第一章 商务英语翻译概论.ppt

1、Unit 1 An Introduction to Business English Translation,Origin of Translation,the Tower of Babel,the Tower of Babel from the Bible Now the whole earth had one language and few words. And as men migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one anot

2、her, Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole ea

3、rth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men had built.,And the LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; and nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come,

4、let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one anothers speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.,Translation Errors Everywhere,Red lion head Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman; Hus

5、band and wifes lung slice； Rolling donkey,Braised Pork Balls in Soy Sauce Mapo Tofu Beef and Ox Tripe in Chili Sauce Ldagunr (Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour),“fee-paying public toilet” 北京的一家收费厕所，门口的标示牌为“到北京的厕所领钱去”,Earliest Translation History in China,西汉学者刘向(公元前77年前6年)说苑善说记载越人歌，距今二千多年。 国

6、语周语中：“故坐诸门外，而使舌人体委与之。” 韦昭 注：“舌人，能达异方之志，象胥之官也。” 舌人：tongue man 象胥：古代的翻译官 拉丁语的“舌”字词根为“lingua”，称译员为“linguist”(与语言学家同字)，与中文的“舌人”完全对应。,-the West 250 B.C. Livius Andronicus (里维乌斯 安德罗尼柯,罗马人）translated the Greek epic poem “Odyssey” in Latin.,Characteristics of Business English,Lexical features Syntactic feat

7、ures Stylistic features,1) Formal and serious,A. long prepositions B. compound words made up of here/there +prepositions C. abbreviations D. technical terms,Examples:,(1) In compliance with your cable of 12th,we have opened L/C today. 按照你方12日电报，我们今天开出信用证。 (2) We enclose herewith one of our price-lis

8、t for your examination. 兹随函附寄我价格表一份，请参考。 (3) Thereafter, you may book orders with us as we always maintain adequate quantities of replacement parts in stock. 之后，贵方可向我公司订购，我们经常保持适当数量的零部件现货。,More examples,(4) We shall cover TPND on your order. 我们将为你方所订货物投保偷窃、提货不着险。 (5) We used to do business with them

9、 on FOB basis. 我们过去和他们按船上交货价做生意。 (6) We enclose Bill of Lading, Consignment Note with three copies of Commercial Invoice, Certificate of Origin, Import License. 我们附上提单，发货通知书/托运通知书，以及商业发票、产地证和进口许可证的三份复印件。,2) Accurate and specific,The correct expression of time, price, quantity, sum of money, specific

10、ations, etc.,Examples,We shall deliver the goods to you by September 12. 我们将于9月12日前将货交给你方。 我们将于9月12日，包括12日在内将货交给你方。,Syntactic Features,1) Using declarative sentences 2) Using complex sentences, participles and infinitives 3) Use passive voice 4) Using modal verbs,In case the contract is concluded on

11、 CIF basis, the insurance shall be effected by the seller for 110% of invoice value covering all risks, war risk, and S.R.C.C. risks (i.e., Strikes, Riot, and Civil Commotions). 在到岸价基础上订立的合同， 将由卖方按发票金额110%投保综合险、战争险、罢工险、暴乱险和民变险。,Stylistic features,Diversity,Definitions of Translation,Translating is t

12、he art of recomposing a work in another language without losing its original flavor. Columbia Encyclopedia Translating is the replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL). J. C. Carford,To translate is to change into another language, r

13、etaining as much of the sense as one can. Samuel Johnson (Translating ) is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way the author intended the text. Peter Newmark Translation is an art that involves the re-creation of a work in another language for readers with a different backg

14、round. Malcolm Cowley,Translating consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. 翻译是指从语义到文体在译语中用最切近而又最自然的对等语再现原文的信息。 Eugene A. Nida,Nature of Translation,翻译是将一种语言文化承载的意义转换到另一种语言

15、文化中的跨语言、跨文化的交际活动。意义的交流必须通过语言来实现，而每种语言都是一个独特文化的部分和载体。我们在转换一个文本的语言信息时，也在传达其蕴含的文化意义。翻译的本质是释义，是意义的转换。,Classifications,By means: -interpretation, translation and machine translation By the difference between SL and TL -inter-language, intra-language By the treatment of the source materials -complete tran

16、slation, select translation, translation and edit By register -practical, literary, scientific,Criteria of Translation,诸佛典皆在天竺。天竺言语，与汉异音名物不同，传实不易仆初嫌其词不雅。维祇难曰：“佛言依其义不用饰，取其法不以严。其传经者，当令易晓，勿失厥义，是则为善。”座中咸曰：“老氏称：美言不信，信言不美。今传胡义，实且径达。” -支谦（法句经序）,佛经是从印度取回的。印度语言的发音与汉语不同事物及其名称不同，翻译时传达原义很不容易我开始认为译文用词不雅。一位名叫祗难的人

17、说：“翻译佛言要传达意义，不用修饰，要严格根据佛法。译者翻译经文，要使经文易懂，不失其本义，这样的译文才是好译文。”在座的人都说：“老子说：美的译文不信，信的译文不美。翻译外语的意义，直接译过来就行。”,Criteria of translation,“译”事三难：信、达、雅。求其信，已大难矣。顾信矣不达，虽译犹不译也，则达尚焉。译文取明深意，故词句之间，时有所颠倒附益，斤斤于字比句次，而意义则不倍本文。至原文词理本深，难于共喻，则当前思后衬，以显其意。凡此经营，皆以为达：为达，即以为信也。易曰：“修辞立诚”。子曰“辞达而已！”又曰：“言之无文，行之不远”。三者乃文章正轨，亦即为译事楷模。故信

18、达而外，求其尔雅。 严复（18541921，天演论译例言）,Yan Fu (1854-1921) - A Famous Chinese Scholar and Translator,“信” (faithfulness): Being faithful to the original（忠实于原文） “达”(expressiveness): Being explicit and smooth（明白晓畅） “雅” (elegance): Being elegant in diction （措辞的优雅）,Criteria of Translation,译者不但要求达义，并且要以传神为目的，译文必须忠实

19、于原文之字神句气与言外之意。 林语堂 So dim, so dark,So dense, so dull,So damp, so dank,So dead!The weather, now warm, now cold,Makes it harder than ever to forget!How can thin wine and bread Serve as protectionAgainst the piercing wind of sunset!,Criteria of Translation,以效果而论，翻译应像临画一样，所求的不在形似，而是神似。 傅雷 文学翻译的最高标准可以说是“

20、化”。把作品从一国文字转变成另一国文字，既不能因语言习惯的差异而露出生硬牵强的痕迹，又能完全保存原作的风味，那就算得入于“化境”。 钱钟书 真有灵感的译文，像投胎重生的灵魂一般，令人觉得是一种“再创造”。 余光中,Criteria of Translation,泰特勒（Alexander F. Tytler）(1747-1814) 翻译“三原则”： A. A translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work. 译文应完全复写出原文的思想； B. The style and manner

21、 of writing should be of the same character as that of the original. 译文的风格和笔调应与原文的一致； C. A translation should have all the ease of the original composition. 译文应和原文同样流畅。,Eugene Nida (1914- ): Father of Modern Translation Theory,dynamic/ functional equivalence “The reader of a translated text should b

22、e able to comprehend it to the point that they can conceive of how the original readers of the text must have understood and appreciated it.” Core contents: Readers response Priority of content over form,Examples,例一：“Xishi”,i.e.,“Xizi”,is one of the four most beautiful ladies in the Chinese history,

23、 who was the native of Zhejiang province. “the fair lady” or “a Chinese Cleopatra” 例二: Liar，Liar，Parents on Fire (Newsweek April 7th，2008) 试译1：撒谎，撒谎，父母遭殃 例三：Hurting and Homeless（Newsweek May 21st，2008） 试译：心无所依，身无所栖。,Peter Newmark ,SL emphasis TL emphasis Word-for-word translation Adaptation Literal

24、translation Free translation Faithful translation Idiomatic translation Semantic translation Communicative translation,semantic translation attempts to render, as closely as the semantic and syntactic structure of the second language allow, the exact contextual meaning of the original“ “communicativ

25、e translation attempts to produce on its readers an effect as close as possible to that obtained on the readers of the original (Newmark, 1981: 39).,英国翻译理论家Peter Newmark将语言功能分为七类： 1、informative function，传达信息。如：他是我哥哥。（He is my elder brother.） 2、expressive function，表达感情。如：这里风景多美啊！（What a beautiful vie

26、w!） 3、vocative function，使听者或读者作出文本所期望的反应。如：请坐下。,4、aesthetic function，使感官愉快。 如：“层层的叶子中间，零星地点缀着些白花，有袅娜地开着的，有羞涩地打着朵儿的；正如一粒粒的明珠，又如碧天里的星星。” （朱自清：“荷塘月色”） The leaves were dotted in between the layers with white flowers, some blooming gracefully; others, as if bashfully, still in bud. They were like bright

27、pearls and stars in an azure sky.(王椒升译）.,5、cognitive function，人必须用语言进行思考，用语言“进行分析、综合、抽象、概括等思维活动，形成思想，表达思想 6、phatic function，使交际者保持接触，也可反映交际者之间的关系。如：你好。（How do you do!）幸会。（Nice to see you!） 7、metalingual function，指语言解释或命名自身特点的功能。如：语言是一种独特的符号系统。（Language is a unique system of signs.）,Criterion of Busi

28、ness Translation,faithfulness exactness consistency,Violating Faithfulness,客商从开发区企业分得的利润汇出境外时，免征所得税。 Profits gained by the investors and businessmen from the Development Zone enterprises will be exempted from tax when remitted out of China. Dividend, be exempted from personal income tax,Violating Ex

29、actness,1. 我方已发了装运通知，货物会在5月30日前发出。 Ive sent the shipping instructions to you. The goods will be shipped before May 30. 2. 请根据装运须知来装运货物。 Please ship the goods according to the shipping advice.,交货期改为8月并将美元折合成人民币。 Both parties agree to change the time of shipping into August and change US dollar to Ren

30、minbi. into to,Violating Consistency,比利时卢森堡经济联盟 Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Alliance Belgium-LuxembourgEconomicUnion(BLEU) 原产地 originalplace of production placeoforigin,Method of Translation,What are the methods of translation? Literal translation Free translation,Literal Translation,By literal tran

31、slation, you can get the original meaning preserving the way of expression without destroying the stylistic features and rhetoric images. 直译（Literal Translation):就是指译文不但完整而正确地表达原文的内容，而且还基本上保留原文表达的形式，比如保留原文所使用的词语、句子结构、修辞手法等，如原文中的比喻，原文的形象，原文的民族特色等。,直译是把忠实于原文内容放在第一位，把忠实于原文形式放在第二位，把通顺的译文形式放在第三位的翻译方法。 -许

32、渊冲,译文语序与原文一致，“字对字”的直译 Without air，a living thing will die. 没有空气，生物就会死。 译文语序、词序、句法与原文不同，但忠于原文，符合汉语规范，也属直译 To greatly increase the speed of development of our science and technology is a task which brooks no delay. 大大加快我国科学技术的发展速度乃是刻不容缓的任务。,More Examples,But I hated Sakamoto ,and I had a feeling hed s

33、urely lead us both to our ancestors . 但是我恨坂本，并预感到他肯定会领着咱们去见祖先。 Hilter was armed to the teeth when he launched the Second World War ,but in a few years ,he was completely defeated. 希特勒在发动第二次世界大战时是武装到牙齿的，可是不过几年，就被彻底击败了。,Translate the following sentences literally. (1) 他是只纸老虎。 He is a paper tiger. (2)

34、别流鳄鱼泪。 Dont shed crocodile tears. (3) 应该弥补代沟。 We must bridge the generation gap. (4)假冒伪劣商品 fake or poor quality commodities (5)最惠国待遇 most-favored-nation treatment,More Examples,处理人民内部的矛盾必须坚持和风细雨 的方法 ,坚持“团结一批评一团结”的方法。 It is essential to persist in using methods as mild as a drizzle and as gentle as a

35、 breeze ,and to adhere to the formula of “unity- criticism- unity” in dealing with contradictions among the people. ,对外开放取得新进展。2003 年共批准“三资”企业120 家,全省“三资”企业已达480 家。 New progress has been made in the process of opening to the outside world. In 2003 , the province approved 120 “Three Forms of Ventures

36、”( Sino -foreign joint ventures , cooperative enterprises and wholly foreign - funded enterprises) , totaling 480.,直译与死译 原文形式和内容在翻译后是一致时，可以用直译的办法，达到忠实、通顺言简意赅的效果。 如果原文形式和内容无法与译语的表达方式一致时，仍然采用直译，会使译文不明不白，成为“死译”，死译的句子既不忠实于原文，又不符合译语表达方式。, You cant be too careful. 你不能太小心。 biological parents 生物父母,Free Tran

37、slation,By free translation, you get the very true meaning without being confined to the expression of the ST, the images and national features, you just convey the true meaning contained in it according to the custom of TL. 意译(Free Translation)：就是不拘泥于原文的表达形式，不受原文所使用的词语、句子结构、修辞手法等如形象，民族特色等的限制，而只是将原文

38、的意义传达出来的翻译。,意译却是把忠实于原文的内容放在第一位，把通顺的译文形式放在第二位，而不拘泥于原文形式的翻译方法。 -许渊冲,反映民族语言个性的方面，往往要用到意译,译出隐含之意,译出引申之意,转义,源于典故、宗教、寓言、习语,源于俚语、口语、谑语,Physics is the science of matter and energy. 物理学是研究物质与能量的科学。,译出隐含之意,Our uncle remembered us in his will. 我们的叔父指明分给我们遗产。 比较：我们的叔父在他的遗嘱中提到了我们。,译出引申之意,The high cost of this ne

39、w product has discouraged commercial use. 这种新产品的高成本，使其上市销售疲软。,转义,源于典故、宗教、寓言、习语,His behavior would try the patience of Job. 连最有耐心的人也可能无法容忍他的行为。 The little girl is in the Seventh Heaven with her new bicycle. 这个小女孩因有一辆新自行车而欢天喜地。 Mary blew hot and cold about going to college, every day, she changed her

40、mind. 玛丽对上大学的事摇摆不定，她天天改变主意。 Everybody knows they are birds of a feather. 大家都知道他们是一路货色。 It is a good horse that never stumbles. 金无足赤，人无完人。,源于俚语、口语、谑语, To get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg. 目前在纽约住上一套像样的公寓，必须要付出极高的代价。 He fell asleep and he was driving his pi

41、gs to market. 他睡着了，鼾声如雷。 The another half of man is the better half. 男人的一半是女人。,More Examples,One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy. 一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。 我要有个三长两短，你给玉山捎个话！ If anything should happen to me , let Yushan know! 大智若愚 A truly wise person does not show off his (her) ab

42、ility.,意译需留意： 不能脱离原作这个依据 不能脱离原作的语言环境,意译与乱译 意译必须在全面把握、透彻体会原文的真实意义的基础上，运用相应翻译方法或改变原文句式，或综合句意，再用规范的译入语加以表达。 凭主观臆断来理解原文，不分析原文结构，只看词面意义，自己编造句子，势必造成“乱译”。,Which is better?,要根据原作语言的不同情况，来决定其中该直译的就直译，该意译的就意译。一个出色的译者总是能全局在胸而又紧扣局部，既忠实于原作的灵魂。又便利于读者的理解与接受的。一部好的译作总是既有直译又有意译的：凡能直译处坚持直译，必须意译处则放手意译。” -王佐良,一译文和原文相同的形

43、式能表达和原文相同的内容时，可以直译，不能表达时就意译； 二原文的表达形式比译文精确、有力时，可以直译，译文的表达形式比原文精确、有力时，可以意译。 -许渊冲,直译和意译兼容并蓄、相得益彰 没有对错之分，只有好与更好 考虑译文的可传意性和可接受性,Process of Translation,Elements involved in the process: Author of STSTTranslatorTTReaders of TT comprehension expression revision,1) Accurate comprehension/ analysis to get th

44、e true message focus: analysis of grammatical relationships and meanings of words and combinations of words. 你满家子算一算，谁的奶奶妈妈不仗着主子哥儿姐儿得些便宜？偏咱们就这样“丁是丁，卯是卯”的？ in all the different young masters and mistresses households, which nurse and nanny doesnt get certain perks. Why expect us to be scrupulous?,2)

45、Smooth expression/ restructuring SL TL 3) Careful check-up/ revision,Qualifications of a Translator,A good command of both languages: accurate understanding of the SL and natural expression in the TL. Encyclopedic knowledge: context, situation, culture Keen and acute perception: authors ideology, psyche, writing skills and expression habits; the works scene, tone,A Red, Red Rose O, my luves like a red, red rose, Thats newly sprung in June. O, my luves like the melodie, Thats sweetly playd in tune. Robert Burns,一朵红红的玫瑰 呵, 我的爱人像朵红红的玫瑰,六月里迎风初开;呵, 我的爱人像支甜甜的曲子,奏得和谐又合拍。 王佐良译,一朵红红的玫瑰 啊，我的爱