地道英语内参：为什么老外喜欢用名词表达

为什么老外喜欢用名词化表达

名词化的结构

名词化结构主要是以英语名词短语代替汉语一个句子,它可以避免人称主语,从而防止句子结构过于臃肿。法律英语常用结构复杂的长句。从句子特征来看,还是名词结构占优势,而不是从句或动词的优势。

（1）The buyer shall furnish ocean vessels for the transportation of the rice under this contract.

（2）The buyers shall give the notice of the vessel’s name beforehand.

（3）The storage of the rice shall be done in the way stated.

（4）A certificate is needed attesting the existence of such event.

1.动词的名词化

作为一种专用英语,简洁和客观是经贸英语的灵魂,故在一般英语中用动词表示的内容,经贸英语却惯于将动词名词化,并由此产生一个名词化结构,让原来的施动意义隐含在结构的深层里。把动词名词化,表述从“动”转为“静”,语言变得更为客观;使用动词名词化结构,可以替代一个从句甚至一个句子,语言变得更为简洁。

1.1动词名词化的基本形式

就形态变化而言,经贸英语动词的名词化通常有两种:一是后缀派生法,即把-al, -sion, -tion, -ment等后缀分别加在不同的动词词尾,在句法研究中这种词称为动词派生名词(deverbal noun);二是零位派生法(zero derivation),也就是说不借助后缀直接由动词转化为名词,本文将这种词称为动词转类名词(conversion noun)。例如:

(1) the conclusion of difficult negotiations

(2) the formulation of export sales contracts

(3) the participation in GATT

(4) the involvement in international economy and trade activities

(5) a decline in industrial production and a marked upturn in inflation

(6) the fall in the growth rate of the world economy

1.2动词名词化结构的两种形态

动词名词化时,动词原来所带的客体和主体转化为名的修饰语或附加成分后,就构成了一个动词名词化结构,常见的形式有两种:

一是动词原来所带的客体由一个介词(其中及物动词介词of)或不定式符号to引导,接在动词派生名词或动词类名词后面,形成一个后置修饰语,而主体往往以名词的格形式转化为动词派生名词或动词转类名词的前置修饰语

例如:

(7) Recently China reduced tariffs substantially.

(8) China’s recent substantial reduction of tariffs

(9) Ericsson studied the target market carefully.

(10) Ericsson’s careful study of the target market

(11) The new-to-export firm failed to treat international distributors on an equal basis with domestic counterparts.

(12) the new-to-export firm’s failure to treat international distributors on a equal basis with domestic counterparts

二是客体和主体均转化为后置修饰语,客体在前,由一个介词(其中及物动词由介词of)或不定式符号to引导;主在后,通常由介词by引导。例如:

(13) Last year Hans Materials Co. Ltd. invested 625 project in China.

(14) the investment of 625 projects in China by Hans Materials Co. Ltd.

(15) Companies involved in international trade use the host country’s materials, products, facilities and services.

(16) the use of the host country’s materials, products, facilities and services by companies involved in international trade

(17) top management is committed insufficiently to overcome the initial difficulties and financial requirements of exporting.

(18) insufficient commitment by top management to overcome the initial difficulties and financial requirements of exporting

1.3动词名词化结构的翻译方法

由于任何一种动词名词化结构都包含了一个动作意味很强的动词派生名词或动词转类名词,以及英汉两种语言在用词方面存在着一定的差异,即英语以名词占优势,倾向于用名词表达某些在汉语中常以动词表达的概念,而现代汉语以动词占优势,一个句子中常常可以连续使用几个动词，因此在把经贸英语中的动词名词化结构译成汉语时,动词派生名词或动词转类名词往往需要根据汉语的习惯进行词性转换,译成汉语的动词,结果原来的动词名词化结构就转变成了一个汉语的动宾词组或主谓词组。

1.3.1译为动宾词组

在语义上,动词派生名词或动词转类名词表示动作或行为,修饰语表示动作或行为的对象,两者间潜蕴着逻辑上的动宾关系,这样的动词名词化结构通常可以译为一个汉语的动宾词组。例如:

(19)The introduction of precious metals (i.e., gold and silver)to pay for goods can be considered the forerunner of the foreign exchange market.

采用贵重金属(即黄金和白银)支付商品可以看成是外汇市场的先驱。

(20)Attendance to various kinds of trade talks and use of information and data gathered by GATT can help China to work out a more correct trade policy.

参与各种贸易会谈和利用关税及贸易总协定收集的信息和数据能帮助中国制定更为正确的贸易政策。

(21)Restoration of its signatory party status in GATT will add China’s initiative in world affairs, especially in world trade.

恢复中国关税及贸易总协定的缔约国地位将增加中国在国际事务,尤其是在世界贸易中的主动权。

(22)Another impediment to the free flow of goods between nations is the possible introduction of artificial barriers to trade, such as tariffs or quotas.

阻止商品在国家间自由流通的另一个障碍是可能设置人为的贸易壁垒,如关税或配额。

(23) The Chinese government announced a unilateral reduction of customs duties on225products.

中国政府宣布单方面降低225项产品的关税。