一、常見錯誤
1.詞匯方面
(1)望文生義
“紅”譯為“red”,可是表示妒忌的“紅眼”不可譯為“red-eyed”,應譯為“green-eyed”。
有一篇報道中有這樣一句話“這位著名的籃球隊員是加拿大裔”,但這句話不能簡單地譯成“This famous basket-baller is a canadian”。因為所謂“加拿大裔”,是指有加拿大的血緣,但其國籍,根據上下文,卻應該是美國國籍,因此這句話應譯為“This famous basket-baller is a canadian American”。
(2)目標語背景知識的缺乏
在提到“亞洲四小龍”時,很多學生馬上會聯(lián)想到“four dragons”,孰不知“dragon”在英語中是指一種兇殘的動物,是邪惡的象征,因此應翻譯為“four tigers”。
“笨得像豬”或者“睡得像豬”不能理解為“as stupid as a pig”或者“sleep like a pig”,而要說“as stupid as a donkey”或者“sleep like log”。
(3)搭配不當
漢語的“開”,英語中往往翻譯為“open”,可是“開”這個詞同時存在很多方面的含義:開門open the window 開飯serve a meal 開機器operate a machine 開會hold a meeting 開茶館run a teahouse 開車 drive a car
2.句法結構方面
(1)句子成分殘缺不全
他有一個姐姐,是醫(yī)生。原譯:He has an elder sister is a doctor.
正確譯文:He has an elder sister, who is a doctor.
(2)未使用或錯誤地使用體現邏輯關系的連接詞
“漢語重意合,英語重形合”。英語如此講究邏輯,因此,許多在漢語中不言自明或者不言而喻的意思,放到英語語言環(huán)境下,都要用外在形式一一體現出來。
(A)表示因果
我已養(yǎng)成了遇事深思的習慣,并找到了與不同學生友好相處的方法。
原譯:I have formed the habit of thinking problems through thoroughly and found a way to get on well with many different types of students.
改譯:I have formed the habit of thinking problems through thoroughly. In addition, I have found a way to get on well with many different types of students.
連詞“and”難以體現前后潛在的“因果”關系。介詞短語“in addition”使前后兩句的內在邏輯得以“外化”,兩句彼此獨立,句義鮮明。
(B)表示轉折
瑪麗不喜歡讀書,她喜愛音樂和舞蹈,很會唱歌。
原譯:Mary isn’t fond of study of any kind, she loves music and dancing and is good at singing.
改譯:Mary isn’t fond of study of any kind, but she loves music and dancing and is good at singing.
(C)添加了不必要的連接詞 因為她病了,所以我們去看望她。
原譯:Because she was sick, so we went to see her.
改譯:“because”或“so”去掉其中一個。
(3)被動句翻譯錯誤
(A)錯誤地把漢語中的地點狀語或時間狀語譯為了主語
明天下午兩點在學校禮堂開教學研究會。
原譯:At 2: 00 p.m. tomorrow in the schoolhall will hold a teaching symposium.
改譯:There will be a teaching symposium in the schoolhall at 2: 00 p.m. tomorrow.
(B)未能正確地使用被動語態(tài) 昨天這個男孩傷著了肩膀。
原譯:The boy wounded his shoulder yesterday.
改譯:The boy’s shoulder was wounded yesterday.
(4)逐字翻譯的錯誤或者說譯出的是“中式英語”。
例如:“請大家坐好!” 原譯:“Sit well!”
改譯:“Attention, please.”或“May I have your attention?”
在我國中小學課堂上,要求學生坐姿端正,所以經常聽到老師上課對學生說:“Sit well!”(“坐好!”)。從語言角度談,如果一個學生坐姿不好,那應該說:“Sit straight!”。同樣,“站好!”是“Stand straight!”,而不是“Stand well”;從文化上看,它表明不同國家有著不同的教育習俗。在西方國家,就學生姿勢而言,只要不是躺著,或靠在別人身上,并不要求坐直。如果課堂秩序不好,老師一般只是說“Attention, Please.”或“May I have your attention?”
二、解決問題的對策
提高漢譯英能力的四個步驟:分析句子的邏輯結構,為所譯的句子確定要采用的句型,確定合適的語態(tài)、時態(tài),確定相應準確的詞匯。
1.邏輯
翻譯首先要分析句子邏輯結構,為選擇合適句型準備。
(1)她看起來至少要年輕10歲。She looks at least 10 years younger than her age.
(2)他說得太快,要跟上他實在困難。He speaks too fast. It is hard to keep up with him.
2.句型
掌握了幾個基本的句型,就如同抓住了英語語言的精髓。
(1)宋徽宗與其說是一位國君,不如說是一位繪畫大師。Song Huizong was more of an artist than a king.
(2)他們爬得高,以便看得更遠。They are climbing higher so that they may get a better view.
(3)我突然想到我們可以用計算機來做這項工作。 It suddenly occurred to me that we could use a computer to do the job.
3.語態(tài)
我們應該保護消費者不受欺騙。 We should protect the consumers from being tricked.
4.時態(tài)
每個句子都有一個動詞時態(tài)的問題,即該句所表達的行為是在何時發(fā)生的。不同的時間應該用不同的時態(tài)來表達,而漢語的時態(tài)通常是用時間狀語來表達的,如昨天、現在、將來等,動詞則不發(fā)生變化。由于英漢語言的這種差異,漢譯英時往往容易忽略而出錯。
(1)那個國家的氣候除了七月以外都是很溫和的。The climate of that country is mild except in July.
(2)他從小就雙目失明。 He has gone blind since he was young.
(3)那男孩子一躍而起,沖出了房子。The boy jumped to his feet and rushed out of the house.
(4)如果希特勒沒有上臺,歷史的進程就會不一樣了。 If Hitler hadn't come into power, the course of history might have been different.
5.詞匯
首先一定要分辨出漢語句子中單詞的準確含義,其次在選擇英語詞匯時一定要看準詞性,然后再運用到譯文中。
(1)他們決定放棄不再找了,因為他們找了一個星期,什么也沒找到。
誤譯:They decided to give up the find, because they have found for a week and nothing was found.
英語中“find”的詞義是強調找沒找到的結果,而不是強調尋找這個動作,look for 才是尋找。所以此句前兩個“find”應該用“search”和“l(fā)ook for”,而“search”強調尋找的難度和認真度。
正確翻譯:They decided to give up the search because they had looked for it for a week and had found nothing.
(2)他愛人去機場給他送行。
誤譯:His love went to the airport to see him off. love一般是指戀人、情人,句中的愛人明顯是 指妻子。
正確翻譯:His wife went to the airport to see him off.