汉译英实用技巧

汉译英实用技巧初探

提要：汉英结构和表达方式相去甚远，为了在译文中不露刀斧之痕，译者务必灵活运用转换、省译、扩译等主要实用技巧。

关键词：转换，扩译，省译

一、转换技巧(transforming)

由于汉英结构不同，表达方式迥异，“硬性翻译”不仅读起来别扭，而且会闹出笑话。这就译者在翻译时灵活使用转换的技巧，有时将汉语中的动词转换成英语的介词短语，有时将并列句译成主从句，等等。法无定法，随机而化。力求做到云过无声，水过无痕。读来自然流利，移植的有如原生的。

1．词类的转换

(1) 名词译成动词

美国反对的理由是，北朝鲜不是联合国会员。

The U.S. objected that North Korea was not a member of the UN.

你很有鉴别力。

You know what‟s what.

(2) 动词译成名词

消防队员连续奋战了九个昼夜，才控制住了火势。

The firemen battled against the flames for nine days and nights before getting them under control.

邱吉尔来到华盛顿说服罗斯福把在欧洲开辟第二战场的日期拖延下去。

Churchill arrived in Washington to talk Roosevelt out of an early invasion of Europe.

富兰克林深信，我们必须学会了解我们所在的这半球的邻居并学会与他们和睦相处。Franklin had a deep conviction that we must learn to understand and to get on with our neighbors in this hemisphere.

(3) 动词译成形容词

先生曰：“狼负我，狼负我！”狼曰：“吾非固欲负汝。天生汝辈，固需吾辈食也。”

“ You are an ungrateful beast,” complained the man.

“Not at all,” retorted the wolf, “it is not that I‟m ungrateful, but you men were created for us to devour.”

（颜惠庆译《马中锡·中山狼传》）

他急切地想得到消息。

He was news-hungry.

并不是所有的人都喜欢这个方案。

The program was not popular with all of the staff.

(4) 动词译成介词或介词短语

巴拿马人追求的最大目标是有机会从运河那里得到更多的收入。

The most the Panamanians are after is a chance to get more income from the Canal.

有这样一个对手，倒是我们的幸运。

We were fortunate in our opponent.

(5) 动词译成副词

每一次出游都是上次的继续，而不是重复。

Each time out was a continuation, not a repetition.

电视剧已经开始了。

The TV play is on.

(6) 形容词译成名词

我们对未来感到谨慎的乐观。

We feels cautious optimism about the future.

他注意到两国在柏林问题上的看法非常一致。

He noticed a very close agreement between the two countries on the Berlin problem.

(7) 名词译成形容词

该机票的有效期为一年。

The plane ticket would be good/ valid for one year.

(8) 名词译成副词

官方宣布，联合王国政府于1997年7月1日将香港交换给中华人民共和国。

It was officially announced that the Government of the United Kingdom will restore Hong Kong to the People‟s Republic of China wit h effect from 1 July 1997.

这家报社的社论说，两国目前还谈不上核合作。

The paper said editorially that nuclear cooperation between the two countries is out of the question for the present.

2. 主被动语态的转换

(1) 主动译成被动

最近揭发出相当严重的贪污、受贿和官僚主义问题。

Serious cases of embezzlement, bribery, and bureaucracy have been brought to light recently.

《中苏友好同盟互助条约》已经名存实亡。

Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance had now been reduced to less than a shadow.

(2) 被动译成主动

聪明反被聪明误。

The clea r failed because of one‟s cleverness.