二. 動(dòng)詞有關(guān)的詞性轉(zhuǎn)換

在翻譯過(guò)程中,我們經(jīng)常見(jiàn)到漢語(yǔ)一個(gè)句子中有多個(gè)動(dòng)詞出現(xiàn),如“中國(guó)實(shí)行改革開(kāi)放政策,開(kāi)展現(xiàn)代化建設(shè),已經(jīng)實(shí)現(xiàn)社會(huì)安定,經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮,綜合國(guó)力顯著增強(qiáng)”。而英語(yǔ)中一個(gè)句子只能有一個(gè)謂語(yǔ),這就需要詞性轉(zhuǎn)換的幫忙。以下是漢譯英中兩種最常見(jiàn)的動(dòng)詞轉(zhuǎn)譯技能,一起來(lái)看一下:

(一)動(dòng)詞名詞化

漢語(yǔ)是“動(dòng)態(tài)”語(yǔ)言,而英語(yǔ)是“靜態(tài)”語(yǔ)言。因此,名詞化在漢譯英中的處理須格外小心,很多情況下漢語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞并不是對(duì)應(yīng)地譯成英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞,而是要遵循英語(yǔ)的“靜”的特點(diǎn),進(jìn)行必要的詞性轉(zhuǎn)換,使譯文符合英語(yǔ)的句法規(guī)律,因而更加地道、更顯文采。

漢譯英

我們堅(jiān)信已經(jīng)向前邁進(jìn)了一步。

It is our firm conviction that a step forward has been taken.

我深信自滿情緒是我們各種問(wèn)題的根源。

It's my conviction that complacency is at the root of our troubles. ?

(此處的It is sb’s conviction意同于sb firmly believe, 在一些政論和科技文體中,比較傾向這種名詞化的靜態(tài)表達(dá),因?yàn)殪o態(tài)表達(dá)句子結(jié)構(gòu)比較嚴(yán)謹(jǐn),不容易產(chǎn)生歧義,并且可起到加強(qiáng)語(yǔ)氣的作用。)

可以認(rèn)為,日本對(duì)美獨(dú)立性的增強(qiáng)是日本走向“政治大國(guó)”的前提條件,從這個(gè)意義上說(shuō),美對(duì)日成為真正的“政治大國(guó)”是不會(huì)高興不會(huì)支持的,因?yàn)檫@意味著日本會(huì)逐漸變得不那么“緊跟”,不那么聽(tīng)話,甚至成為像某些歐洲國(guó)家那樣敢于頂撞美國(guó)的國(guó)家。

It can be argued that Japan's being independent of the United States is the pre-condition of its becoming“a major political power.”In this respect,the United States will not really be pleased with and supportive of Japan's ascension to“a major political power" because this means Japan will no longer be so closely aligned with America,or like some European countries,will even dare to say no to the United States.

然而,在國(guó)際社會(huì)看來(lái),日本發(fā)揮政治大國(guó)的作用符合多極化發(fā)展趨勢(shì)。

But from the viewpoint of the international community,Japan's role power is in line with the developing trend of mufti-polarization as a major political.

北京不懈努力申辦奧運(yùn)會(huì),并取得最終的勝利,不僅對(duì)共享奧林匹克精神,弘揚(yáng)人道主義精神,擴(kuò)大東西方交流具有重要意義,也為…

Beijing ‘s renewed efforts to bid for the Olympic Games and its final success in the bid not only have the significance for sharing the Olympic spirit, but also…

(與之前兩例將動(dòng)詞譯為抽象名詞不同,這三個(gè)例子中又加入了名詞性物主代詞,不僅在語(yǔ)氣上更加正式,也精簡(jiǎn)了句式。)

中國(guó)支持聯(lián)合國(guó)的改革,支持聯(lián)合國(guó)等多邊機(jī)構(gòu)在國(guó)際事務(wù)中繼續(xù)發(fā)揮重要作用。

China supports the reform of the United Nations and a continued important role of the United Nations and other multilateral organs in international affairs.

(以上“繼續(xù)發(fā)揮”譯為a continued important role of,隨著動(dòng)詞譯為名詞,修飾它的副詞也隨之轉(zhuǎn)換為形容詞)

游客到處亂棄垃圾,制造廢水,再加上這一地區(qū)大興土木,建造旅游設(shè)施,這一切都嚴(yán)重破壞了當(dāng)?shù)氐纳鷳B(tài)環(huán)境和文化氛圍。

Littering and waste water from tourists as well as construction of tourist facilities in the area are polluting the surroundings both environmentally and culturally.

(原句動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)不好翻譯時(shí),也可靈活處理為名詞)

英譯漢

在英譯漢過(guò)程中,則應(yīng)當(dāng)遵循漢語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞優(yōu)勢(shì),將英語(yǔ)中的名詞、名詞詞組轉(zhuǎn)譯為漢語(yǔ)中的動(dòng)詞。

1. He is a total stranger in our city.

他對(duì)這座城市完全陌生。

2,The restaurant is a real money maker

這餐館真的很賺錢。(為了中文的流暢性,將名詞譯為動(dòng)詞)

(二)動(dòng)詞介詞互化

動(dòng)詞與介詞之間的轉(zhuǎn)化,主要有以下特征:

1. 句子中有兩個(gè)以上非并列關(guān)系的動(dòng)詞時(shí)(即“多動(dòng)詞句”),只取一個(gè)核心動(dòng)詞作謂語(yǔ)。次重要的譯為非謂語(yǔ)或從句,再不重要的譯為介詞。如:

我進(jìn)去看了看,只記得門警是瑞士士兵,穿著黃色的制服,別的沒(méi)有印象了。

I came in to have a look and I just remember that the guard at the gate were Swiss soldiers in yellow uniforms.

屈原懷著十分悲痛的心情,抱了一塊大石頭,投汨羅江自殺了。

Overwhelmed with grief, Quyuan drowned himself in the Miluo River with a large stone in his arms.

2. “be + 介詞”通常用來(lái)代替動(dòng)詞。

爹上班去了,妹不在家,媽剛找到工作,還得過(guò)一個(gè)小時(shí)才下班。

Dad was at work, my younger sister was away, and Mother wouldn’t be home from her new job for an hour.

3. 英語(yǔ)中表示方向的介詞本身具有動(dòng)作性,譯為漢語(yǔ)時(shí)常譯作動(dòng)詞,因此反過(guò)來(lái)說(shuō),我們?cè)谧鰸h譯英時(shí),也可以用這些表示方位的介詞充當(dāng)動(dòng)詞。如:

他走出小屋,跨過(guò)草地,爬上小山,走進(jìn)了那座廟宇。

He went out of the cottage , across the lawn ,up the hill and into the temple.

“來(lái)啦!”她轉(zhuǎn)身蹦著跳著跑了,越過(guò)草地,跑上小徑,跨上臺(tái)階,穿過(guò)陽(yáng)臺(tái),進(jìn)了門廊。

“Coming!”Away she skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the verranda, and into the porch.(以上例子來(lái)自《三級(jí)筆譯實(shí)務(wù)》)

以介詞代替動(dòng)詞的好處就是可以減少句中動(dòng)詞的數(shù)量,使句子更加簡(jiǎn)潔。

平時(shí)我們很難擺脫母語(yǔ)思維習(xí)慣,在使用英語(yǔ)時(shí)會(huì)過(guò)多地使用動(dòng)詞,而動(dòng)詞和名詞、介詞間的巧妙轉(zhuǎn)換可以使譯文更符合英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)的表達(dá)習(xí)慣,讀來(lái)更加流暢、自然,避免譯文拖沓晦澀。因此我們?cè)诜g時(shí)要盡量擺脫母語(yǔ)思維的束縛,不過(guò)詞性轉(zhuǎn)換的方法在翻譯當(dāng)中的應(yīng)用并不絕對(duì),不能一概而論,還需視情況而定。