1、汉语中几种特殊句型的翻译摘要:汉语中有些特殊句型,如”是”字句、 ”得”字句、 ”把”字句、 ”搞”字句等,不是与英语非完全对应,就是为英语所无。本文分析了这些句型的特点,归纳了翻译这些句型的基本技巧。关键词:汉语;英语;特殊句型;翻译;技巧汉语中有些常见句型,如”是”字句、 ”得”字句、 ”把”字句、 ”搞”字句等,其翻译没有、也不可能有固定的公式可以套用,如汉语的判断词”是”不一定总是翻译成英语的系动词 be。但是,通过纷繁的译例,我们仍然可以探索出翻译这些句型的有效方法和策略。(一) “是”字句的翻译:“是”字句在汉语中占有相当的比例,但并非所有的”是”都是判断词,因此不能机械地用英语的
2、连系动词 be 来翻译,必须结合语境含义译之。汉语中的”是”可表示等同、类属、特征、存在等意义;”是的”含有被动意义;与”才” 、 ”就” 、 ”正”等连用表示强调;”是”还可以表示一种直观表象或结果。下面介绍一些”是”字句的翻译方法。 。1. 译为英语连系动词 be-改革是振兴中国的唯一出路,是人心所向,大势所趋,不可逆转。Reform is the only process through which China can be revitalized, a process which is irreversible and which accords with the will of th
3、e people and the general trend of events.-那年月,有钱人是天天过年。In those years, the rich peoples extravagance was such that everyday was a Spring Festival.-是党和政府的正确方针和政策,促进了广大农村的经济繁荣。It is the correct principles and policies of our Party and Government that have promoted the economic prosperity of Chinas vas
4、t rural areas.2. 省略”是”字-武汉是长江中下游地区的特大城市,是湖北省的政治、经济、文化、科技中心。Wuhan, a metropolis situated in the middle reaches of the Changjiang River, is the political, economic, cultural, scientific and technological center of Hubei Province. (译文利用同位语,将第一个”是”省略)-中国是世界上最大的发展中国家,社会生产力水平总的还比较低。As the largest developi
5、ng country in the world China has a relatively low level of productive forces on the whole.-工业企业效益差是当前许多矛盾的症结所在。All the contradictions existing in industrial enterprises today boil down to scanty economic returns.3. 译为被动语态-革命者是杀不完的。Revolutionaries can never be wiped out.-这双皮鞋是定做的。This pair of leathe
6、r shoes are custom-made.-这种装置在机械表制造工业中是很需要的。This kind of device is much needed in the mechanical watch-making industry.4. 根据”是”的实际意义翻译-创新是一个民族进步的灵魂。Innovation sustains the progress of a nation.-这是大势所趋,人心所向。This represents the general trend of development and the common aspiration of the people.-澳门问题
7、的圆满解决,是中葡两国关系史上的一个重要里程碑。The successful settlement of the Macao question marks an important milestone in the annals of Sino-Portuguese relation.-这个增长速度是指导性的,是就全国来说的。This growth rate serves as a guide which applies to the country as a whole.5. 译为 but it is (was)-这个故事好是好,就是长了点。It is a good story all ri
8、ght, but its a bit too long.6. 用 there be 结构翻译表示”凡是”的”是”字-是重活,他都抢着干。Whenever theres a tough job, he is always the first to do it.(二) “得”字句的翻译汉语结构助词”得”一般用在动词或形容词之后,连接补语成分,表示能力、可能性、结果、程度等。汉语的”得”字,可根据其语法功能,利用英语的词法或句法手段翻译。1. 用情态助动词翻译”得”字英语的情态助动词 can, could, be able to 可以表示能力;may, might, can, could 表示可能性
9、,因此可以利用它们来翻译表示能力或可能性的”得”字。例如:-她的英语讲得好。She can speak English well.-你干得了这件事吗?Can you do it?-他看得出两者的差别。He was able to see the difference between the two.2. 用词法手段翻译”得”字英语的后缀-ible, -able 构成的词语可以表示能力或可能性,因此也可利用这类词翻译”得”字。例如:-有些星星肉眼都看得很清楚。Some stars are quite visible to the unaided eye.-这个人靠得住吗?Is the man r
10、eliable ?-这个道理讲得通。The reason is acceptable.3. 用固定结构翻译”得”字当”得”字表示结果或程度时,可利用英语中表示相同意义的固定结构如 so that 等来翻译。例如:-地板霉烂得有许多地方不能再擦洗了。The floors were in so rotten a condition that many of them could not be scrubbed.-不要高兴得忘乎所以。Dont be so happy as to forget everything.-天气闷热得大家喘不过气来。It was such a hot and stuffy
11、weather that people were out of breath.-这些苹果酸得不能吃。These apples are too sour for eating.4. 省略”得”字有时,”得”字无需翻译,只需翻译”得”字位于其中的短语即可。例如:-他们俩人很合得来。Both of them got well along with each other.-学生们听课听得很入神。The students listened to the lecture attentively.-你来得正是时候。You came in the nick of time.-游客们玩得很开心。The visi
12、tors had a wonderful time.-这件事情做得非常出色。Its exceedingly well done.(三) “把”字句的翻译同汉语”是”字句一样,”把”字句也是汉语的一种常见句型。汉语中的”把”字主要起引导受事者的作用,语态形式上表现为主动式,因此使汉语减少了被动句的使用频率,很多被动意义都可借助”把”字句来表达。 ”把”字”常与表示人的生理或心理状态的词语,如”忙、累、急、气”等搭配,引导表示结果的补语;”把”字可与”一” 、 ”当作” 、 ”给”等连用,构成”把一” 、 ”把当作” 、 ”把给”句型;”把”可用于句首建构祈使句。 ”把”字的翻译要兼顾其语法及语义
13、功能以及英语的表达习惯。1. 省略”把”字-我错把她当作她的孪生妹妹了。I mistook her for her sister.-他的话几乎把我给气疯了。What he said almost made me go mad.-房地产商人把沿海滩的空地全部抢购一空。The real estate businessmen took up all the land available along the beach.-今天是什么风把你给吹来的?What has brought you here today ?2. 译为被动句-他所做的一切把我感动得流下了眼泪。I was moved to tear
14、s by what he had done.-把这些救灾物资送到洪灾区是当前的第一要务。It is currently the first and foremost thing that these disaster-relief supplies should be dispatched to the flood-stricken areas.-隆隆的大炮声把傀儡军吓坏了。The puppet soldiers were frightened to death by the rumbling of cannons.(四) “搞”字句的翻译目下,”搞”字在汉语里的流行之势,使有人发出”怎一个搞
15、字了得”的感叹。关于”搞”的妙用,作家孙绍振说:“搞字的功能可分为两类:丑的则遮蔽,不丑的则美化;可谓有美皆备,无丽不臻。 ”鉴于”搞”在汉语中倍受青睐这一语言事实,其翻译就成为绕不过去的问题。 ”搞”字意思之丰富,用得之活,不是汉语的”做”所能望其背项的,如果不考虑风格和情感,倒有点像英语的 do,几乎是个”万能”动词。 ”搞”字的翻译,应当具体问题具体分析,弄清其在具体语境中的具体含义,然后再选择恰当的词语译之。1. 译为动词或动词短语“搞”最常见的意义是”做” 、 ”干” 、 ”弄” 、 ”从事” 、 ”进行”等,因此可用 do, get, make, work, practise, e
16、ngage in, go in for 等来翻译。例如:-搞字对字的翻译常常是行不通的。It is often unacceptable to do a word-to-word translation.-这事没啥搞头。Theres no point in doing that.-中国现在实行对外开放、对内搞活的政策。China is now implementing the policy of opening to the outside world and invigorating the domestic economy.-他俩合起来搞我。The two of them joined i
17、n making things difficult for me.-我们想搞水果蔬菜生意。We are thinking of starting up in the fruit and vegetable trade.-他一心要把对手搞臭。He is bent on discrediting his opponent.2. 译为其他词类-你们在搞什么名堂?What are you up to ? (“搞”译为副词短语 up to)-我们的国家大,人口众多,经济落后,农业要搞上去,最重要的还是要调动农民的积极性,自力更生,艰苦奋斗。Agricultural advance in so vast
18、a country, with such a large population and backward economy as in China, requires above all else mobilizing the initiative of peasants to work hard and self-reliantly. (“搞”译为名词 advance)3. 省略“搞”字-我们确定搞两个开放:一个是对内开放,一个是对外开放。We have decided on an open policy in two respects: namely, to open up both ext
19、ernally and internally.-但我的事现在搞得满城风雨,人人皆知了。But there had been too much publicity about my case.-我们必须一心一意搞建设。We must concentrate on economic development.-这工作不好搞。This is a difficult job.4. 译为被动句-能不能尽快把科技搞上去,这是一个关系到社会主义全局,关系到我们国家命运与前途的大问题。Whether science and technology can be pushed forward as quickly
20、as possible is a question of vital importance for socialist construction as a whole and for the destiny and future of our country.总之,汉语特殊句型的翻译,必须具体问题具体分析,要充分考虑英语的语文习惯,决不能生搬硬套,用所介绍的技巧死套某句原文。翻译方法是人总结出来的,实践中还有许多技巧需要我们摸索和总结。参考文献1陈宏薇,2003,汉英翻译基础(第八版),上海:上海外语教育出版社。2吕瑞昌等,2005,汉英翻译教程(第三十四版),陕西人民出版社。3 杨全红,2003,汉英词语翻译探微,上海:汉语大词典出版社。
