譯文句子主語(yǔ)的選擇

1、第二章 譯文句子主語(yǔ)的選擇漢譯英的一個(gè)關(guān)鍵步驟是考慮譯文的整個(gè)句子怎么擺放，如何構(gòu)建譯文句子的總體框架，主要是確定那什么作為英語(yǔ)主語(yǔ)。傳統(tǒng)語(yǔ)法認(rèn)為漢英句子總體框架相同，都屬于主動(dòng)賓類(lèi)型。按照這個(gè)理論，當(dāng)我們進(jìn)行漢譯英時(shí)，譯文和原文在句子結(jié)構(gòu)上，尤其是在主語(yǔ)、謂語(yǔ)、賓語(yǔ)等重要成分的位置處理上，應(yīng)當(dāng)能做到大致相同。但也有許多情況下，這種對(duì)應(yīng)的結(jié)果卻使譯文成為中式英語(yǔ)?，F(xiàn)在，越來(lái)越多的人接受了一種新的語(yǔ)言類(lèi)型分類(lèi)，把英語(yǔ)看成注重主語(yǔ)的語(yǔ)言（subject-prominent language）,漢語(yǔ)則為注重主題的語(yǔ)言（topic-prominent language）,具體地說(shuō)，漢語(yǔ)經(jīng)常采用主題術(shù)題

2、（topic-comment）的句式，主語(yǔ)的句法功能弱，有時(shí)還不容易識(shí)別，但這并不影響我們對(duì)句子意思的理解；英語(yǔ)主語(yǔ)的句法功能強(qiáng)，幾乎都采用主語(yǔ)謂語(yǔ)的句式，主語(yǔ)是整個(gè)句子最關(guān)鍵的成分。 就英語(yǔ)而言，主語(yǔ)一旦選定， 句子的總體框架大致就確立了。例如：1. 這件事你不用操心。翻譯時(shí)不能照搬漢語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)，可譯為：You dont need to worry about this. 若要突出漢語(yǔ)的主題這件事，翻譯時(shí)，句型可調(diào)整為：This is not something you need to worry about. 也可以把“不用”換個(gè)表達(dá)法-沒(méi)有必要，可譯為：It is unnecessary f

3、or you to worry about this.There is no need for you to worry about this.一般說(shuō)來(lái)，無(wú)論漢語(yǔ)原句是什么結(jié)構(gòu)， 假如直接把原文主題或主語(yǔ)取作譯文的主語(yǔ)后，譯文顯得生硬，句子結(jié)構(gòu)不平衡，或者與上下文在語(yǔ)氣上不連貫，那么就要設(shè)法把原文的其它部分-它也許是名詞、形容詞、副詞或動(dòng)詞-取作譯文的主語(yǔ)。在這個(gè)過(guò)程中，必須考慮到漢英語(yǔ)言的各種差異， 如：英語(yǔ)里以事物做主語(yǔ)的句子更常見(jiàn)，用名詞結(jié)構(gòu)表示動(dòng)作也比漢語(yǔ)更普遍，依此規(guī)律來(lái)選擇譯文的主語(yǔ)，譯文能更地道，更符合英語(yǔ)的習(xí)慣表達(dá)。 第一節(jié) 原文的形容詞性成分取為譯文主語(yǔ)1. 我的頭疼得要命。

4、-my head aches badly.-my head is killing me.-I have a terrible headache.-I have a splitting headache.-I have a migraine.2. 中國(guó)的人均農(nóng)業(yè)土地面積比不上世界其它許多國(guó)家。-Chinas per capita agricultural land cant compare with that of many other countries in the world.-in its amount of agricultural land per capita, China com

5、pares unfavorable with many other countries.-China compares unfavorably with many other countries in terms of per capita agricultural land. 3. 懶惰的人不會(huì)成功。-a lazy person will never succeed.-laziness makes it impossible for one to succeed.-laziness makes success impossible.第二節(jié) 原文的名詞性成分取為譯文主語(yǔ)在原文中起名詞作用的任何

6、詞語(yǔ)都有可能被選擇為譯文的主語(yǔ)。多數(shù)情況下，它們?cè)谠闹谐洚?dāng)主語(yǔ)或賓語(yǔ)。1. 一個(gè)星期前我遇上了一件最不可思議的事情。-I had the most incredible experience a week ago.-I had the most inconceivable encounter a week ago.-the most unbelievable thing happened to me a week ago.2. 一個(gè)企業(yè)的前途怎樣，在很大程度上要看它的經(jīng)營(yíng)管理人員， 尤其是市場(chǎng)管理人員的素質(zhì)。主題-術(shù)題句式，可取“前途”作為主語(yǔ)； 或取“素質(zhì)”作為主語(yǔ)-the future

7、success of an enterprise depends heavily upon its managing executives, especially those with marketing responsibilities.-the quality of the management, especially of the marketing executives, largely determines the future of an enterprise.-the quality of managing executives, especially those with ma

8、rketing responsibilities, goes a long way in determining the future of a corporation. 第三節(jié) 原文的副詞性成分取為譯文主語(yǔ)需抓住該副詞性成分的主要或關(guān)鍵內(nèi)容，把它用英語(yǔ)的名詞或名詞詞組表達(dá)出來(lái)。1. 因?yàn)樘鞖馓?，我們未能成行?because of poor weather, we didnt go.-bad weather prevented us from going.-bad weather caused us to cancel /postpone our trip.2. 通過(guò)進(jìn)一步研究，科學(xué)家們推

9、測(cè)存在著一種迄今尚未為人所知的粒子。-after further investigation, scientists conjectured the existence of a hitherto unknown particle.-further investigation led the scientists to speculate about the existence of a previously unknown particle.-further research by scientists pointed to the possible existence of a previ

10、ously unknown particle. 3. 只有在顯微鏡下才能看見(jiàn)紅血球。-only under the microscope can we see red cells.-red cells can be seen only under the microscope.-a microscope is needed (for us) to see red cells. 第四節(jié) 原文的動(dòng)詞性成分取為譯文主語(yǔ)與漢語(yǔ)相比，英語(yǔ)更經(jīng)常用名詞結(jié)構(gòu)來(lái)描寫(xiě)動(dòng)作，所以把動(dòng)詞轉(zhuǎn)化成名詞時(shí)漢譯英的慣用手法。1. 他的行為似乎無(wú)法解釋。-his behavior seems (to be) unexplai

11、nable.-his behavior, it seems, cant be explained.-his behavior seems to defy explanation.-there does not seem to be any explanation for his behavior.-it seems that his behavior cant explained. 2. 航空公司在最后一刻取消了航班，旅行團(tuán)被迫改變行程。-as the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, the travel group had no

12、 choice but to change it itinerary.-the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, so the travel group had no choice but to change its itinerary.-the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, which compelled the travel group to change its itinerary.-the last-minute cancellation of the fli

13、ght by the airline compelled the travel group to change its itinerary. 3. 沒(méi)有生活目標(biāo)就意味著無(wú)法利用生活所提供的各種各樣的選擇。-not having an aim in life means not being able to benefit from the variety of choices life has to offer.-the lack of an aim in life makes it impossible for one to benefit from the variety of choice

14、s life has to offer.-without an aim in life, one will be unable to benefit from the various choices life has to offer.-one who has no aim in life is unable to benefit from the various choices life has to offer.If a person has no aim in life, he or she will be unable to benefit from the various choic

15、es life has to offer. 第五節(jié) 添加主語(yǔ)兩種情況一、 原文可視為無(wú)主句， 譯時(shí)把原文隱含的主語(yǔ)作為譯文主語(yǔ)二、 原文有主語(yǔ)，但譯文的主語(yǔ)在字面上并不對(duì)應(yīng)于原文中任何詞語(yǔ)，而是根據(jù)整個(gè)句子的含義酌情添加的，如：你不該大叫大嚷There is no occasion to scream and yell. 1. 緣木求魚(yú)，雖不得魚(yú)，無(wú)后災(zāi)。-if you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you dont get any fish, you will suffer no subsequent calamity.-by climbin

16、g a tree in search of fish, one will not come to harm even though one cant get any fish. 2. 廣告既可能吸引也可能排斥顧客。-advertising can either attract or repel customers. -customers may be attracted or repelled by advertising.-the power of advertising is such that it can repel as well as attract customers. 3. 這

17、件事不像看上去那么簡(jiǎn)單。-the incident is not as simple as it appears. -there is more to the incident than meets the eye. 4. 不怕一萬(wàn)，就怕萬(wàn)一。-though it is unlikely that anything unpleasant will happen, youd better take precautions.-you can never be too careful.-it is always wise to play safe. 練習(xí)一、 選原文額形容詞成分作為譯文主語(yǔ)1. 成功者與失敗者的區(qū)別就在于成功者堅(jiān)持不懈，失敗者半途而廢。2. 他的最后一手是把對(duì)手干掉。3. 在我國(guó)傳統(tǒng)社會(huì)，商人和手工藝人的社會(huì)地位歷來(lái)不如讀書(shū)人和農(nóng)民。二、 選擇原文名詞成分作為譯文主語(yǔ)1. 我沒(méi)有注意到這個(gè)錯(cuò)誤。