資料來(lái)源:《英語(yǔ)筆譯實(shí)務(wù)》3級(jí) 外文出版社
在漢英翻譯中可進(jìn)行各種詞類(lèi)的轉(zhuǎn)換,例如:
漢語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞轉(zhuǎn)換成英語(yǔ)名詞、形容詞、介詞;漢語(yǔ)形容詞或副詞轉(zhuǎn)換成英語(yǔ)名詞;漢語(yǔ)名詞轉(zhuǎn)換成英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞等等。其中,漢語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞轉(zhuǎn)換成英語(yǔ)抽象名詞尤為普遍。高校常用的翻譯教材,如張培基、呂瑞昌、馮慶華等編撰的翻譯教材均將這種轉(zhuǎn)換列在第一位。請(qǐng)看以下各例:
例1.
中國(guó)政府承諾不對(duì)無(wú)核國(guó)家使用核武器。
如不注意詞性轉(zhuǎn)換,譯文可能是:
The Chinese
government undertakes not to use (that it will not use) nuclear weapons against
non-nuclear countries.
這種譯文顯得有些口語(yǔ)化,不夠莊重。不如改用抽象名詞non-use:
The Chinese
government undertakes non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear countries.
例2. 禁止任何叛國(guó)、分裂國(guó)家、煽動(dòng)叛亂及竊取國(guó)家機(jī)密的行為。
譯文一:To prohibit any act of treason, acts to split the country, incite
rebellion and steal secrets.
譯文二:To prohibit any act of treason, secession,
sedition and theft of state secrets.
以上譯文一使用 split , incite, steal
等動(dòng)詞雖然語(yǔ)義正確,但似乎不夠莊重。譯文二使用抽象名詞,因而顯得文字嚴(yán)謹(jǐn),適合正式法律條文的風(fēng)格。
例3.
技術(shù)引進(jìn)合同應(yīng)當(dāng)訂明下列事項(xiàng):引進(jìn)技術(shù)的保密義務(wù),改進(jìn)技術(shù)的歸屬和分享。
譯文一:Provisions on the obligation to keep confidential the imported
technology, and ownership of the right to copy any improvements made to the
technology.
譯文二:Provisions on the confidentiality obligation as regards the
imported technology, and ownership of the right to copy any improvements made to
the technology.
對(duì)于"保密"這一動(dòng)作譯文一使用相應(yīng)的動(dòng)詞 keeping
confidential,顯得過(guò)于口語(yǔ)化。譯文二轉(zhuǎn)用英語(yǔ)抽象名詞confidentiality,在法律文件中顯得較為得體。
例4. 這次十三屆八中全會(huì)開(kāi)得好。
譯文一:The recent Eighth Plenary Session of the Thirteen Central Committee was a
successful meeting.
譯文二:The recent Eighth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC
Central Committee was a success.
會(huì)"開(kāi)得好"很少有人直譯為動(dòng)詞 was well conducted。
以上譯文一使用具體名詞 a successful meeting
比較常見(jiàn);譯文二則將其濃縮為一個(gè)名詞 success,更為簡(jiǎn)練。
(華南師范大學(xué)外國(guó)語(yǔ)言文化學(xué)院通訊員鄭世炳供稿)