第八章 转换法

第八章转换法在英译汉中的应用

英语和汉语分属两个不同的语系，在语言的表达方式上存在着很大的差异。如果在翻译过程中，把英语句子中的词性、句式照搬过来，则汉语译文会变成外国腔，使读者不易理解或无法理解。使译文不通顺不流畅且带有明显的欧化语言，其中一个主要原因就是不善于应用词性转换和句子成分转换的翻译方法。这种方法不仅指词性的改变，而且还包括词性作用的改变和句子词序的改变。

例如：

1) The growing awareness by millions of Africans of their extremely poor and backward, living conditions has prompted them to take resolute measures and create new ones.

2) Joseph beheld my style of cooking with growing indignation. (Wuthering Heights)

我的这种做饭方式叫约瑟夫越看越冒火了。

（此句中将分词growing译成递进式程度，副词“越……越”。）

3）The turning point of my life was my decision to give up a promising business career and study music.

一、词性的转换

由于英汉两种语言表达方式不同，不应当机械地按英语原文词性译作汉语中同一词性，把名词译成名词，把动词译成动词等等。为了确切表达原文的内容，就必须改变英语的语言形式，因此，在翻译过程中，词性转换是必然的，又是普遍的。

1. 具有动作意义的名词转换为汉语动词

英语中大量由动词派生的名词和具有动作意义的名词可转译成汉语动词。

1) Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe.

2）Some power plants are under construction. 几个发电厂正在建造中。

3) The expansion of the steam in the cylinder causes some of the steam to condense.

蒸汽在汽缸中膨胀时，部分蒸汽冷凝。

4) I am afraid I can’t teach you swimming. I think my little brother is a better teacher than I.

2.动名词转换为汉语动词

1) One of our ways for getting heat is burning fuels.

2) Heating water does not change its chemical composition.

3) The flowing of current first in one direction and then in another makes an alternating current. 电流先向一个方向流动，然后又向另一方向流动构成交流电。

3.形容词转换为汉语动词

1) Doctors have said that they are not sure they can save his life.

2) They are quite content with the data obtained from the experiment.

3) Are you familiar with the performance of this type of transistor amplifier?

常用的这类形容词有：

afraid 害怕、担心anxious 渴望certain 确信doubtful 怀疑

aware 觉察ashamed惭愧careful 当心、注意delighted喜欢

glad 高兴sorry 可惜、遗憾uncertain不能确定familiar 熟悉

ignorant不知道thankful感谢confident 深信content 满足

4.介词转换为汉语动词

英语中有许多含有动作意味的介词，如across, past, along, toward 等，汉译时往往可以译成动词。

1) “Coming!” Away she skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch..

“来啦！”她转身蹦着跳着地跑了，越过草地，跑上小径，跨上台阶，穿过凉台，进了门廊。

2) This computer is of high sensibility.

3) Machine parts of irregular shape can be washed very clean by ultrasonics.

用超声波能把形状不规则的机件洗得很干净。

6.动词转换为汉语名词

1) Formality has always characterized their relationship.

2) Gases differ from solids in that the former have greater compressibility than the latter.

气体和固体的区别，在于前者比后者有更大的压缩性。

7.形容词转换为汉语名词

英语形容词转换为名词，一般在形容词前加定冠词。

1）The steam turbine is less economical at cruising speed. 汽轮机的巡航经济性较差。

2）After careful treatment the deaf have recovered their hearing.

8. 名词转换为形容词

1) He is a stranger to the operation of the electronic computer

3) Independent thinking is an absolute necessity in study.

9.副词转换为汉语形容词

在翻译过程中，由于动词变为名词，原来修饰动词的副词，相应变为形容词。

1) The electronic computer is chiefly characterized by accuracy and quick computation.

2) In science and engineering, it is of great importance to state the laws and principles accurately.

10.形容词转换为汉语副词

英语句中名词在翻译过程中转换为动词后，原来修饰名词的形容词，相应变换为副词。

1) They paid special attention to raising the quality of magnetron.

2) We must make full use of existing technical equipment.