词汇，而汉译英时应注意分析汉语名词是可数还是不可数，是单数还是复数，在译文运用适当的名词形式

?After a series of experiments important phenomena have been ascertained.

?经过一系列实验后，弄清了许多重要现象。

?When the ends of a copper wire are joined to a device called an electric cell a steady stream of electricity flows through the wire.

?当把一根铜线的两端连接到一种叫做电池的电器上时，就会有稳定的电流通过该铜线。

?在使用这种仪器前，必须弄清它的性能。

?You must know the properties of the instrument before you use it.

?电子计算机于1945年投入使用。

?The first electronic computers went into operation in 1945.

Differences between grammars （Ⅲ）

?动词的形态

英语谓语动词的形态有人称、时态、语态、情态、语气以及非谓语的变化（不定式，分词，动名词），形式变化繁多而严谨稳定、范围广泛、表意功能规范。而汉语属于表意文字，动词没有形态变化

在翻译英语的形态变化时，汉语一般采用加词或变换说法的办法，通过词语手段来表达英语通过形态变化所表达的意思。而汉译英时，应特别注意对汉语进行分析，把汉语中通过词汇或暗含形式表达的时态、语态、情态、语气等用英语的形态变化表达出来。

通过加词或变换说法来翻译英语的形态变化

?对动词来说

?（1）前置的时态副词：过去、曾经、已经、现在、正在、将要……;

?（2）附着的时态助词：过、着、了、起来……

?（3）后置的时态语气词：了，来着……

?Oxford is much smaller in numbers, for example, than the State University of Minnesota, and is much poorer. It has, or had till yesterday, fewer students than the University of Toronto.

?例如，牛津大学在校学生比明尼苏达州立大学要少多了，也穷多了。牛津的在校学

生数无论现在还是过去都比多伦多大学少。

Some more examples:

?They told me that Professor Liu would have been teaching here for twenty years by this winter.

?他们说到今年冬天时刘教授在这里教书快(就)要满二十年了。

?他意识到自己现在已不像过去那么健康了。

?He realizes that he is not as healthy as he was.

?听到他这样讲话，我差点笑出来了。

?I could have laughed to hear him talk like this.

Differences between grammars (Ⅳ)

?被动语态

?英语中被动语态用得很多。特别是信息性、理论性和科技性的文体。

?汉语可以用主动句或无主语句表示被动。所以汉语的主动句或无主语句可以用英语的被动句来翻译，而英语的被动句可译为主动结构或没有明确形式标记的被动句。?Vegetable oil has been known from antiquity. No household can get on without it, for it is used in cooking. Perfumes may be made from the oils of certain flowers. Soaps are made from vegetable and animal oils.

?植物油自古以来以来就为人们所熟悉。任何家庭都离不开它，因为做饭的时候就要用它。有些花儿产生的油可以用来制造香水。植物油和动物油还可以用来制作肥皂。?仔细看看信的地址是否写对了。

?Care should be taken to see that the letter is properly addressed.

?每逢假日的下午，我总要漫游周围的乡村。

?My holiday afternoons were spent in rambling about the surrounding country. Some more examples:

?Heart murmurs are frequently heard in these patients.

?这些病人中常可听到心脏杂音。

?这类广告四处可见。

?This sort of advertisement is seen everywhere.

?His being neglected by the host added to his uneasiness.

?主人对他的忽略使他更加不舒服。

Exercises in class

?1)要不断调整投资和消费的关系，增加消费对经济增长的拉动作用。

?2)他们不顾一切困难、挫折，坚持战斗。

?3)“Coming!” Away she skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch.

?4)What can easily be seen in his poems are his imagery and originality, power and range. ?5)The man who is above his business may one day find his business above him.

?6)The United States is a varied land——of forests, deserts, mountains, high flat lands and fertile plains. Almost every kind of climate may be found, but the country lies mostly in the temperate zone. Including the states of Alaska and Hawaii, the United States covers an area of 9 million square kilometers. The continental United States stretches 4,500 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. It borders Canada on the north, and reaches south to Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico.

?1) The relationship between investment and consumption has to be adjusted accordingly whenever necessary so as to enhance the stimulative impact of consumption on the growth of the economy.

?2）They kept on fighting in spite of all the difficulties and setbacks.

?3）“来啦！”她转身蹦跳着越过草地，跑上小径，跨上台阶，穿过凉台，进了门廊。?4）他的诗形象生动，独具一格，而且气势磅礴，这是显而易见的。

?5）不屑于干自己工作的人，终会有一天发现自己不配干那份工作。

?6）美国是一个地形多样的国家——有森林、沙漠、山脉、平坦的高地和肥沃的平原。境内有各种气候，但是美国的大部分处在温带。把阿拉斯加和夏威夷两个州加在一起，美国的总面积达9百万平方公里。美国大陆东起大西洋，西至太平洋，横跨4，500公里。北面与加拿大接壤，南面与墨西哥和墨西哥湾毗邻。Assignments of today

?思考：

1) 英语中名词的使用及汉语中动词和动词短语的使用

2)英汉语在名词、动词上的形态差异及翻译策略

3)被动语态的翻译策略

?预习英汉语在句法、修辞、篇章上的差异