大學英語六級翻譯技法:(一)增補法

(一)增補法

漢英兩種語言由于用詞造句的規(guī)律不同,因而在表達同一個意思時常需在譯文中增補一些原文中沒有的詞語。增補詞語的現(xiàn)象大致可分為以下幾類:

I.增補代詞

1.增補作主語的代詞

(1)增補復指的作主語的人稱代詞

根據(jù)漢語習慣,如果幾個動作的發(fā)出者是相同的,則通常只在第一個動詞之前出現(xiàn)一次主語,后面幾個動詞的主語不必重復出現(xiàn)。但根據(jù)英語語法,只要動詞處于謂語的位置,就必須有主語,因此翻譯時經(jīng)常要增補人稱代詞,來復指前句中作主語的名詞或代詞。

1)他上學的時候,只靠水和面包為生。

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

2)如果讀書是為了獲取一些東西,而不光是為了消磨時間,那就必須是積極的閱讀。

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

3)計算機能夠提供正確的數(shù)據(jù),但在未加判斷之前可能是無關(guān)的數(shù)字。

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

(2)增補泛指的作主語的人稱代詞

漢語有很多無主句,因為其主語可以泛指一切人,但譯成英語時要按英語習慣增補he,you,we等表示泛指的人稱代詞。

1)不怕浪頭高,就怕槳不齊。

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

2)現(xiàn)在在北京到處都可以看到摩天大樓和立交橋。

Everywhere you can find skyscrapers and flyovers in Beijing today.

3)培根說過,“起始于確信,結(jié)果于疑惑;起始于疑惑,繼之以不倦研究,則得可信之結(jié)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.增補作賓語的代詞

漢語句子中如果根據(jù)上下文能看明白,作賓語的代詞常?？梢允÷浴Ｔ谟⒄Z中則不行,英語中凡是及物動詞都要有賓語,因此漢譯英時經(jīng)常要增補作賓語的代詞。

1)在他們看來,如果一樣東西沒法計量,又不能當酒喝,又不能當煙抽,也不能當錢花,那就沒有價值。

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)我看了看她隨手丟在旁邊抽了一半的駱駝煙,撿了起來,拿到廚房,那兒的光線好一些。

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.增補物主代詞

物主代詞在漢語里用得遠不如英語里多。英語中凡是說到一個人的器官、個人物品或與他有關(guān)的事物時,總要在前面加上物主代詞如my,your,his,their,our等物主代詞。

1)請把練習交上來。

Hand in your exercises,please.

2)她閉上眼睛,把手放在他的手里。

She closed her eyes and put her hands into his.

3)童年時代,我了解了很多關(guān)于非洲的情況。

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

II.增補關(guān)聯(lián)詞

漢語是意合的語言,詞語或分句之間不用或很少用語言形式手段(如關(guān)聯(lián)詞)連接,注重隱性連貫,注重以神統(tǒng)形。而英語是形合的語言,句中的詞語或分句之間要用語言形式手段(如關(guān)聯(lián)詞)連接起來,注重結(jié)構(gòu)完整,注重以形顯義,因而會大量使用關(guān)聯(lián)詞,包括關(guān)系詞和連接詞。因此在漢譯英時常常需要增補關(guān)聯(lián)詞。

1.增補并列連詞

1)下雨了,我們就回家了。

The rain fell,so we went home.

2)她并不知道,我的父親——也就是她的外公——抽的正是駱駝煙。

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

3)最近的研究表明,白日夢是日常生活的一部分,每天白天有一定的夢幻對保持情緒平衡是必不可少的。

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

2.增補從屬連詞

1)她不老實,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)他體重增加了幾磅,但那會兒他瘦得厲害,沒人注意到這一點。

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

4)夏天逐漸過去,幼鹿逐漸長大,不再那么依賴于母親的奶水,而更多地以生長中的植物為食物來源。

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.增補冠詞

漢語中沒有冠詞,只有數(shù)量詞,英語中有冠詞,所以翻譯時往往需要增補。

1)馬是有益的動物。

A horse is a useful animal.

2)決策是在現(xiàn)有的可選做法中所做的選擇。

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

3)我們不可能在試管里或用計算機模型模擬出身體對藥物或疾病的全部復雜反應。

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.增補介詞

英語句子幾乎離不開介詞,而漢語則常常不用或省略介詞,因此翻譯時經(jīng)常需要增補。

1)咱們車站見吧。

Let's meet at the station.

2)午飯我從來什么都不吃。

I never eat anything for lunch.

3)下次去那的時候問問他們這件事。

Next time you go there,ask them about it.

4)我們應當逐步消滅城鄉(xiāng)差別。

We should gradually eliminate the differences between town and country.

V.增補謂語動詞

英語句子必須有主語和謂語動詞,漢語的句子可以沒有謂語動詞,因而在漢譯英時往往需要增補謂語動詞。

1)今天星期天。

Today is Sunday.

2)這東西又便宜又好。

It is cheap but good.

3)這條河50米寬。

The river is 50 meters wide.

4)你今天氣色不太好。

You don't look fine today.

VI.增補解釋性詞語

有些諺語中的詞語有較深的民族文化內(nèi)涵,直譯成英文不能達意,因此需要增加解釋性詞語。

1)三個臭皮匠,頂個諸葛亮。

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

2)班門弄斧。

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

VII.增補原文無其詞但有其意的詞

1)要提倡顧全大局。

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

2)這真是俗話說的,“旁觀者清”。

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