英译汉4 conversion

③ Nouns converted into adjectives
We are deeply convinced of the correctness of the policy and firmly determined to pursue it.
我深信这一政策是正确的，并要坚决奉行这一政策。

The manager was a nervous, anxious little man, always ready to cry warning if the shop takings went down a pound or two. 福特先生号召美国人咬紧牙关，做出个人牺牲。他说， 这将有助于遏制通货膨胀。
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② English verbs converted into Chinese nouns Our age is witnessing a profound political change. 我们的时代是深刻政治变革的见证。 He lunched me at McDonald’s yesterday. 昨天他在麦当劳请我吃了一顿像样的午饭。 They argue that regimes come and go, that political issues are always transient, and that the Olympic spirit is transcendent. 他们说政权无非是走马灯，政治问题总是朝生夕逝，只 有奥林匹克精神才是永世长存的。



⑩ Conversion of sentence elements
The misprint escaped the proof-reader. 校对员没有看出印刷错误。(object → subject) A sizable grant took him abroad to Yale University. 他得到一笔优厚的奖学金，便出国去耶鲁大学深造了。 (object → subject) These are impressive achievements. 这些成就给人以深刻的印象。 A painful hush (silence) seized the crowd. 人们一下子痛苦地沉默下来。
我不知道你已经来了。 Let us be frank. 让我们直言不讳。 Shortly after Clinton’s election as president, his advisers were reported recommending lower taxes and higher government spending. 在克林顿当选总统后不久，据说他的顾问们就建议降低 税收，提高政府支出。
12. He came to me with a luggage. (prep. →v.)
他拿着行李向我走来。


13. She came to my home for help. (prep. →v.)
她来到我家，请求帮助。






14. These chemical engineers don’t guarantee anything. (v. →n.) 这些化学工程师不做任何保证。 15. Originally he was from Sweden. (adv. →n.) 他的原籍是瑞典。 16. Mr. White with great cheerfulness told her that he had good news to communicate. (n. →adv.) 怀特先生兴高采烈地告诉她，他带来了好消息。


经理是个身材矮小、神经过敏、焦虑不安的人。只要商 店营业收入下降了一两镑，他就要大喊大叫。
Note: In E-C translation, some sentences can be translated without converting any part of speech.


The new situation requires the formulation of a new strategy.
Lecture 4:
Basic Translating Techniques
Conversion
Have a try:
Mr. Ford called on Americans to bite the bullet and make personal sacrifices. This, he said, would help to halt inflation.



⑧ Adverbs can be converted into adjectives
Traditionally, there had always been good relations between them. 他们之间，一直有着传统的友好关系。 The electric computer is chiefly characterized by accuracy and quick computation. 电子计算机的主要特点是精确、运算快捷。




The music is a gas.
音乐妙极了。
We find difficulty in reading this book.
我们发现这本书非常难读。

④ Adjectives converted into verbs
I was not aware that you had arrived.
He was a voracious (excessively greedy) reader, spending much of his days and evenings devouring (enjoy avidly) books. Animals become indifferent to their young as soon as they can look after themselves. 新形势要求制定新战略。 他读起书来，不分昼夜、废寝忘食。 动物的后代一旦能够自己照料自己，它们就不管了。(adj. →v.) Verbs are often used in Chinese. We have to change English nouns into Chinese verbs especially those nouns derived from the verbs.






What is Conversion ？
Owing to the syntactical differences between English and Chinese, it is usually impossible for a translator to keep to the original part of speech in the process of translation. So we have to make some changes. Conversion: the change of parts of speech in translation.




10. They gave him a hearty welcome. (adj.→adv.) 他们热烈欢迎他。 11. Please give an accurate translation of this sentence. (adj. →adv.) 请把这句话确切地翻译出来。




⑥ Adjectives converted into adverbs We must make full use of the natural resources available.
我们应该充分利用现有的自然资源。 We have known a similar past of humiliation and exploitation. 在过去，我们都同样遭受到凌辱和剥削。





Exercise





1. With the passage of time, her admiration for him grew more and more. (n.→v.) 随着时间的消逝，她对他越来越敬慕（钦佩）。 2. We are enemies of all wars. (n.→v.) 我们反对一切战争。 3. My suggestion is that he should quit smoking at once. (n.→v.) 我建议他立刻戒烟。




⑦ Adverbs can be converted into verbs
When the crops are in, they start autumn sowing.
当庄稼收割后，他们开始秋播。 The whole country was in arms. 全国人民拿起了武器。 Why should we let in foreign goods when Americans walk the street because they cannot sell their own goods? 当美国人由于推销不出去自己的产品而失业之际，为什 么我们还要进口外国货呢？




⑨ Prepositions can be converted into verbs
He has an eye for color. 他有辨别颜色的目力。 The patient’s temperature has been above 39℃. 病人体温已经超过摄氏三十九度。 The road to development is long but we are firmly on it. 发展道路是漫长的，但我们已坚定地走上了这条 路。

7. Most students behave respectfully towards their teacher. (v.→n.; adv.→adj.) 大部分学生对老师态度很恭敬。


8. The sight and sound of our jet planes filled me with special longing. (n.→v.) 看到我们的喷气式飞机，听到隆隆的声音，真令 人特别神往。 9. He is a perfect stranger in the city. (n.→adj.) 他对这城市完全陌生。




4. The thief made a trembling confession of his wrongdoing. (adj.→adv.; n.→v.) 小偷颤抖着交代了自己干的坏事。 5. Observers have commented favorably on the achievement you have made. (v.→n.; adv.→adj.) 观察家们对你取得的成就给予了很好的评价。 6. He is a lover of Chinese paintings. (n.→v.) 他热爱中国画。


Specific techniques

① Some of nouns in verbal phrases can be converted into Chinese verbs.
Let’s just take a look at the size of your shoes. 让我们看看你穿多大的鞋。 He made no mention of the road accident at 11: 30 last night. 他只字未提最晚11：30的那起公路事故。



⑤ Adjectives converted into nouns Most of us think him very hypocritical.
我们大都认为他是个伪君子。 The new treaty would be good for ten years. 新条约有效期为十年。