大学英语翻译技巧 6.doc

第六单元 句子的翻译（2）被动语态与“是”字句的翻译第一部分：被动语态的翻译一、英汉语态的比较 英语句式中被动语态的使用范围很广，凡是在不必说出、不愿说出或不知道动作施动者时，以及为了上下文的连贯起见时，往往可以使用被动语态。英语的被动句还有着十分规范的形式标志。这是由于英语是一种形合语言，具有较为丰富的形态变化，特别是动词，英语的被动句由动词的被动语态来表达，它由be + p.p.（过去分词）构成，一目了然，是显性的。从思维方面看，西方哲学的“人为万物尺度”，物我分明，主客体对立。所以西方人的思维方式，并非单纯的主体意识，并非单纯的客体意识，而是该强调物时，就是客体意识，该强调人时，就是主体意识；该强调“物”，即动作对象时，就用被动句。 汉语句子很少使用被动态，只有几个助词勉强算得上是被动句的形式标志，如，“被”、“叫”、“让”、“给”等等，另外，汉语被动句常常会给人一种不幸或不快的感觉。究其原因，汉语属于主题显著语言，频繁使用主题述题结构，将句中宾语部分提前作为说话的主题来交代，常在动词上暗示被动语气，更多使用词汇手段表示被动含义。此外，还可能与中国人的主体思维习惯有关，即“天人合一”，强调“悟性”，重视“事在人为”和个人感受。因此在语言的使用上，多采用主动语态、人称表达法、无主句、主语省略句，以及无形式标记的被动句。英译汉时，不能过于局限于原文的语态结构，而要根据语言习惯，在语态上做一些必要的变换。如果语态使用不当，不仅会使译文显得别扭，而且在某种程度上还会影响表情达意。初学翻译的人，容易一见被动语态，马上就将其译成被动结构。比如：He has been given a book如果译成“他被给了一本书”，那就不成体统了。二、被动态的翻译 英语中的被动语态使用极为广泛，尤其是在科技英语中被动语态几乎随处可见，这是因为：(1) 被动结构比主动结构更少主观色彩，科技论著注重客观事实，在需要这种特性；(2) 被动结构更能突出主要特征，说明对象，引人注目；(3) 在很多情况下被动结构比主动结构更简短。而汉语中的被动结构却不那么常见，因为从习惯上讲，汉语中的“被”、“遭”、“受”、“挨”等字眼总是给人不那么舒服的感觉，因此在英汉翻译时，往往要尽量将被动语态化为主动结构。在翻译英语的被动句时，可分析具体情况，采用相应的翻译方法。以下是常用的几种方法。1 译成汉语“被、受、由、把、遭、挨、予以”等有标志的被动结构英语被动句如果表达的是令人不快或不幸的事情，句中又有施动者，则正符合汉语被动句的使用条件。因此大都可以译成汉语的被动结构。例如：His passport was confiscated by the police.他的护照被警方没收了。 Any minute we would surely be spotted by enemy planes flying in and out of the airfield.我们随时都会被出入机场的敌机发现。 The spaceship will be totally controlled by an on-board electronic computer. 这艘宇宙飞船将完全由机载电子计算机控制。The famous hotel had been practically destroyed by the big fire.大火使这家著名的旅馆几乎全部毁坏。（“使”是汉语的被动标志）The plan is going to be examined first by the research group.计划将先由研究小组加以研究。（“由”是汉语的被动标志）By evening the occupation was complete, and the people were chased off the streets by an eight oclock curfew. 至傍晚，占领已告完成八点钟开始的宵禁把人们从街上赶回家。Every single member of that first party had been captured by Spanish Frontier police anti put into a concentration camp.第一批的所有人都被西班牙的边防警察逮捕并被关进了 集中营。（“被”是汉语的被动标志）He was looked down upon by all his friends.（被动态）他为所有的朋友所鄙视。（“被”是汉语的被动标志）但有时在句子并非表现负面的事物时，汉语仍然可以用被动句。He was sent to the front.（被动态）他被派往前线。（“为”是汉语的被动标志）Besides voltage，resistance and capacitance, an alternating current is also influenced by inductance.（被动态）除了电压、电阻和电容以外，交流电还受电感的影响。（“受”是汉语的被动标志）The poor child was beaten black and blue.（被动态）这个可怜的孩子给打得青一块紫一块。（“给”是汉语的被动标志）He was set upon by two masked men.（被动态）他遭到两个蒙面人的袭击。（“遭到”是汉语的被动标志）But one hundred years later，the Negro is still not freeOne hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.（被动态）然而，100年过去了，黑人依旧没有获得自由。100年过去了，黑人的生活仍然很悲惨，为种族隔离的镣铐和种族歧视的锁链所摧残。（“所”是汉语的被动标志）Mistakes must not be covered up. They must be exposed before you can correct them.（被动态）错误不应当加以掩饰，而必须加以揭露，才能加以改正。（“加以”是汉语的被动标志）In his early days Hitler was backed by powerful financial interests in Germany.（被动态）希特勒早年曾经受到德国很有势力的财团的支持。（“受到”是汉语的被动的标志）In the first battle of this period two divisions were disarmed and two divisional commanders were captured.（被动态）第一仗就把敌军两个师解除了武装，俘虏了两个师长。 （“把”是汉语的被动标志）Granny Wang was forced by fail circumstances to enter a knitting mill in Shanghai as a child laborer at the age of twelve. 王大妈为家境所迫，十二岁就到上海一家针织厂作童工。 （译成“为所”的结构） I was so impressed by these words that I used them later for a Christmas card. 我为这些话所深深感动，后来我就把它们写在圣诞卡上了。（译成“为所”的结构）2译成主动形式被动含义的句子 The sense of inferiority that he acquired in his youth hasnever been totally eradicated他在青少年时期留下的自卑感还没有完全消除。The whole country was armed in a few days.几天之内全国都武装起来了。Nothing that the United States did or could have done within the reasonable limits of its capabilities could have changed that result：nothing that was left undone by this country has contributed to it.（被动态）美国在它能力的合理限度以内所实际采取过的，或本来能够采取的种种措施，都不能改变这个结果，美国也没有因为未能采取某些措施而促成这个结果。（主动句）It was a wonder that the car was severely damaged beyond any means of repair while the driver was safe and sound. 汽车损坏严重，已无法修理，而驾驶员却安然无恙，真是奇迹。（主动句）What measures have been or are being adopted by the local government to reduce air pollution？（被动态）当地政府已经采取了或正在采取哪些措施来降低空气的污染程度？（主动句）On Practice has been translated into many foreign languages.实践论已译成许多国家的文字。The whole country was armed in a few days.几天以内，全国就武装起来了。译成带表语的主动句。 The decision to attack was not taken lightly.进攻的决定不是轻易做出的。In the old society，women were looked down upon. 在旧社会，妇女们是受歧视的。3原文的主语变为宾语 What is little understood by the outside world is that this is a failure legislated for. It is a failure which has been carefully designed. 外界很少有人知道，这种无法做到的情况是立法造成的，是经过精心策划的。Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events, allows one to follow the latest developments in science and politics, and offers an endless series of programmes which are both instructive and entertaining. 人们常说，电视使人了解时事，熟悉政治和科学领域的最新发展变化，并能源源不断地为观众提供各种既有教育意义又有趣的节目。By the end of the war，800 people had been saved by the organization，but at a cost of 200 Belgian and French lives. 大战终了时，这个组织拯救了800人，但那是以200多比利时人和法国人的生命为代价的。They are ordered to do so by the government.政府命令他们这样做。A new regime was established in Changsha. 长沙建立了新政权。Another middle school has been set up in our district.我们区又办了一所中学。1,200 people had been saved soldiers in the earthquake.在地震中，战士们已救出1200人。另外，下列的结构也可以通过这一手段翻译以it作形式主语的英语句子，翻译时常要转为主动形式，有时可加上“有人”、“大家”、“我们”等不确定主语。 It is reported that the enemy has been breeding new strains of killer viruses. 据报道敌人正在培育新的杀人病毒。 It is suggested that meeting be put off till next Monday.有人建议会议推迟到下星期一举行。 It is well known that natural light is actually made up of many colors. 众所周知，自然光其实是由许多种颜色构成的。 这类句型还有： It is asserted that有人主张；It is believed that有人认为；It is generally considered that大家（一般人）认为；It is well known that大家知道（众所周知）；It will be said有人会说；It was told that有人曾经说。4译成汉语的无主句American prisoners are permitted to receive Red Cross food parcels. 允许美国俘虏领取红十一字会的食品包裹。When (it is) seen through a telescope, the sun appears darker near the edge. 用望远镜看，太阳接近边缘的部分显得略暗。It was after a serious discussion that a conclusion was arrived at. 经过认真讨论才得出结论。（汉语没有主语）A nuclear power station has been built to generate electricity in that remote area. 在那个偏远地区，为了满足对电力的需求，已经建立了一座核电站。（汉语没有主语）If mistakes are to be avoided，there must be the closest international collaboration in which we in the United Kingdom will gladly play our part. 为了避免犯错误，我们需要有最密切的国际合作，联合王国乐意为此承担自己的义务。（汉语没有主语）The wilderness of the new continent had to be cleared, the enemies had to be defeated and the disputes at home had to be settled. 新大陆的荒野必须开垦，敌人一定得打败，国内的争端必须解决。（第一句，第三句是属于无主句，第二分句中有“得”字，“得”属于汉语中有标志的被动态）Some measures must be taken to control the water pollution. 必须采取某些措施来控制水污染。Methods are found to take these materials out of the rubbish and use them again. 现在已经找到了从垃圾中提取这些材料并加以利用的方法。 5译成泛指人称To explore the moons surface，rockets were launched again and again. 为了探测月球的表面，人们一次又一次地发射火箭。A lot of ground has been marked out for building more restaurants. 人们划出一大片土地供建造更多的饭店使用。我们看下面一则短文，里面出现了十几处被动语态，但是在译文中都转化成了主动语态。As oil is often found in the ground its presence cannot be determined by a study of the surface. Consequently, a geological survey of the underground rock structure must be carried out. If it is thought that the rocks in a certain area contain oil，a “drilling rig” is assembled. The most obvious part of a drilling rig is called “a derrick”. It is used to lift sections of pipe, which are lowered into the hole made by the drill. As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling in. If oil is struck, a cover is firmly fixed to the top of the pipe and the oil is allowed to escape through a series of valves. 由于石油深埋地下，靠研究地面，不能确定有没有石油。因此对地下岩层结构必须进行地质探测。如果认为某地区的岩层含石油，则在该处安装“钻机”。钻机中最显眼的部件叫“井架”。井架用来吊升分节油管，把石油放入由钻头打出的孔中。当孔钻成后，放入钢管以防孔壁坍塌。如钻探到石油，则在油管顶部紧固地加盖，让石油通过一系列阀门流出。 综上所述，英语被动句多数情况下译成汉语的主动句，只有在特别强调被动动作或特别突出被动句，才译成汉语被动句。我们要选一种既符合汉语习惯，又保持上下文连贯的译法。同时，既要注意语态转换的一般规则，也要注意其例外情况， 有的被动语态形式已习语化了，更是不可忽视的。语 态 的 转 换汉语中有一些可以或者必须用英语被动式来表达，这是研究语态变换的主要问题。当然，英语中被动语态的各种用法都有一定的理由。归纳起来，不外乎是：1. 着重被动的动作；2. 突出动作承受者（人或事物）的重要性；3. 不知道或无须说出动作的执行者；4. 便利上下文的连贯，衔接。这些理由也正是我们在汉译英时进行语态变换的重要依据。现在从以下几方面来谈：一、关于汉语被动句的英译问题汉语的被动句子，从结构上说，大体可以分为两类：一类带有表达被动意义的标记；另一类则不带这种标记。普通而常见的是后一类。不论属于哪一类，英译时基本上仍可运用被动语态。下面分别介绍：1. 带有被动标记的汉语被动句这类句子，一般表示较强的被动意义，着重于被动的动作。此类的句子可按照英语的惯用法，理应译成英语的被动句子。汉语这一类被动式，用助词“被”“受”“遭”“给”“挨”“叫”“让”等为标记。海外华侨现在不再被人轻视了。Over-seas Chinese are on longer looked down upon.他深受大家尊敬。He is greatly respected by everyone.他的一位朋友被匪徒所杀害。One of his friends was killed by bandits.这个问题必须在适当的时候以适当的方式予以处理。It (the problem) must be dealt with by appropriate means at an appropriate time.但是，还必须指出，并不是所有带被动标记的句子都一定要译成英语的被动式。必须首先考虑所选的英语动词的特点，习惯用法以及上下文关系等，然后再决定用什么语态。2. 不带有被动标记的汉语被动句这类句子在形式上一般都有主语，也有动词，但是主语在实际上是谓语动词的动作承受者，而不是执行者。动作执行者并未出现。这类句子结构上为主动句，而含义上为被动句。这种句子翻译时一般也要用被动语态来处理。这座桥将在今年年底建成。The construction of the bridge will be completed by the end of this year.这个问题正在研究。The problem is now being studied.二、关于汉语主动句的英译问题汉语都采用主动语态，但在英译时有时改用被动语态。形态的变换基于多种原因，概括起来说，主要是：1. 为了强调接受动作的人或事物的重要性英语里常常运用被动结构把动作的承受者作为句子的主语，来突出它的地位，强调它的重要性。由于这个原因，汉译英时，往往将汉语的主动句变换为英语的被动句，把原文的宾语变成译文的主语。我国各族人民每年都要热烈庆祝十月一日的国庆节。National Day is enthusiastically celebrated on Oct.1 by the Chinese people of all nationalities every year. 一群人把他围住了，向他提出一个又一个的问题。Very soon he was surrounded by a crowd and was snowed under with questions.2. 为了加强上下文的连贯性英语中，常常为了上下文的连贯，使句子之间的衔接紧密自然而运用被动结构。为此目的，在汉译英时也常常将汉语的主动句改译为英语的被动句。他出现在台上，观众给予热烈鼓掌。He appeared on the stage and was warmly applauded by the audience.口试时，问了十个问题，她全都答对了。She was asked ten questions in the oral exam and answered every one of them correctly.3. 为了使措词得当，语气婉转英语常因为礼貌上的考虑，不说出者，尤其是第一人称，因而采用被动语态。汉译英时往往也将汉语的主动语态转译成英语的被动语态，多见于讲话，通知，请帖等。请全系老师和干部于星期三下午二时在会议室集合，听报告。All teachers and cadres of the Department are requested to meet in the conference room at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday to hear a speech.来宾请出示入场券。Visitors are requested to show their tickets.三、关于汉语的一些习惯用语的翻译方法汉语中还有一些习惯用语，从语态上看是主动语态，但英译时通常都用被动语态。请注意以下一些用法：据说（有人说）。It is said that大家知道。It is well known that据报道。It is reported由此可见。It will be seen from this that人们有时会问。It is sometimes asked that人们希望。It is expected thatI. SENTENCE TRANSLATION1.Communications satellites are used for international living transmission throughout the world.2. The old womans body was found at the end of the alley. 3. In the move most of the furniture was left to the neighbors or distributed among friends.4.The process is similar to that performed at the transmit end，and the carriers are suppressed within the balanced modulators. 5.If there is any confusion or misunderstanding，the patent might not be granted or the inventor might not be fully protected6. One must admit that a good deal of discontent is reflected in those statistics.7.George Washington is remembered as a great general，as one of the founders of the Republic，and as the first President of the United States.8. The most important part of the teaching of a place like Yale is found in the lessons of public spirit and devotion to high ideals which it gives; these things can in some measure be learned from daily life of the college and the sentiments which it inculcates.9. Much is left to be desired.10.This instrument must be handed with great care.第二部分： “是”字句的翻译“是”字句的翻译“是”字在汉语语法中称为“判断词。“是”字句在汉语中占有非常重要的位置，可表示等同、类属、存在、特征、让步、加强语义等多种意义，翻译成英语时也有许多选择，值得注意。一、“是”字译为“be” 主语+系动词+表语是英语五大基本句型之一，而be在系动词中使用频率最高。大凡汉语中的“是”，译成英语时多译成be。武汉是湖北省的省会，是华中地区工业、金融、商业、科技、文化教育的中心。 Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province. It is also the center of industry, trade, science, culture and education in the area of the country.原文用了两个“是”，均表示等同。十亿多人口的中国是个巨大的市场，与各国的经济合作有着广阔的前景。With a population of over 1.1 billion, China itself is a huge market that holds great potential for countries looking for economic cooperation.原文中“是”是表示特征的。我不是不懂，是不想说。Its not that I didnt understand, but that I didnt want to say anything.原文中，“不是”的意思并非否定，而是用来加强“不懂”的语义；后面的“是”用来加强“不想说”的语义。这些电子计算机是新华公司制造的。These computers were made in Xinhua Company.“是”与“的”配合表示被动，翻译时要用被动语态。是人，就会犯错误。To err is human.原文中的“是”的意思为“凡是”，译文套用了英文成语“To err is human.”来表示“人非圣贤，孰能无过？”的含义。然而，不必凡“是”皆译be。现代汉语中，“是”字使用频率甚高，这要求我们在汉译英时力戒照搬，力求有所变化；而汉语立言造句中的“是”字，除了表示判断之外，还可能据它所依托的题旨语境表达出多种意义来，这就为我们汉译英时使用不同动词来表示“是”字的所指提供了可能性。二、“是”译为remain，表示continue to be的意义实现工业化仍然是我国现代化进程中艰巨的历史任务。 It remains an arduous historical task in the process of ourmodernization drive to accomplish industrialization扩大就业是我国当前和今后长时期重大而艰巨的任务。 The task of increasing employment is arduous now and will remain so for a long time to come和平与发展仍是当今时代的主题。维护和平，促进发展，事关各国人民的福祉，是各国人民的共同愿望，也是不可阻挡的历史潮流。Peace and development remain the themes of our eraTo preserve peace and promote development bears on the well-being of all nations and represents the common aspirations of all peopleIt is an irresistible trend of history 除remain一词外，译文中还活用了represent一词，其词义是correspond to in essence (与本质上符合)，与common aspiration构成动词和宾语的搭配，既避免了三个“是”字的机械性重复，又文从意顺，准确地表了原文中的信息。三、“是”译为constitute，表示make up，form的意义以上十条，是党领导人民建设中国特色社会主义必须坚持的基本经验。The above-mentioned 10 principles constitute the basic experience the Party must follow as it leads the people in building socialism with Chinese characteristics党的基层组织是党的全部工作和战斗力的基础。The primary organizations of the Party constitute its foundation for doing all its work and building up its combat effectiveness建立健全同经济发展水平相适应的社会保障体系，是社会稳定和国家长治久安的重要保证。Establishing and improving a social security system compatible with the level of economic development constitute an important guarantee for social stability and long-term peace and order in the country上述三句的共同之处在于，“是”字的功用是解释和分类（参见丁声树、吕叔湘等著现代汉语语法讲话），即主语分别隶属于谓语部分中的“基本经验”、“基础”和“重要保证”，constitute所表达的，正是“构成”、“形成”、“组成”的意思。四、“是”译为serve或serve as实现两岸直接通邮、通航和通商，是两岸同胞的共同利益所在。 As the direct links of mail，air and shipping services，and trade across the Taiwan Strait serve the interests of the compatriots on both sides 句中，serve的意思是comply with (符合)，而“serve the interests”正是“是共同利益所在”。这是实现现代化建设第三步战略目标必经的承上启下的发展阶段，也是完善社会主义市场经济体制和扩大对外开放的关键阶段。 The two decades of development will serve as an inevitable connecting link for attainting the third-step strategic objectives for our modernization drive as well as a key stage to improving the socialist market economy and opening wider to the outside world句中，serve as的意思是function or act as (充当)，译者把“是”、“也是”合一，由will serve as统领inevitable connecting link和a key stage，重在说明新世纪头二十年的重要性，准确地表达了原文的信息焦点。值得一提的是，译文用for attainting和for improving两个介词短语译出原文中的两个长定语，句式工整，神形俱备，可谓佳译。五、“是”译为mean，表示signify（意指，意谓）的意思与时俱进，就是党的全部理论和工作要体现时代性，把握规律性，富于创造性。Keeping pace with the times means that all the theory and work of the Party must conform to the times，follow the law of development and display great creativity团结就是力量，团结就是胜利。 Solidarity means strength；solidarity means victory“是”字的这种译法，易于为英语学习者理解和掌握，如 “效率就是金钱、时间就是生命、坚持就是胜利”,我们可取mean而译为：Efficiency means money. Time means lifePerseverance means victory六、“是”的其他译法创新是一个民族的灵魂，是一个国家兴旺发达的不竭动力，也是一个政党永葆生机的源泉。 Innovation sustains the progress of a nationIt is an inexhaustible motive force for the prosperity of a country and the source of eternal vitality of a political party.“创新是一个民族的灵魂”为什么不译成“Innovation is the soul of a nation”? 这是由全文主旨和该句的上下文所决定的。党的十六大的主题是：高举邓小平理论伟大旗帜，全面贯彻“三个代表”重要思想，继往开来，与时俱进，全面建设小康社会，加快推进社会主义现代化，为开创中国特色社会主义事业新局面而奋斗。强调的是要“进”、要“创”。该句的上文是对“与时俱进”的阐释，并强调“能否做到这一点，决定着党和国家的命运”，这就说明了“民族的灵魂”的本质和含义，而该句的下文则呼应上文，再次强调国家要兴旺发达、政党要永葆生机，则非具备“创新”这个民族的灵魂不可。译者出于对原文的深刻理解和准确把握，把“是民族的灵魂”译为“sustain the progress nation”，可谓匠心独运，逻辑严谨，忠实可信。句中，sustain与the progress构成动词+宾语的搭配，意思是“(enable to) keep up or maintain the progress”。党的领导主要是政治、思想和组织领导。 Leadership by the Party mainly refers to its political, ideological and organizational leadership. 丁声树、吕叔湘等先生在现代汉语语法讲话一书中谈到“是”字的功能时说，“就大多数句子而论，解释和分类是一件事的两个方面”。译文中，refer to正含有classify，relate等意思，准确、等值地传达了原文信息。我们党的最大政治优势是密切联系群众，党执政后的最大危险是脱离群众。 The biggest political advantage of our Part