诗歌散文网 - 中秋的诗句 - 翻译中的CHINGLISH(2)

翻译中的CHINGLISH(2)

II.如何避免Chinglish,使译文读起来像地道的英文

一、首先要吃透中文的精神,摆脱中文字面的束缚,从英语读者的角度出发,按照英语习惯,对句子进行重组,以清晰的文字表达原文的意思。

(17)"维护世界和平是大有希望的。"

a. To maintain world peace is very hopeful. b. There are great hopes for the maintenance of world peace.这两句基本上是字对字翻译。

c. The prospect for world peace is very bright. d. The prospects for world peace are very encouraging indeed.后两句英文比较通顺。

(18)"同时,也从一个角度反映了他们心怀祖国,放眼世界的精神面貌和文化生活。"

初译:In addition, their pictures reflect, from a certain angle, their mental outlook of having the whole country in mind and the whole world in view as well s their cultural life.改译:In addition, their pictures reflect, from a certain angle, their mental outlook, their love for the motherland and wide-ranging interest in the world as well as their cultural life.初译句子用了套语,比较臃肿,不好懂。改译后比较通顺易懂。

二、在工作中有意识地记录常用语和老大难的译例。多听外电、大量阅读英文原著原文,尤其是关于中国的文章,看看外国人对同一个词、同一个事物以及成语如何表达,进行比较研究后"择优录取"较贴切的用法,为我所用。(但在借用这些词汇和表达方法时,一定要注意其政治倾向和不同的上下文)例如:

(19)"新世纪即将到来之际",外报、外电中有很多说法,搜集起来,用时就方便了。

As the new century approaches On the verge of the new century At the dawn of the new century At the threshould of the new century As the new century is just round the corner

(2)"……增长百分之几十,有的成倍增长" increase by double-digit percentages or in some cases several-fold如果有具体数字,譬如:增长了百分之7.4,翻译不会有任何困难。但"百分之几十"则不好表达,既然外报有这种表达法,而且与中文也恰好吻合,我们拿来用就是了。

(21)bring out the best in people,"人尽其才"通常译为:put people's talents to the best use,而现英文句型更生动地表达了"充分发挥人的能力"的意思(Tichets, priced from…to…)are far out of the reach of the ordinary workers,"望尘莫及" If…, all the other problems would melt away."迎刃而解" A special one-time case"下不为例" Visitors who overstayed their pemnits"客人住宿证明过期" Downsizing for efficiency or cut payroll to increase efficiency "减员增效"上述这些英文说法用的都是小字、短字、简单字,都比较形象,均可为我所用。

二、阅读英译汉文章时,注意搜集常用的词、短语、句子,查阅英语原文是如何表达,利用reverse or back translation的办法,不断积累地道的英语词汇和句型,也就是:英-汉-英。

(22)"我最近常常想到你和贵国"You and your country have been much in my thoughts recently.这个用法比have often thought of you地道。

(23)"你目睹了中国和世界在本世纪走过的非凡历程"You have witnessed the sweep of a remarkable century, both in China and abroad.这里sweep即是"历程",它比course更为形象,而且有"走过"的动作。

(24)"大力继承这些遗产并发扬光大"…are dramatically building on this legacy 比inheriting and carrying forward this legacy简练贴切。

(25)"经济改革改变了中国的面貌和人民的日常生活"Economic reform…has transformed China's landscape and its people's daily lives. Landscape的用法可以效仿。

(26)"美籍华人独特的文化和……勤奋观念加强了我们社会的凝聚力。" Chinese Americans' unique culture and values of … hard work have strengthened the fabric of our society. Fabric的用法值得学习。

(27)"每个国家都得根据自己的传统寻找发展方案。"Each country has to look for development approaches within its own traditions. "Within"可以译成"根据",那么在类似情况下,"根据"也可译成within.

(28)"在零售和烹调行业方面,家办企业的买卖完全超过了国家办的。"In the retail and catering sectors, household operations have completely outmarketed the state. "household operations"和"outmarket"都可拿来为我所用。

四、天下无难事,只怕有心人。培训对语言的浓厚兴趣,随时随地学习以英语为母语的人在不同场合对不同事物的表达方式。从中吸收对我有用的东西。

(29)我们在许多不同的场合都用"辛苦了"一词,而英语国家的人则随着情况的变化而变换说法。譬如,客人刚抵达时,主人可以说:Did you have a good trip?某人辛勤工作后,就可以表扬他:Thank you for your hard work.或You've been working hard!

但这次江主席在检阅部队时说,"同志们辛苦了!"(还有"同志们好!")怎样翻译,我没有把握。至于"同志们好!"显然不能译成Hello或How are you之类。是否可以译成:Salute!也许需要问问外国朋友。

再如:客人们抵达后,外国主人问道,"Would you like to make yourself comfortable?"我想,这正是我们平时所说"想方便一下么?"

(30)会谈对英方人员说,We have to consult the opinions of a wide cross-section of people.这正是我们所说的"我们必须广泛听取各界人士的意见。"

(31)"凭票入场"外国人用"Admission is by ticket only."我们可以举一反三,将"凭柬上一号观礼台"译成"Admission by card only"or "Please present this card."Venue: Reviewing Stand 总之,各种各样的英文材料、广告、路标、宣传品等等都可作为学习材料。

最后一点,要跟上飞速发展的时代,不断学习新出现的词汇和知识。仅举几个例子。

(32)Quickionary 扫描器字典Telephovision 电视电话A not -for -profit group 非赢利集团Megatrends Asia 《亚洲大趋势》Quantum Fund 量子基金Hedge Fund 对冲基金

如果要从根本上来解决,还需要提高译者的综合素质,尤其是语言素质和修养,不仅汉语要好,英语尤要精通,而且知识面要广。一般说来,译者英语的造诣越深,其译文中的Chinglish就越少。