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精通研英翻译技巧:省略法

2010-08-02来源:和谐英语

首先请试译下列句子:
?      1. It is snowing.
?      2. Dr John resumed his experiment as soon as he came into the laboratory.
?      3. We took this opportunity to inform you that we are now in a position to make a prompt shipment of the merchandise.

1. It is snowing.
译文一:它正在下雪。(×)
译文二:下雪了/在下雪。
分析:译文一字字对应译出,貌似“忠实”,但完全不合汉语表达习惯,实是错误译法。
 
2. Dr John resumed his experiment as soon as he came into the laboratory.
译文一:约翰博士一到实验室,他就继续做实验。(×)
译文二:约翰博士一到实验室就继续做实验。
分析:译文一将主从句的主语都译出,貌似“忠实”,但产生歧义,可能让人以为“他”和”约翰博士”是两个人。
 
3. We took this opportunity to inform you that we are now in a position to make a prompt shipment of the merchandise.
译文一:我们借此机会告知你们现在我们可以立即装运那批货物。
译文二:兹奉告,该商品可即期装运。(简洁明确,公文惯例)
分析:译文二省却了 “take this opportunity”和“in a position”等词语,还省译了三个人称代词,使译文更加符合汉语涉外文书的行文习惯。

省略法(omission),也叫减省译法,是指在翻译中,原文中有些词在译文中可以省略,不必翻译出来。因为译文中虽然没有这个词,但是已经具有了原文这个词所表达的意思,或者这个词在译文中的意义是不言而喻的。省略的目的在于使译文更加通顺流畅,更符合译文习惯。

但需要注意的是,省略并不是把原文的某些思想内容删去,省略不能改变原文的意义。现从语法角度和修辞角度分别举例探讨省略法:

一、从语法角度来看
(一)省代词
1.省略作主语的人称代词

根据汉语习惯,前句出现一个主语,后句如仍为同一主语,就不必重复出现。英语中通常每句都有主语,因此人称代词作主语往往多次出现,这种人称代词汉译时常常可以省略。

(1)省略作主语的人称代词

I had many wonderful ideas, but I only put a few into practice.
我有很多美妙的想法,但是只把少数付诸实践了。

He was thin and haggard and he looked miserable.
他瘦弱憔悴,看上去一副可怜相。

(2)英语中,泛指人称代词作主语时,即使是作第一个主语,在汉语译文中往往也可以省略。

We live and learn.
活到老,学到老。

When will he arrive?-You can never tell.
他什么时候到?--说不准。

The significance of a man is not in what he attained but rather in what he longs to attain.
人生的意义不在于已经获取的,而在于渴望得到什么样的东西。

2.省略作宾语的代词

英语中有些作宾语的代词,不管前面是否提到过,翻译时往往可以省略。

The more he tried to hide his mistakes, the more he revealed them.
他越是想要掩盖他的错误,就越是容易暴露。

Please take off the old picture and throw it away.
请把那张旧画取下来扔掉。

3.省略物主代词

英语句子中的物主代词出现的频率相当高。一个句子往往会出现好几个物主代词,如果将每个物主代词都翻译出来,那么汉语译文就显得非常罗嗦。所以在没有其他人称的物主代词出现的情况下,在翻译时物主代词大多被省略。

I put my hand into my pocket.
我把手放进口袋。

She listened to me with her rounded eyes.
她睁大双眼,听我说话。

4. 省略反身代词
 
How does atoms arrange themselves in a solid?
原子在固体中是如何排列的?
 
We should concern ourselves here only with the structure of atoms.
这里我们只论述原子的结构。
 
Friction manifests itself as a force that opposes motion.
磨擦表现为阻碍运动的力。
 
Although pure science usually has no apparent connection with technology, it does lend itself to the development of applied science.
理论科学虽然通常与技术没有明显的联系,但确实有助于应用科学的发展。

(二)代词it的省略

it起着代词的作用,在译文中,当它被用作非人称或没有意义的时候,往往可以省略。

Outside it was pitch dark and it was raining cats and dogs.
外面一团漆黑,大雨倾盆。

He glanced at his watch; it was 7:15.
他一看表,是七点一刻了。

It took me a long time to reach the hospital.
我花了很长时间才到了医院。

It is the people who are really powerful.
人民才是最强大的。

(三)省略连接词

汉语词语之间连接词用得不多,其上下逻辑关系常常是暗含的,由词语的次序来表示。英语则不然,连接词用得比较多。因此,英译汉时在很多情况下可不必把连接词译出来。

He looked gloomy and troubled.
他看上去有些忧愁不安。(省略并列连接词)

As it is late, you had better go home.
时间不早了,你最好回家去吧。(省略表示原因的连接词)

If sinter comes, can spring be far behind?
冬天来了,春天还会远吗?(省略表示条件的连接词)

If I had known it, I would not have joined in to.
早知如此,我就不参加了。(省略表示条件的连接词)

John rose gloomily as the train stopped, for he was thinking of his ailing mother.
火车停了,约翰郁郁地站了起来,因为他想起了病中的母亲。(省略表示时间的连接词)