英汉语言及文化差异
名词 若干英语名词在一定的语境中可取代让步, 条件等从句,这是一种言简意赅的意合句。 Beggars must not be choosers. = Since he is a beggar, he must not be a chooser. (既然)(他是)要饭的,就必不回挑肥拣 瘦。
5、英语意合句的汉译问题
4、习俗差异
black sheep 害群之马 ss strong as a horse 身壮如牛 lead a dog’s life 过牛马不如的生活 同一动物含义不一样。 dog dragon
5、历史典故差异 6、社交礼仪和生活习惯差异
二、英汉语言比较
1、综述 “我相信,对于中国学生最有用的帮助是让 他认识英语和汉语的差别,在每一个具体问 题---词形、词义、语法范畴、句子结构上, 都尽可能用汉语的情况来跟英语做比较,让 他通过这种比较得到更深刻的领会。”(语 言学家吕叔湘) 英语—印欧语系,拼音文字,1500多年历史 汉语—汉藏语系,象形文字,6000多年历史
International Women"s Day
商务英语翻译
第二讲 英汉文化、语言对比
一、文化差异
尤金·奈达:“翻译是两种文化之间的交 流。对于真正成功的翻译者而言,熟悉两 种文化甚至比掌握两种语言更重要。因为 词语只有在其作用的文化背景中才有意 义。”
1、思维方式方面
西方人在思维习惯上常在“同”中求“异”,在 思维方式上是从小到大,从未知到已知,突出主 观作用,以主体为中心,主客体界限分明,贯于 逻辑思维、抽象思维。在话语中多用非人称主语 和被动句,很少省略主语。 中方的思维方式偏重形象思维,习惯于在“异” 中求“同”,倾向于整体思维,从大到小,从已 知到未知,从实际出发,注重主客体融合。在话 语中多使用无主句、主动语态,连词使用较少, 文章讲求对称与和谐的完美性。
就语体而言,形合见庄重,而意合就显得 随便。试比较: He had been left alone for scarcely two minutes, and when we came back we found him in his armchair, peacefully gone to sleep ---- but forever. 译文:让他一个人留在房里总共不过两分钟, 当我们再进去的时候,便发现他在安乐椅 上安静地睡着了---- 但已经永远睡着了。
When you look afar, the mountains are green and clear, But no sound of stream is heard when listening near. The flowers remain in full bloom when spring’s away, A human being’s approach the bird doesn’t fray.
所谓形合与意合,主要指句与句(包括以 联合关系配列及以偏正关系配列的句与句) 之间起连接作用的成分是保留还是省略的 一个句法问题。
隐含“条件”从句的汉语意合句与英语形 合句 早知今日,何必当初? If I had known it would come to this, I would have acted differently.
4、英语重形合,但也不乏“意合”手段
非人称主语句 Poor acoustics spoilt the performance. = Because the acoustics was poor, the performance was spoilt. 音响效果不好,演出大为逊色。 The good tidings filled the whole nation with joy. = When the good tidings came, the whole nation was filled with joy. 捷报传来,举国欢腾。
隐含“原因”从句的汉语意合句与英语形合句 地面潮湿,一定下过雨了。 It must have rained, since the ground is wet. 隐含“递进”关系的汉语意合句与英语形合句 汤姆干了这件事,干得非常成功。 Tom did it, and did it very successfully. 隐含“转折”关系的汉语意合句与英语形合句 江山易改,本性难移。 It is easy to change rivers and mountains but hard to change a person’s nature.
祈使句 + and… 此句式中的祈使句相当于一个clause ,言简 意明,容易上口。 Take a wider view, and you will see it differently. = If you take a wider view, you will see it differently. 眼光放远些,你就不会这样看了。
总而言之,在一个复句内部,英语重形合, 汉语则重意合;而在两个独立句之间,似 乎汉语较之英语更重形合。在汉译英的过 程中,若对前者认识不足,我们的译笔就 会“亦步亦趋”而显得呆滞与死板;若对 后者缺乏了解,同样,我们的译笔就回 “照样画葫芦”而痛失它的圆润与自如。
隐含“时间”从句的汉语意合句与英语形 合句 他老是见异思迁。 He is always changing his mind the moment he sees something new
隐含“结果”从句的汉语意合句与英语形 合句 他说得太快,我们不能理解他的意思。 He spoke so rapidly that we could not clearly
地理位置不同,气候和季节差异。 汉语中“东风”是美好和希望的象征。 英国人眼中东风是凛冽的刺骨寒风,报告 春天消息的是和熙、温暖的西风。 中国的夏天“骄阳似火” 英国夏天温馨宜人。 莎士比亚:Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. 雪莱:If Winter comes , can Spring be far behind? (Ode to the West Wind)
定语从句 以隐含原因,让步,条件等表意功能的定语从句取代相 应的状语从句,这种意合句使结构紧凑,行文练达。 I shall pass by the next paragraph, which has nothing to do with the topic in hand. = I shall pass by the next paragraph, because it has…下一段我不准备谈了,(因为)它与讨论问题无涉。 He insisted on building another house, which he actually had no use for. = He insisted on building another house, though he actually …他坚持要再造一幢房屋,(虽然)实际上他并不 需要。 Why waste breath on them, who have turned such an unwilling ear? = Why waste breath on them, since they have turned…(既 然)他们不愿意听,为何对他们白费口舌呢?
A little of everything and nothing at all. 如果什么事情都是浅尝辄止,终将一事无成。 Admonish your friends in private, praise them in public. 在私底下要忠告你的朋友,而在公开场合则要表扬你的朋友。 又如: He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken. 如果有人想象他可以不要旁人独自生活,他是深深地欺骗自 己;但是,如果有人幻想旁人离了他不行,他就错得更厉害 了。
Байду номын сангаас
汉语多四字结构、意合力强、形式齐整、 音律悦耳、词格丰富、意境性强,重整体 感应。 英语优势在于结构严密,重客观描写。 季羡林:“东方文化体系的思维模式是综 合的而西方则是分析的。” 西湖如明镜,千峰凝翠,洞壑幽深,风光 绮丽。 The West Lake is like a mirror,embellished all around with green hills and deep caves of enchanting beauty.
2、宗教信仰方面
中国受佛教影响的。 西方多信奉基督教。
3、生存环境
语言的产生与人们的劳动和生活息息相关。 英国是岛国,航海业发达,许多习语源于 航海。 汉族人在亚洲大陆繁衍生息,人们的生活 离不开土地。农业耕作是人们生存的主要 方式,农谚较多。 all at sea 不知所措 drunk as a sailor 烂醉如泥 拔苗助长 瓜熟蒂落 对牛弹琴
片语句 A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit. = When you have a fall into the pit, you had a gain in your wit. 吃一堑,长一智。 First time stranger, second time friends. = People are strangers when they meet for the first time; and good friends for the second time. 一回生,二回熟。