翻譯是用一種語(yǔ)言把另一種語(yǔ)言所表達(dá)的思維內(nèi)容準(zhǔn)確而完整地重新表達(dá)出來(lái)的語(yǔ)言活動(dòng)。(張培基等,1980)它需要對(duì)原文有準(zhǔn)確的理解然后用適當(dāng)?shù)奈淖执_切的表達(dá)出來(lái)。大學(xué)英語(yǔ)四、六級(jí)考試題型之一是翻譯,常另部分考生束手無(wú)策,但是它是有方法有技巧可循的。尤其對(duì)于非英語(yǔ)專業(yè)考生來(lái)說(shuō),掌握基本的翻譯方法與技巧是十分必要的。通過(guò)分析四、六級(jí)考試真題,可以總結(jié)出如下常用的翻譯方法與技巧。
一、詞義的選擇
英國(guó)著名語(yǔ)言學(xué)家弗斯(J·R·Firth, 1890—1960)說(shuō):“Each word when used in a new context is a new word.”意思是說(shuō),一個(gè)詞的詞義隨其所在上下文而變化,或同一個(gè)詞在不同的地方會(huì)有不同的意思。(郭著章等,2003)因此根據(jù)上下文選擇適當(dāng)?shù)脑~義是非常重要的。
例:
1. We look forward to being invited to attend the opening ceremony. (被邀請(qǐng)出席開(kāi)幕式)(10年6月四級(jí)真題)
“attend”有多個(gè)意思,如“出席”、“上(大學(xué)等)”、“照料”等, 此例句中是取其“出席”之意。
2. You would not have failed if you had followed my instructions. (按照我的指令去做) (09年12月四級(jí)真題)
“instruction”有“教導(dǎo)”、“指令”、“說(shuō)明”等意,此例句中是取其“指令”之意。
3. Our efforts will pay off if the results of this research can be applied to the development of new technology. (能應(yīng)用于新技術(shù)的開(kāi)發(fā))(08年6月四級(jí)真題)
“apply”有“申請(qǐng)”和“應(yīng)用”之意,此例句中取其“應(yīng)用”之意。
二、 詞類的轉(zhuǎn)譯
在翻譯過(guò)程中,由于兩種語(yǔ)言的語(yǔ)法和習(xí)慣的表達(dá)差異,在保證原文意思不變的情況下,有時(shí)候需要改變?cè)~類(任智巍,2003)。
例:
1.Since my childhood I have found that nothing is more attractive to me than reading(沒(méi)有什么比讀書對(duì)我更有吸引力).(06年12月四級(jí)真題)
此例句中“吸引力”本是名詞,我們翻譯時(shí)將其轉(zhuǎn)譯為形容詞“attractive”比較好。
2. In order to finance my education/studies(為了掙錢供我上學(xué)),mother often takes on more work than is good for her. (06年6月四級(jí)真題)
此例句中“上學(xué)”本是動(dòng)詞,我們翻譯時(shí)將其轉(zhuǎn)譯為名詞"study"或"education"比較好。
三、 增詞法
增詞法就是在翻譯時(shí)按意義上(或修辭上)和句法上的需要增加一些詞來(lái)更忠實(shí)通順的表達(dá)原文的思想內(nèi)容(張培基等,1980)。增詞法也是四級(jí)考試?yán)锓g題型常用的技巧之一。
1.Some psychologists claim that people might feel lonely when they are far from home. (出門在外時(shí)可能會(huì)感到孤單)
此例句中“when”的時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句中需要增加主語(yǔ)“they”。(06年12月四級(jí)真題)
2. How long does a jacket like this last me? It all depends on how often you wear it. (這要看你多長(zhǎng)時(shí)間穿一次)(09年12月六級(jí)真題)
此例句中“穿”后面的賓語(yǔ)實(shí)際上是前面的"jacket", 所以翻譯時(shí)要加上賓語(yǔ),為了避免重復(fù)要用it代替。
四、 從句的譯法
四六級(jí)考試翻譯題型里常出現(xiàn)的從句主要有名詞從句、定語(yǔ)從句和狀語(yǔ)從句。
1.名詞從句
四六級(jí)考試?yán)锍霈F(xiàn)的英語(yǔ)名詞從句主要包括主語(yǔ)從句和賓語(yǔ)從句兩大類,翻譯此類句子時(shí)大多不用改變句子順序。
(1) 主語(yǔ)從句
從四六級(jí)考試歷年真題來(lái)看,其中出現(xiàn)的主語(yǔ)從句主要由what引導(dǎo)。
例:
What many people don't realize (很多人沒(méi)有意識(shí)到的) is that Simon is a lover of sports, and football in particular. (09年6月四級(jí)真題)
(2) 賓語(yǔ)從句
在四六級(jí)考試歷年真題里出現(xiàn)的賓語(yǔ)從句主要由why、that引導(dǎo)
例:
①Your resume should attract a would-be boss's attention by demonstrating why you are the best candidate for a certain position. (為什么你是某個(gè)特定職位的最佳人選)(08年12月六級(jí)真題)
②Civilized men do not realize that they are deprived of the necessities of life. (并未意識(shí)到被剝奪了生活所必需的東西。)(06年6月四級(jí)真題)
③ it 做形式賓語(yǔ)
She has decided to go on a diet, but finds it hard to resist the temptation of ice cream.(很難抵冰淇淋的誘惑。)(09年6月六級(jí)真題)
2.定語(yǔ)從句
四六級(jí)歷年真題里出現(xiàn)的定語(yǔ)從句都是為限制性的,主要分為不帶介詞和帶介詞的。
① 不帶介詞的
例:
We can say a lot of things about those who devote their whole lives to poetry(畢生致力于詩(shī)歌的人): they are passionate, impulsive, and unique.(08年6月六級(jí)真題)
② 帶介詞的
Medical researchers are painfully aware that there are many problems to which they have no answers till now. (他們至今還沒(méi)有答案)(08年12月四級(jí)真題)
3. 狀語(yǔ)從句
(1) 時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句
例:
① Scientists agree that it will be a long time before we find the methods to cure cancers. (我們找到治愈癌癥的方法)(09年12月四級(jí)真題)
② The anti-virus agent was not known until a doctor found it by chance.(直到一名醫(yī)生偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)了它)(08年12月四級(jí)真題)
③Some psychologists claim that people might feel lonely when they are far from home.(出門在外時(shí)可能會(huì)感到孤獨(dú))(06年12月四級(jí)真題)
(2)條件狀語(yǔ)從句
例:
① You'd better take a sweater with you in case it turns cold. (以防天氣變冷)(08年12月四級(jí)真題)
② Please come here at ten tomorrow morning if it is convenient for you. (如果你方便的話)(07年6月四級(jí)真題)
五、 倒裝的譯法
四六級(jí)考試中常出現(xiàn)的倒裝有:
1. only修飾副詞、狀語(yǔ)從句或介詞短語(yǔ)位于句首時(shí)
例:
①Only when I reached my thirties did I realize that reading could not be neglected. (我才意識(shí)到讀書時(shí)不能被忽視的。)(10年12月六級(jí)真題)
②Only in the small town does he feel secure and relaxed.(他才感到安全和放松)(07年6月六級(jí)真題)
2. 否定副詞或短語(yǔ)如never, hardly, little, seldom, by no means, in no way, on no account, under no circumstances等位于句首時(shí)。
例:
① He assured his friend that under no circumstances would he break his promise to pay back the money. (他會(huì)違背還錢的承諾)(10年6月六級(jí)真題)
② Never once have the old couple quarreled with each other(老兩口互相爭(zhēng)吵)since they were married 40 years ago. (08年6月六級(jí)真題)
③ The manager never laughed; neither did she lose her temper. (她也從來(lái)沒(méi)有發(fā)過(guò)脾氣)(10年6月四級(jí)真題)
3. not until置于句首時(shí)。
例:
Not until the deadline did he send out(直到截止日期他才寄出)his application form.(06年12月六級(jí)真題)
4. as 引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語(yǔ)從句中,表語(yǔ)、副詞、動(dòng)詞原形要放到句首。
例:
Much regretted as I felt(我感到遺憾), I was unable to finish the work on time.
六、虛擬語(yǔ)氣的翻譯方法
例:
①M(fèi)any educators advise that kids should not be addicted to computer games.(不要沉溺于電腦游戲)
②Nancy is supposed to have finished her chemical experiment(做完化學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn))at least two weeks ago. (08年6月六級(jí)真題)
③If you had followed my advice, you would not have been in trouble. (聽(tīng)從了我的忠告,你就不會(huì)陷入麻煩)。(06年12月六級(jí)真題)
④Hadn't been so strict with herself, she wouldn't have made such great success. (不會(huì)取得這么大的進(jìn)步)
⑤The manager could have attended the meeting in person (本可以親自參加會(huì)議), but he was called away for some urgent business abroad. (09年12月六級(jí)真題)
參考文獻(xiàn):
[1]張培基,喻云根,李宗杰.彭謨禹.英漢翻譯教程[M].上海:上海外語(yǔ)教育出版社,1980.
[2]任智巍.大學(xué)英語(yǔ)四六級(jí)翻譯方法與技巧[J].哈爾濱:哈爾濱學(xué)報(bào),2003.
(作者簡(jiǎn)介:梅妮(1985-) ,女 ,湖北松滋人,長(zhǎng)江大學(xué)外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院在職研究生,助教,長(zhǎng)江大學(xué)文理學(xué)院外語(yǔ)學(xué)部英語(yǔ)教師,研究方向:英語(yǔ)教育。)