如何用词性转化翻译动词?
二. 动词有关的词性转换
在翻译过程中,我们经常见到汉语一个句子中有多个动词出现,如“中国实行改革开放政策,开展现代化建设,已经实现社会安定,经济繁荣,综合国力显著增强”。而英语中一个句子只能有一个谓语,这就需要词性转换的帮忙。以下是汉译英中两种最常见的动词转译技能,一起来看一下:
(一)动词名词化
汉语是“动态”语言,而英语是“静态”语言。因此,名词化在汉译英中的处理须格外小心,很多情况下汉语动词并不是对应地译成英语动词,而是要遵循英语的“静”的特点,进行必要的词性转换,使译文符合英语的句法规律,因而更加地道、更显文采。
汉译英
我们坚信已经向前迈进了一步。
It is our firm conviction that a step forward has been taken.
我深信自满情绪是我们各种问题的根源。
It's my conviction that complacency is at the root of our troubles.
(此处的It is sb’s conviction意同于sb firmly believe, 在一些政论和科技文体中,比较倾向这种名词化的静态表达,因为静态表达句子结构比较严谨,不容易产生歧义,并且可起到加强语气的作用。)
可以认为,日本对美独立性的增强是日本走向“政治大国”的前提条件,从这个意义上说,美对日成为真正的“政治大国”是不会高兴不会支持的,因为这意味着日本会逐渐变得不那么“紧跟”,不那么听话,甚至成为像某些欧洲国家那样敢于顶撞美国的国家。
It can be argued that Japan's being independent of the United States is the pre-condition of its becoming“a major political power.”In this respect,the United States will not really be pleased with and supportive of Japan's ascension to“a major political power" because this means Japan will no longer be so closely aligned with America,or like some European countries,will even dare to say no to the United States.
然而,在国际社会看来,日本发挥政治大国的作用符合多极化发展趋势。
But from the viewpoint of the international community,Japan's role power is in line with the developing trend of mufti-polarization as a major political.
北京不懈努力申办奥运会,并取得最终的胜利,不仅对共享奥林匹克精神,弘扬人道主义精神,扩大东西方交流具有重要意义,也为…
Beijing ‘s renewed efforts to bid for the Olympic Games and its final success in the bid not only have the significance for sharing the Olympic spirit, but also…
(与之前两例将动词译为抽象名词不同,这三个例子中又加入了名词性物主代词,不仅在语气上更加正式,也精简了句式。)
中国支持联合国的改革,支持联合国等多边机构在国际事务中继续发挥重要作用。
China supports the reform of the United Nations and a continued important role of the United Nations and other multilateral organs in international affairs.
(以上“继续发挥”译为a continued important role of,随着动词译为名词,修饰它的副词也随之转换为形容词)
游客到处乱弃垃圾,制造废水,再加上这一地区大兴土木,建造旅游设施,这一切都严重破坏了当地的生态环境和文化氛围。
Littering and waste water from tourists as well as construction of tourist facilities in the area are polluting the surroundings both environmentally and culturally.
(原句动词短语不好翻译时,也可灵活处理为名词)
英译汉
在英译汉过程中,则应当遵循汉语动词优势,将英语中的名词、名词词组转译为汉语中的动词。
1. He is a total stranger in our city.
他对这座城市完全陌生。
2,The restaurant is a real money maker
这餐馆真的很赚钱。(为了中文的流畅性,将名词译为动词)
(二)动词介词互化
动词与介词之间的转化,主要有以下特征:
1. 句子中有两个以上非并列关系的动词时(即“多动词句”),只取一个核心动词作谓语。次重要的译为非谓语或从句,再不重要的译为介词。如:
我进去看了看,只记得门警是瑞士士兵,穿着黄色的制服,别的没有印象了。
I came in to have a look and I just remember that the guard at the gate were Swiss soldiers in yellow uniforms.
屈原怀着十分悲痛的心情,抱了一块大石头,投汨罗江自杀了。
Overwhelmed with grief, Quyuan drowned himself in the Miluo River with a large stone in his arms.
2. “be + 介词”通常用来代替动词。
爹上班去了,妹不在家,妈刚找到工作,还得过一个小时才下班。
Dad was at work, my younger sister was away, and Mother wouldn’t be home from her new job for an hour.
3. 英语中表示方向的介词本身具有动作性,译为汉语时常译作动词,因此反过来说,我们在做汉译英时,也可以用这些表示方位的介词充当动词。如:
他走出小屋,跨过草地,爬上小山,走进了那座庙宇。
He went out of the cottage , across the lawn ,up the hill and into the temple.
“来啦!”她转身蹦着跳着跑了,越过草地,跑上小径,跨上台阶,穿过阳台,进了门廊。
“Coming!”Away she skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the verranda, and into the porch.(以上例子来自《三级笔译实务》)
以介词代替动词的好处就是可以减少句中动词的数量,使句子更加简洁。
平时我们很难摆脱母语思维习惯,在使用英语时会过多地使用动词,而动词和名词、介词间的巧妙转换可以使译文更符合英语语的表达习惯,读来更加流畅、自然,避免译文拖沓晦涩。因此我们在翻译时要尽量摆脱母语思维的束缚,不过词性转换的方法在翻译当中的应用并不绝对,不能一概而论,还需视情况而定。
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