被动语态的译法(12)

第五章被动语态的译法

（教学安排：2课时）

第一节英语被动句的译法

英语中被动语态使用范围很广，尤其是在科技英语中, 被动语态几乎随处可见,凡是在不必或不愿说出或无从说出施动者以及为了便于连贯上下文或者为了强调动作的承受者等场合，往往都用被动语态。汉语中虽然也有被动语态，但使用范围狭窄得多。这是一种十分有趣的比较。有人统计，《水浒传》全书仅仅用了120格被动句，而例1计14个谓语动词，竟用了13个被动语态。

例1

原文：As oil is found deep in the ground, its presence cannot be determined by a study of the surface. Consequently, a geological survey of the ground rock structure must be carried out. If it is thought that the rocks in a certain area contain oil, a “drilling rig”is assembled. The most obvious part of a drilling rig is called“a derrick”. It is used to lift sections of pipe, which are lowered into the hole made by the drill. As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling in. If oil is struck, a cover is firmly fixed to the top of the pipe and the oil is allowed to escape through a series of valves.

译文：

英语被动句多数情况下译成汉语的主动句，只有在特别强调被动动作或特别突出被动句才译成汉语被动句。我们要选一种既符合汉语习惯，又保持上下文连贯的译法。

英语被动句的翻译主要有以下几种情况：

一、译成汉语主动句

1．原句中的主语、谓语不变，译文中没有表示被动的标志，如“被、把”字等，形式上是主动句，表达被动意义。

例2

原文：On Practice has been translated into many foreign languages.

译文：

例3

原文：The whole country was armed in a few days.

译文：

例4

原文：The sense of inferiority that he acquired in his youth has never been totally eradicated.

译文：

2．原句中的主语移到谓语之后，译作宾语。

例5

原文：Another middle school has been set up in our district．

译文：

例6

原文：1，200 people had been saved by soldiers in the earthquake.

译文：

例7

原文：The Times is read by the people who run the country; The Guardian is read by the people who would like to run the country; The Financial Times is read by the people who own the country; and The Daily is read by the people who remember the country as it used to be.

译文：

3．译成带表语的主动句，即译成判断句。

例8

原文：The decision to attack was not taken lightly.

译文：

例9

原文：In the old society，women were looked down upon.

译文：

4．含主语从句的被动句型译为主动句。以it作形式主语的英语句子，翻译时常要转为主动形式，有时可加上“有人”、“大家”、“我们” 等不确定主语。

例10

原文：It is reported that the enemy has been breeding new strains of killer viruses．

译文：

例11

原文：It is suggested that meeting be put off till next Monday．

译文：

例12

原文：It is well known that natural light is actually made up of many colours．

译文：

这类句型还有：

不加主语：

It is hoped that … 希望……

It is reported that … 据报道……

It is said that … 据说……

It is supposed that … 据推测……

It may be said without fea r of exaggeration that … 可以毫不夸张地说……

It must be admitted that … 必须承认……

It must be pointed out that … 必须指出……

It will be seen from this that … 由此可见……

可加主语：

It is asserted that … 有人主张……

It is believed that … 有人认为……

It is generally considered t hat … 大家(一般人)认为

It will be said … 有人会说……

It was told that … 有人曾经说……

二、译成汉语被动句

为了强调被动动作或突出施动者时，可以将英语被动句译为汉语被动句。

1．汉语句中有“被”、“给”、“遭受”、“挨”、“受到”等词。