還有一類習(xí)語,在結(jié)構(gòu)和字面意思上,英漢兩種語言似乎無相近之處。其確切的意思有時難以捉摸。遇到這一類習(xí)語,譯員要根據(jù)交談雙方的話題、意圖及談話的背景和上下文意思等因素,充分理解所用習(xí)語的含義,采用意譯、意譯加注和其它變通方法,最重要的是譯出話語的真正含義。同時,盡可能的保留原語的民族和地方色彩。不要按字面意思死譯,以免造成歧義。以下習(xí)語的口譯就屬這一類。
a far cry from… 與……相差甚遠(yuǎn);大不相同
to face the music 勇于承擔(dān)后果
to spill the beans 不慎泄密
to be up to one's ears 有許多事情要做;忙于
to beat around the bush 旁敲側(cè)擊,轉(zhuǎn)彎抹角
to cut corners 節(jié)約
to hold one's horses 別忙;耐心點;別沉不住氣
in one's element 在行;擅長
on one's toes 機(jī)靈
once in a blue moon 極難得;千載難逢
to see eye to eye 與(某人)看法一致
straight from the shoulder 直截了當(dāng)
to take something with a grain of salt 對某事半信半疑或不全信
to put all one's eggs in one basket 孤注一擲; 冒險
to teach one's grandmother to such eggs 班門弄斧;好為人師
to put the cart before the horse 本末倒置
to miss the boat 坐失良機(jī)
to burn the candle at both ends 過分耗費精力
to poke one's nose into… 探聽; 干涉
to play for one's own hand 為自己的利益而做
to pull wool over one's eyes 蒙蔽某人
to call a spade a spade 實話實說, 直言不諱
Birds of a feature flock together. 物以類聚, 人以群分。
Love me; love my dog. 愛吾及犬;愛屋及烏。
Rome was not built in a day. 羅馬不是一天建成的; 偉業(yè)非一日可成; 冰凍三尺, 非一日之寒。
Half the world knows not how the other half lives. 富人不知窮人苦; 飽漢不知餓漢饑。
有些漢語習(xí)語、俗語、歇后語有強(qiáng)烈而濃厚的民族色彩,意譯不能確切表達(dá)原意。必須采用意譯加注,說明必要的歷史文化背景,才能很好傳達(dá)原意。例如:
臥薪嘗膽 to sleep on brushwood and taste gall-----to undergo self-imposed hardships so as
to strengthen one’s resolve to wipe out a national humility;to endure hardships to accomplish
some ambition.
望子成龍 to hope one’s child will become somebody in the future;to hope one’s child will
have a bright future; to hold high hopes for one’s child
不到長城非好漢。 He who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a true hero;not stop until one’s
aim is obtained
八仙過海,各顯神通。 The Eight Immortals crossing the sea-----each shows his/her special prowess (in the legend, they were described as fairies with different magic arts);Like the Eight Immortals soaring the ocean, each of you should show your true worth.
打破砂鍋——問(紋)到底 breaking an earthenware pot -----(lit)-cracked to the bottom;
(pun) interrogate thoroughly;to get to the bottom of a matter
引語的口譯主要靠譯員平時的勤學(xué)和積累。一個成功的譯員不僅要有熟練的英漢語言技能,而且要有廣博的英漢文學(xué)、歷史、文化知識,掌握一定數(shù)量的英漢名人格言、經(jīng)典佳句。因此,譯員只有平時用心銘記,注意收集,不斷充實,用時才能左右逢源,得心應(yīng)手。下邊是一些廣為流傳的英漢名人格言和經(jīng)典佳句,配有英漢譯文,可供口譯學(xué)習(xí)者參考。