1、英漢翻譯中虛與實(shí)的轉(zhuǎn)換英漢翻譯中虛與實(shí)的轉(zhuǎn)換:英語用詞抽象概括,詞義虛 化手段多樣。而漢語則用詞具體,語言形象。二者在表達(dá)上 的這種差異決定了英譯漢時(shí)必須進(jìn)行動(dòng)靜之間、虛實(shí)之間的 轉(zhuǎn)換,以實(shí)現(xiàn)譯文語言的地道自然,表意清晰。靈活使用漢 語中的各種各樣的具體形象的表達(dá)方法,則是譯者避免翻譯 腔的有效手段與必然選擇。好的譯者在翻譯中考慮的不應(yīng)該僅是如何把原意表達(dá)出 來,而是如何更好地把原意表達(dá)出來。譯文源于原文,要以 原文為本,但在表達(dá)上卻不能拘泥于原文固有的表達(dá)方式, 也就是說翻譯要 “ 系于意而不系于文 ” 。英漢兩種語言在表達(dá) 上存在著很大的差異,英語傾向于使用抽象的,具有概括性 的表達(dá)法,而

2、漢語卻傾向于使用具體的、形象的表達(dá)手段。 虛化、抽象的表達(dá)在英語各類文體中都使用得相當(dāng)普遍,因 為英語中有大量的詞義虛化手段,如使用虛化詞綴構(gòu)詞,或 使用介詞短語等。抽象詞語在現(xiàn)代英語中大行其道,不僅是 因?yàn)樗梢允贡磉_(dá)簡(jiǎn)練,更在于其模糊的語義便于掩蓋說話 者的真實(shí)意圖,從而滿足人們表達(dá)上的某種需要。而漢語則 缺乏相應(yīng)的詞義虛化手段,因而常常使用具體的表達(dá)方式。 與英語的措辭抽象,含義晦澀相比,漢語以用詞具體,表意 清晰,語言形象而著稱。所以,在實(shí)際翻譯中,通常要進(jìn)行 動(dòng)靜之間、虛實(shí)之間的轉(zhuǎn)換,將抽象向具體引申,從而使譯文語言地道自然。英語中虛化、抽象的表達(dá)首先是在于大量抽象名詞的使 用。像這

3、一類由動(dòng)詞或形容詞派生來的抽象名詞,轉(zhuǎn)換成漢 語時(shí)只需要在其后添加上漢語中特有的范疇詞,就可以使抽 象的概念實(shí)體化,使其符合漢語的表達(dá)習(xí)慣。范疇詞在漢語 中用來表示行為、現(xiàn)象、屬性的概念所屬的范疇,常見的有 “ 現(xiàn)象,問題,情況,態(tài)度,局面,制度,行為 ” 等。如: unemployment 失業(yè)現(xiàn)象; tension 緊張局勢(shì); arrogance 傲 慢態(tài)度 ; shortage 短缺現(xiàn)象; complacency 自滿情緒; preparation 準(zhǔn)備工作; backwardness 落后局面。例如:(1 Arrangements have been made to give the

4、foreign guests a warm welcome.譯文:為了熱烈歡迎外賓,已經(jīng)做了準(zhǔn)備工作。(2 His arrogance sent him into isolation and help lessness.譯文:他的傲慢態(tài)度使他孤立無援。(3 Not to educate him (the child is to condemn him to repetitious ignorance.譯文:不對(duì)兒童進(jìn)行教育,就等于讓他淪入永遠(yuǎn)的愚昧 狀態(tài)。(4 The black people were fighting against the segregation of the gover

5、nment.譯文:黑人正在同政府的隔離政策作斗爭(zhēng)。(5 All the irregularities of the students in that university resulted in punishment.譯文:那所大學(xué)里的學(xué)生任何越軌行為都受到了處罰。(6 The least alarm of their movement would bring the enemy upon them.譯文:只要他們?cè)谛袆?dòng)中露出一點(diǎn)驚慌失措的樣子,敵 人就會(huì)向他們猛撲過來。(7 She stopped listening. She felt as though she had been slap

6、ped to the extreme outer edge of life, into a cold darkness.譯文:她再也聽不下去了。她覺得似乎自己狠狠地讓人 擊了一掌,給摔到生活的最外面的危險(xiǎn)邊緣,推進(jìn)又冷又黑 的地方。(8 His new car made him the envy of every boy in the neighborhood.譯文:他擁有一輛新車,為此他成了鄰里男孩們羨慕的 對(duì)象。其次,對(duì)于英語里的那些由動(dòng)詞添加名詞詞綴而派生出 來的抽象名詞,或直接由動(dòng)詞轉(zhuǎn)用作名詞的詞語,因其本身 具有動(dòng)作的含義,可以在進(jìn)行英漢轉(zhuǎn)換時(shí),直接使用其動(dòng)詞 形式,以動(dòng)代靜,以實(shí)代

7、虛,從而避免固守原有的語言形式 造成的語言生硬及不自然。(1 He felt the need of a breath of fresh air and a drink of water, but did not venture to stir.譯文:他感到想呼吸點(diǎn)新鮮空氣, 喝點(diǎn)水, 但他不敢動(dòng)。(2 No wonder the sight of it should send the memories of quite a number of people of the old generation back 36 years ago.譯文:難怪很多老一輩的人一看到這個(gè),就想起了三十 六年的

8、事情。(3 The government called for the establishment of more technical schools.譯文:政府呼吁建立更多的技術(shù)學(xué)校。(4 I marveled at the relentless determination of the rain.譯文:雨無情地下個(gè)不停,我感到驚異。(5 We also realized the growing need and necessity to industrialize certain sectors of the economy.譯文:我們也認(rèn)識(shí)到越來越需要使某些經(jīng)濟(jì)部門工業(yè) 化。(6 Thi

9、s pupil is a good skier.譯文:這個(gè)學(xué)生滑雪滑得好。(7 What kind of sailor are you?譯文:你暈不暈船?(8 I used to be a bit of a fancier myself.譯文:過去我也常常有點(diǎn)胡思亂想 。(9 Tell us what happened. Were all ears.譯文:告訴我們出了什么事,我們正在聚精會(huì)神地聽著 呢。(10 It was only my capacity for hard work that savedme from early dismissal.譯文:要不是我能干重活,早就給辭退了。英語

10、中有些詞語的表達(dá)比較模糊、虛化,在翻譯成漢語 時(shí),可以對(duì)內(nèi)容進(jìn)行引申,根據(jù)漢語語言的表達(dá)習(xí)慣通過增 詞,把隱含的一些內(nèi)容顯現(xiàn)到形式中,使譯文表達(dá)具體而明 確。(1 My dad has three dependents: my mother, my sister and I.譯文:父親要養(yǎng)活三口人:母親、姐姐和我。(2 “Would you hook me?” she said.譯文:“ 你替我扣上扣子,好嗎? ” 她說。(3 Then I told what a tall z, upright, graceful person their great-grandmother Field on

11、ce was; and how in her youth she was esteemed the best dancer譯文:然后,我告訴他們,當(dāng)年外曾祖母費(fèi)爾德個(gè)子很 高,身材筆直,風(fēng)度嫻雅,年輕的時(shí)候,別人都說她跳舞跳 得最好 另外,英語中有些表意概括虛泛的抽象詞語,在漢語中 很難找到可以明白表達(dá)其意義的對(duì)等詞。在這種情況下,我 們可以采用釋意法解決,即根據(jù)上下文使用具體的詞語來解 釋其抽象的含義,以保證清晰地再現(xiàn)原文的語意,避免可能 出現(xiàn)的表達(dá)上的晦澀難懂。(1 What is known is that weight extremes in either direction are

12、definitely unhealthy.譯文:眾所周知,過度肥胖或消瘦肯定是不健康的。(2 Nature has no kindness, no hospitality, during a rain.譯文:下雨之時(shí),大自然對(duì)人類毫不容情,似乎不讓我 們有容身之地。(3 TV dinners are cooked and often served onthrow-away trays.譯文:電視時(shí)間邊看邊吃的晚飯,也是放在用后即扔的 盤子里煮的,經(jīng)常還是連盤端出。(4 The pupil of the eye responds to the charges of light intensity

13、.譯文:瞳孔可以隨著光線的強(qiáng)弱而擴(kuò)大或縮小。(5 Rose Waterford was a cynic.譯文:柔斯瓦特爾芙德處世采取的是一種玩世不恭的態(tài) 度。(6 A foretaste of the seriousness of incivility is suggested by what has been happening in Houston.譯文:休斯頓所發(fā)生的情況預(yù)示:如果不講文明,將會(huì) 產(chǎn)生何種嚴(yán)重的后果。(7 Society then had not lost its exclusiveness nor itsbrilliance.譯文:當(dāng)時(shí)上流社會(huì)還有一些才華出眾的人物,而

14、且依 然壁壘森嚴(yán),不容下層人涉足。抽象可謂是英語的語言特色 之一,所以英美人有時(shí)在表達(dá)上習(xí)慣于把語義的重心落在抽 象詞語上,如下面例句中的 the soft elasticity of the wet grass, the green of the park 等。若生硬地將其譯為漢語, 會(huì)使語言表達(dá)不清, 晦澀難懂, 因?yàn)椴环蠞h語的表達(dá)習(xí)慣。 在這種情況下,通常要調(diào)整語言的重心,使其從抽象詞語轉(zhuǎn) 移到具體詞語上。譯例如下:(1 He had a sense of delight in the soft elasticity of the wet grass under his feet an

15、d in the shy, wondering eyes of the wild spring flowers by the roadside.譯文:腳下柔軟而有彈性的濕草,路旁春天的野花微妙 的笑容,都給他以一種喜悅的感覺。(2 So we drove along between the green of the park and the stony lifeless elegance of hotels and apartment buildings.譯文:車子朝前開著,一邊是青翠的公園,另一邊則是 十分呆板、毫無生氣的豪華的旅館和公寓建筑。相對(duì)于英語來說,漢語語言的具體性還表現(xiàn)在其擅長(zhǎng)通

16、 過排列具體的詞語來表示某一集合概念的全部或部分外延, 而且對(duì)這種外延劃分式表達(dá)法具有極強(qiáng)的包容性, 如 “ 吹拉彈 唱,刀槍劍戟,吃喝玩樂,鍋碗瓢盆 ” 等,并且在此基礎(chǔ)上還 產(chǎn)生了一些總括性的詞語。在英譯漢時(shí),恰當(dāng)?shù)厥褂眠@些外 延劃分式表達(dá)法,可以取得比一般表達(dá)法更好的語言效果。(1 At least I distinguished a chatter of tongues, and a clatter of culinary utensils.譯文:至少我聽出里屋有喋喋的說話聲和鍋碗瓢盆的碰 撞聲。(廚房用具(2 He cooks to perfection.譯文:他烹炸煎炒樣樣拿手。(

17、烹飪形象性詞語以具體象征抽象,使語言生動(dòng)傳神,充滿靈 性和生氣。漢語中雖抽象詞語缺乏,卻擁有著非常豐富的形象表達(dá)方式。習(xí)語,包括成語、諺語、歇后語、俗語,以及 各種比喻等都是形象性詞語的重要組成部分。在翻譯時(shí),使 用形象性詞語來代替原文中的抽象或概括性詞語,可使譯文 渙然生色、地道自然,給讀者留下深刻的印象。例句如下:(1 I should have been almost stupefied but for one circumstance.譯文:若不是由于另一種情況,我很可能成了呆若木雞的傻瓜。(2 Due to poor management, the venture is now at

18、 the end of its tether.譯文:那家企業(yè)因?yàn)楣芾聿簧? 已到了山窮水盡的地步。(3 The list of these objects could go on, but examples of two kinds of sea-shells tell the story.譯文:這類東西不勝枚舉,但以兩類海貝為例,即可蓋 其全貌。(4 A real good friend should be one offering timely help.譯文:真正的好朋友應(yīng)該是雪中送炭。(5 This year he failed again in the entrance examin

19、ation for college students.譯文:今年高考他又名落孫山了。(6 The two teams are well-matched, and the score seesawed all the time.譯文:這兩個(gè)隊(duì)旗鼓相當(dāng),比賽中比分交替上升。 (7 Look! You are wet through.譯文:瞧!你淋成了落湯雞。(8 Vietnam was hi sent ree to the new administration, his third incarnation as a foreign policy consultant.譯文:越南戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)成了他進(jìn)入新政府

20、的敲門磚。他擔(dān)任政 府的對(duì)外政策顧問,那是第三次了。(9 The hardships youve experienced is simply nothing compare d with the bitter sufferings shes gone through.譯文:你受的苦與她遭的罪相比,只能算 “ 小巫見大巫 ” 。在英語中,有些語義概括的抽象詞語通常可以和幾個(gè)不 同的詞語構(gòu)成搭配,而在漢語中這樣的搭配通常是行不通 的。這類虛指的抽象詞語在翻譯中一定要注意其上下文的搭 配。為了做到準(zhǔn)確表達(dá),我們要根據(jù)不同的搭配,將其譯為 不同的具體化詞語。只有這樣,才能使譯文符合譯入語的表 達(dá)習(xí)慣。(1 He once again imparted to us his great knowledge, experience a