英汉动词互译
几种特殊结构转换为汉语动词
上述译例中,英汉名词与动词相互转换,主 要是为了行文流畅,意思清楚,符合译 语习惯。 但如下两种情况必须做转换翻译处理: a. 由及物动词转化而来的名词+of+名词 汉语动宾短语 如:at the sight of money:见到钱
Disease is often an accompaniment of famine. 疾病常随饥馑而来。 Their first sight of land came after seven days at sea. 他们在海上航行七天之后才第一次见到陆地。
一.词类转换(conversion)
1. 英语名词转换为汉语动词
英语中由动词派生的或具有动作意义的名词可转译为汉语中相对应 的动词。同样,汉语中的某些动词也往往可转译为英语中的相 对应的名词。 (1) His insistence on his innocence arouses some reporters’ attention. 他坚持说自己无罪,这引起了一些记者的注意。 (2) She has a firm conviction that she will overcome all the difficulties. 她坚信她会克服所有的困难。
(3)She flared up at the sight of her husband walking with another woman. 她一看见自己的丈夫和另一个女人在一起行走就勃然 大怒。 (4)There is a steady increase in population. 人口在不断地增加。(注意:由于名词increase译成了 汉语动词,故修饰名词increase的形容词steady就相 应地译成了汉语副词)
b. 物主代词(或名词所有格)+含动作意义或由动词转化 而来的名词,也可转换成汉语动词
如:parents’ love of children 译为 父母爱护子女 父母爱护子女无微不至。 Parents’ love of children is perfect and minute. At the start of his imprisonment he was just 20 years old. 他刚入狱时年仅20岁。 His involvement of others was inexcusable. 他连累别人是不可原谅的。
He impressed me as a man of great ability. 他给我的印象是他相当有能力。 The camel is characterized by the ability to go for long periods without water. 骆驼的特点是能够长期行走而不喝水。
Chapter 3 Different Ways of Expressing Actions
动作的不同表达方式及翻译
由于英汉两种语言在遣词造句和表达习惯等方面的 差异,在动词的运用上部有各自的特点:英语动词 很少,一个句子通常只能有一个谓语动词;汉语动 词在句中比较灵活,一个句子可以有联动式、兼动 式等几个动词连用。因此,两种语言的动词在互译 时往往发生转换、增减、重复等不同的情况。 本章讨论英汉动词互译的不同情况,至于相同情况 如原文是动词,译文也用动词(P69)不做赘述, 重点是说明不一致的地方。
c.英语表示行动者的名词如teacher, singer等有时在句
中并不表示身份、职业等,而是含有较强的动作意味,汉 译时,如果找不到恰当的对应名词,往往可译成动词(p88)
Talking with his son,the old man was the forgiver of the young man’s past wrong doings. 和儿子谈话时,老人宽恕了这位年轻人过去所干的 坏事。 The little girl was a poor sleeper,and Mr. Forer was in the habit of singing to her as he rocked her at bedtime. 这个小女孩睡不好觉,福勒先生习惯于在就寝的 时候,一边摇她,一边给她唱歌。
Exercises
I’m very grateful for the help you have given me. He was doubtful of the patient’s recovery. Smith was a bewildered man at the moment He is out of employment,so any work will be welcome to him.
汉语和英语相反,名词在句词。如:
百姓们就在宫门外欢呼、议论。声音正好象浙水 的涛声一样。 At the palace gates,the acclamations and comments of the people sounded like the roar of the waves of the River Cheh. 要成功地禁止使用核武器.必须首先销毁核武器。 A successful ban of the use of nuclear weapons must be preceded by the destruction of nuclear weapons.
2. 英语动词转换为汉语名词
英语中有些动词的概念在汉语中很难找到对应的词,于是 转化为汉语名词。(p84)
Round-the-clock service features this store. 日夜服务是这家商店的特色。 What motivate you to do such a thing? 引起你做这样的事的动机是什么?
3.英语形容词与汉语动词相互转译(p103)
英语句子中用作表语的形容词属于动态形容词,常常表 示知觉、情欲、愿望等心理状态,往往可以同表示知觉、 情感等心理活动的汉语动词相互转译。 He was jealous of his friend’s reputation. 他嫉妒他的朋友的名声。 She closed the door very quietly, as she was afraid of wakening the sleeper. 她一声不响地把门关上,生怕吵醒那个睡觉的人。
当局对危险警惕起来。 The authorities were alerted to the danger. 她甘愿留在家里。 She is content to stay at home. 医生们说他们不敢肯定是否救得了她的命。 Doctors said that they were not sure whether they could save her life.
Exercise:
1.This building is an example of early Chinese architecture. 2.At the mention of money, the stranger became attentive. 3.He is a good listener and everybody loved to talk with him. 4.The sight and the sound of jet planes filled me with longing. 5. Let me be your banker. 6.我班的同学中有些人唱歌唱得很好。 7.电影明星是大部分少女崇拜的对象。 1.这座建筑物代表着中国早期的建筑式样。 2.一提到钱,那陌生人就全神贯注起来。 3.他善于倾听别人的意见,所以大家都爱跟他谈心。 4.看到我们的喷气式飞机,听到隆隆的机声,我感到心驰神往。 5.你需要钱,我可以借给你。 6.Some of my classmates are good singers. 7.Film stars are objects of admiration for most girls.
我非常感激你给予我的帮助。 他怀疑病人能否痊愈。 当时史密斯迷惑不解。 他失业了,所以任何工作他都愿接受。