大学英语六级翻译技法:(一)增补法

(一)增补法

汉英两种语言由于用词造句的规律不同,因而在表达同一个意思时常需在译文中增补一些原文中没有的词语。增补词语的现象大致可分为以下几类:

I.增补代词

1.增补作主语的代词

(1)增补复指的作主语的人称代词

根据汉语习惯,如果几个动作的发出者是相同的,则通常只在第一个动词之前出现一次主语,后面几个动词的主语不必重复出现。但根据英语语法,只要动词处于谓语的位置,就必须有主语,因此翻译时经常要增补人称代词,来复指前句中作主语的名词或代词。

1)他上学的时候,只靠水和面包为生。

When he was a student,he lived on only bread and water.

2)如果读书是为了获取一些东西,而不光是为了消磨时间,那就必须是积极的阅读。

If reading is to accomplish anything more than passing time,it must be active.

3)计算机能够提供正确的数据,但在未加判断之前可能是无关的数字。

The computer can provide correct data,but it may be an irrelevant number until judgment is pronounced.

(2)增补泛指的作主语的人称代词

汉语有很多无主句,因为其主语可以泛指一切人,但译成英语时要按英语习惯增补he,you,we等表示泛指的人称代词。

1)不怕浪头高,就怕桨不齐。

We have no fear of the towering billows,but are afraid that we can't pull our oars in union.

2)现在在北京到处都可以看到摩天大楼和立交桥。

Everywhere you can find skyscrapers and flyovers in Beijing today.

3)培根说过,“起始于确信,结果于疑惑;起始于疑惑,继之以不倦研究,则得可信之结果”。

“If we begin with certainties,”Bacon said,“we shall end in doubts but if we begin with doubts,and we are patient with them,we shall end in certainties.”

2.增补作宾语的代词

汉语句子中如果根据上下文能看明白,作宾语的代词常常可以省略。在英语中则不行,英语中凡是及物动词都要有宾语,因此汉译英时经常要增补作宾语的代词。

1)在他们看来,如果一样东西没法计量,又不能当酒喝,又不能当烟抽,也不能当钱花,那就没有价值。

In their view,if a thing won't be computed and you can't drink it,smoke it or spend it,then it holds little value.

2)我看了看她随手丢在旁边抽了一半的骆驼烟,捡了起来,拿到厨房,那儿的光线好一些。

I looked at the half-empty package of Camels tossed carelessly close at hand.I picked them up,took them into the kitchen,where the light was better.

3.增补物主代词

物主代词在汉语里用得远不如英语里多。英语中凡是说到一个人的器官、个人物品或与他有关的事物时,总要在前面加上物主代词如my,your,his,their,our等物主代词。

1)请把练习交上来。

Hand in your exercises,please.

2)她闭上眼睛,把手放在他的手里。

She closed her eyes and put her hands into his.

3)童年时代,我了解了很多关于非洲的情况。

In my childhood,I learned a great deal about Africa.

II.增补关联词

汉语是意合的语言,词语或分句之间不用或很少用语言形式手段(如关联词)连接,注重隐性连贯,注重以神统形。而英语是形合的语言,句中的词语或分句之间要用语言形式手段(如关联词)连接起来,注重结构完整,注重以形显义,因而会大量使用关联词,包括关系词和连接词。因此在汉译英时常常需要增补关联词。

1.增补并列连词

1)下雨了,我们就回家了。

The rain fell,so we went home.

2)她并不知道,我的父亲——也就是她的外公——抽的正是骆驼烟。

She does not know this,but it was Camels that my father,her grandfather,smoked.

3)最近的研究表明,白日梦是日常生活的一部分,每天白天有一定的梦幻对保持情绪平衡是必不可少的。

Recent research indicates that daydreaming is part of daily life and that a certain amount each day is essential for maintaining equilibrium.

2.增补从属连词

1)她不老实,我不能信任她。

Because she is not honest,I can't trust her.

2)人不犯我,我不犯人。

We will not attack unless we are attacked.

3)他体重增加了几磅,但那会儿他瘦得厉害,没人注意到这一点。

He gained a couple of pounds,but by then he was so slim that no one noticed.

4)夏天逐渐过去,幼鹿逐渐长大,不再那么依赖于母亲的奶水,而更多地以生长中的植物为食物来源。

As the summer progresses and the fawns grow,they become less dependent on their mother's milk and more dependent on growing plants as food resources.

III.增补冠词

汉语中没有冠词,只有数量词,英语中有冠词,所以翻译时往往需要增补。

1)马是有益的动物。

A horse is a useful animal.

2)决策是在现有的可选做法中所做的选择。

A decision is a choice made from among alternative courses of action that are available.

3)我们不可能在试管里或用计算机模型模拟出身体对药物或疾病的全部复杂反应。

We cannot possibly reproduce in a test tube or a computer model all the complex reactions of the body to a drug or a disease.

IV.增补介词

英语句子几乎离不开介词,而汉语则常常不用或省略介词,因此翻译时经常需要增补。

1)咱们车站见吧。

Let's meet at the station.

2)午饭我从来什么都不吃。

I never eat anything for lunch.

3)下次去那的时候问问他们这件事。

Next time you go there,ask them about it.

4)我们应当逐步消灭城乡差别。

We should gradually eliminate the differences between town and country.

V.增补谓语动词

英语句子必须有主语和谓语动词,汉语的句子可以没有谓语动词,因而在汉译英时往往需要增补谓语动词。

1)今天星期天。

Today is Sunday.

2)这东西又便宜又好。

It is cheap but good.

3)这条河50米宽。

The river is 50 meters wide.

4)你今天气色不太好。

You don't look fine today.

VI.增补解释性词语

有些谚语中的词语有较深的民族文化内涵,直译成英文不能达意,因此需要增加解释性词语。

1)三个臭皮匠,顶个诸葛亮。

Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang,the master mind.

2)班门弄斧。

Showing off one's proficiency with the ax before Lu Ban,the master carpenter.

VII.增补原文无其词但有其意的词

1)要提倡顾全大局。

We should advocate the spirit of taking the whole situation into consideration.

2)这真是俗话说的,“旁观者清”。

Just as the proverb goes,“The onlooker sees most of the game.”