翻译第6讲 Conversion

翻译第6讲 Conversion

Translation is a process concerning two languages. Since there are differences in the structures, grammar, and expressions between the two languages, sometimes conversion is necessary. This part is mainly about the conversion of word classes,(词类转换) conversion of sentence members（转换句子成分）, and conversion of perspectives.(转换视角)

Conversion of English Nouns 英语名词的转译

Nouns or nominal（名词性的） forms, especially action nouns and other abstract nouns, find their wider use in English while verbs or multi-verbal forms are much preferred in Chinese. This is one of the important differences between the two languages. In translation, therefore, the conversion of English nouns into Chinese verbs, and subsequently English adjectives into Chinese adverbs, becomes one of the techniques frequently employed for smooth representation in idiomatic Chinese.

English nouns can be converted into Chinese verbs in the following cases.

1. 由动词派生的名词

2. 具有动作意义的名词

3. 以-er结尾表示身份或职业的名词

English Nouns →Chinese verbs

He admires the President’s stated decision to fight for the job.

他对总统声明为保住其职位而决心奋斗表示钦佩。（P62）

My admiration for him grew more.

我对他越来越钦佩。

Indo-China is a drain on French resources.

印度支那战争不断消耗法国的资源。

The international food shortage had a direct impact on Kuwait and other barren desert countries.

全球性粮食短缺现象直接影响了科威特等贫瘠的沙漠国家。

It is mighty to make him work on Saturdays, when all the boys are having holiday, but he hates work more than anything else, and I’ve got to do some of duty by him, or I’ll be ruination of the child.

星期六其他孩子都在过假日，你让他干活有点有点难为他。可是他压根儿恨透了干活儿，比什么都恨，我非得尽些责任不可，不然，我会毁了孩子。

More examples:

1. One after another, speakers called for the downfall of imperialism, abolition of the system of exploitation of man-by-man, liberation of the oppressed of the world.

发言人一个接一个表示要打倒帝国主义，要消灭人剥削人的制度，要解放全世界被压迫的人民。

2. His acceptance of bribes led to his arrest. 他因受贿而被捕.

3. Exhaust gases from boilers, vehicles, etc., cause air pollution in cities.

锅炉和车辆等排出废气，污染了城市的空气。

4. Insulin is used in the treatment of diabetes, which is marked by a rise in blood sugar as a result of a short supply of insulin in the body.

胰岛素用于治疗糖尿病， 这种病的特征是由于体内胰岛素分泌不足而引起血糖上升。

5. Aggression took many forms, the unilateral denunciation of treaties and international commitments, interference in the internal affairs of other states, the use of threats against weaker neighbors, the imposition of unequal relationships, outright armed attack against the territories of other states and their

dismemberment, the subjugation of colonial peoples and the denial of the right of self-determination and fundamental human rights.

侵略有多种形式：单方面废除条约与国际义务，干涉他国内政，威胁较弱邻国，强迫实行不平等条约，露骨地武装进攻他国领土和肢解别国，征服殖民地民族，否认自决权和基本人权。

6 It is agreed that in case of non-performance or defective performance of any obligation under this Contract and its Annexes by either party, any direct damage or loss resulting from such lack of performance will be compensated, as stipulated herein, by the party or parties responsible.

双方同意，如果任何一方不履行或错误履行本合同和附件规定的任何义务，由此产生的任何直接损失将由有责任的一方或双方赔偿。

7 The great interest in exceptional children shown in public education over the past three decades indicates the strong feeling in our society that all citizens, whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities.

在过去的30年中，公共教育中显示的对残疾儿童的巨大关注表明了我们社会中的一种中强烈的情绪，那就是所有的公民，不管其情况有多特殊，都应享有充分发展其能力的机会。

English nouns → Chinese Adjectives

Nouns derived from adjectives and nouns without articles as predicative are often converted into adjectives.

Examples:

1. The APEC meeting in Shanghai was a great success.

在上海召开的亚太经合组织会议非常成功。

2. Oh, she is all gentleness, kindness, goodness！

她真是最温柔，最体贴，最善良的了！

3. His words and deeds testify his honesty.

他的言行证明他是诚实的。

4 I recognized the absurdity of dealing with them through intermediaries.

我认识到， 通过中间人与他们打交道是愚蠢的。

5 He was still more surprised at the singularity of the stranger’s appearance.

他看到那个陌生人的外表非常古怪，感到更加惊讶。

6 I am a perfect stranger to nanometer technology.

我对纳米技术一窍不通。

7 Independent thinking is an absolute necessity in study.

独立思考在学习中是绝对必要的。

English nouns → Chinese Adverbs

Examples:

1）I have the honor to inform you that your application has been accepted.

我荣幸地通知阁下，您的申请已被接受。

2）The mayor earned some appreciation by the courtesy of coming to visit the city poor.

市长礼节性地来访问城市贫民，为此他赢得了他们.

3）He had the kindness t show me the way.

他非常热情地给我引路。

4)Ｗe find difficulty in solving the housing problem at present. 我们发现目前住房问题难以解决。

5)I had the fortune to meet him.

我很幸运地遇见他。

.

English Adjectives → Chinese nouns

Some English adjectives with the definite article referring to a kind of people and some other adjectives can be translated into nouns.

Examples:

1. Robin Hood and his men hated the rich and loved and protected the poor.

罗宾汉和他的伙伴们痛恨富人，热爱并保护穷人。

2. He was eloquent and elegant---but soft.

他有口才，有风度，但是很软弱。

English Adjectives → Chinese Adverbs

Examples:

1) He was in a clear minority.

他显然属于少数。

2) We place the highest value on our friendly relationship with developing countries.

我们高度珍视同发展中国家的友好关系。

.English Adjectives → Chinese verbs

English adjectives expressing the psychological state （心理状态） such as perception （感知）and desire （欲望）are usually converted into verbs，especially when they are predicative.

Example:

1) Scientists are confident that all matter is indestructible.

科学家们深信，所有物质都是不灭的.

2) Doctors have said that they are not sure they can save his life.

医生们说他们不敢肯定能否救得了他的生命。

English verbs → Chinese Adverbs

Example:

1) I succeeded in persuading him.

我成功地说服了他。

2) They cycle to work every day.

他们每天骑着自行车上班。

3) They raise ducks as a sideline.

他们以养鸭为副业。

English verbs → Chinese nouns

Examples:

1）To them, he personified the absolute power. 在他们看来，他就是绝对权利的化身。

2）A well-dressed man, who looked and talked like an American, got into the car.

一个穿着讲究的人上了车，他的外表和谈吐都像个美国人。

English preposition → Chinese verbs

1) The letter I is commonly used for current, E for electromotive force, R for resistance.

通常字母I表示电流， E表示电动势， R 表示电阻。

2) Capitalist countries as a rule built up their heavy industry with funds obtained from abroad, whether by colonial plunder, or by exacting indemnities from vanquished nations, or else by foreign loans.

资本主义国家建设自己的重工业，通常是利用从外国获得的资金，要么依靠掠夺殖民地，要么依靠勒索战败国的赔偿，否则依靠外债。

Conversion of sentence members

The conversion of word classes often results in the conversion of sentence members. So long as we can make Chinese translations smooth, we may try to convert words, phrases, sentence members, and even sentence structures.

The earth has the shape of spheroid.

地球的形状是椭圆形。

I am very sorry that the pressure of other occupation has prevented me from sending an early reply to your letter.

近来忙于各种事物，未能早些回信，深感抱歉。

My mind goes reeling down dark corridors teeming with agonizing flashbacks, and a chill from within fills me with dread.

我思绪万千，恍恍惚惚进入了一条幽暗的通道，回忆起许多往事，心里一阵凄凉，不禁感到毛骨悚然。

Notarial Certificate of not Given Criminal Sanction

2010___zi, No__

Date________

It is hereby to certify that ⅹⅹⅹ ( male/female, born on May 8, 1988, now residing at _____) has no record of committing offenses against the Criminal Law during his /her residence in China up to May 4th, 2011.

Fujian Province Notary Public Office

The People’s Republic of China (seal)

Notary ______ (signature)

未受刑事处分公证书

兹证明 XXX （ 男、女 一九八八年五月八号出生，现住 ）至二零壹壹年五月四日，在中国居住期间未受刑事处分。

中华人民共和国福建省公证处

公证员（ 签名盖章）

2011年专八真题参考答案：汉译英部分

匆忙与休闲是截然不同的两种生活方式。但在现实生活中，人们却在这两种生活方式间频繁穿梭，有时也说不清自己到底是“休闲着”还是“忙碌着”。譬如说，当我们正在旅游胜地享受假期，却忽然接到老板的电话，告诉我们客户或工作方面出了麻烦——现代便捷先进工具在此刻显示出了它狰狞、阴郁的面容——搞得人一下子兴趣全无。接下来的休闲只能徒有其表，因为心里已是火烧火燎了。

Being hasty and at leisure are two quite distinct lifestyles. But in the real world, people have to frequently shuttle between these two lifestyles, sometimes not sure whether they are “at ease” or “in a rush”.

For example, we are enjoying our holidays in the resort while suddenly we receive phone calls from the boss who tells us there are some troubles with our customers and work----so at this moment the modern, convenient and advanced device shows its vicious and gloomy features---and we lose all our interest. The subsequent leisure is the mere showy for we are in a restless and anxious state of mind.