英译汉断句 VS 汉译英断句
英汉两种语言句子的结构
汉语句子的结构比较松散,有时一个句子里存在不少并列分句或并列成分,而且没有连接词把它们之间的逻辑关系明显地表现出来,有人形象地把汉语句式称为“竹式结构”,好比一根竹竿可以有多个竹节往上发展。
英语句子的结构比较严谨,各个分句和成分之间的逻辑关系比较明显,相应地被称为“树式结构”,整个句子由一个鲜明的主谓结构形成主干,其余部分无论有多复杂,都依属于这个主干之上。
因此,在翻译时,我们需要采用一些变通手段, 来实现树式结构与竹式结构之间的转换,其中最常用的就是断句译法和换句译法。
英译汉断句法
断句译法是拆分原句的短句或分句,成为独立单句(转句为句) ; 英语长句的断句原则一般是,先理清原句结构,找出句子的主语、谓语和宾语,然后找出修饰主语和宾语的定语和定语从句,以及修饰谓语的状语和状语从句,再按照汉语的语言习惯调整搭配,恰如其分地断开长句进行翻译。
英译汉中的断句译法具体情况
1、拆断并列句
通常由and或but等连接词连接,且前后两句有不同的主语或分别说明两种情况。这种并列句用断句译法译成汉语时,译文会更清晰、明快。
The shark swung over // and the old man saw his eye was not alive and then he swung over once again, wrapping himself in two loops of the rope.
鲨鱼在海里翻滚过来。// 老头儿看见它的眼珠已经没有生气了,但是它又翻滚了一下,结果被绳子缠绕了两圈。
It is very easy to bring some books from the bookstores and libraries, // but to learn the knowledge in the books and put the knowledge into practice is by no means an easy job.
从书店和图书馆带些书回来是轻面易举的。//然而,从书中学得知识,并把这些知识运用到实践中,就不是那么简单的事情了。
2、拆断名词性从句
此类名词性从句通常由that等连接词引导,最常见于“It is / was ... that"的结构
It is certain that // man will eventually solve the riddle of UFO.
人类最后必将解开不明飞行物之谜。//这一点是可以肯定的。
It was in vain that // the old lady asked her if she was aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton.
老太太问她明白不明白对她说话的不是别人,是平克顿小姐。//这话毫无效力。
3、拆分断定语从句
此类定语从句通常由which、that 或when等关系代词或关系副词引导,在句中作定语,修饰一个名词或代词 (即:先行词)
Among primitive people, a person is seen as a dependent part of nature, // a frail reed in a harsh world governed by natural laws that must be obeyed if he is to survive.
在原始人看来,人是从属于大自然的, 是大自然的一部分; // 他就像一棵纤弱的芦苇, 生长在这个由自然法则统治着的严酷的世界里。如果他想生存下去,就必须得服从这些法则。
There is now a single accepted pronunciation for the vast majority of words in ordinary polite use, // deviation from which is regarded either as a provincialism or as a vulgarism.
现今日常社交所用的大多数读音已有了一个公认的统一 标准。//不符合这个标准的,就被称为方言或俗语了。
Bright sunshine flooded the street// where a group of boys in Sunday clothes were playing ball.
大街上阳光灿烂,/一群穿着假日盛装的男孩正在街上玩球。
4、拆断状语从句
此类状语从句通常由that、 while、when、 because、 after等连词引导,按作用可以有时间、地点、原因、条件、目的、结果、让步、方式和比较状语从句
Because the young man frequently came to the lady's house, // was regarded as the mistress's lover.
这个小伙子经常到太太家来。//因此,别人都以为他是这家女主人的情人。
After singing a concert in this city, // he said he wanted to greet his admirers backstage as he always does.
他在那个城市演唱了一场音乐会 。音乐会结束后,//他提出要像往常那样到后台去见见他的歌迷。
Kunta was so worn out, slumped in his rocking chair, staring vacantly at the fire, // that he didn't even notice Bell feeling his forehead and taking off his shoes.
昆塔累极了,他颓然倒在他的摇椅中凝视着火光发呆。//他甚至没有感到贝尔用手摸了摸他的前额,并替他脱了鞋。
5、拆断原句的两个或多个分句,分别译成单句
This trend began during the Second World War // when several governments came to the conclusion①// that the specific demands (that a government wants to make of its scientific establishment③) cannot generally be foreseen in detail②.
这种趋势始于第二次世界大战期间,//当时一些国家的政府下了结论①,//认为: (政府向科研机构提出的③)具体要求通常是无法详尽预见的②。
[分析:句子的主干部分为“this trend began during the Second World War",其余部分为分枝。句中,①是when引导的定语从句, ②是第一个that引导的conclusion的同位语从句,③是第二个that引导的修饰demands的定语从句。这种从句里套从句的多层复杂结构长句在英语中非常普遍,关键是要找出主干。该句分为两层意思: 一是政府下结论,二是结论的内容。
The president said at a press conference dominated by questions on yesterday's election results // that he could not explain why the republicans had suffered such a widespread defeat①// which in the end would deprive the Republician Party of long-held superioty in the House②.
在一次记者招待会上,问题集中于昨天的选举结果,总统就此发了言。//他说他不能够解释为什么共和党遭到了这么大的失败①。//这种情况最终会使共和党失去在众院中的长期优势②。
[分析:这个句子由一个带有分词短语的主句,两个宾语从句和一个非限制性定语从句组成。全句共有三层意思:一是总统发言,二是他无法解释共和党失败的原因,三是这种情况会使共和党失去优势。这三层意思都具有相对的独立性,因此在译文中可拆开来分别叙述,成为三个单句。]
汉译英中的断句译法
汉泽英中,有时也用到断句译法,其原则是:首先透彻理解原文,体会作者的思路,分析句子与句子之间以及每个句子内各部分之间的关系,弄清这种关系是平行关系还是主辅关系,然后根据英语的表达习惯重新断句、拆句或并句。一句话必要时可断作几句来译,才能使意思清晰,结构利落,合乎英语的表达习惯。
汉译英中的断句译法
1、一句中包含两个或多个层次的意思
(1) 只有一个主语:通常在第一层意思处断句,之后的另一个或几个层次另为句,且第二句的主语用代词即可
一般说来,典型的金属能导热导电,//表面有光洚,具有延展性和可锻性。
General speaking,the typical metal conducts electricity and heat. // It shows lustrous surface, usually with white, or so-called metallic luster. It is dustile and malleable.
在软木塞上钻一个小孔,// 将根玻璃管插入软木塞的孔中。
Make a hole through the cork. // Push a tube through the hole in the cork.[祈使句,主语省略]
(2)不同短句中出现不同主语(主语转换) :不同主语的短句可另立
水蒸汽接触到冷瓶子时,就冷却为水,// 瓶子就湿了。
When the steam touches the cold bottle, it cools and changes into water again. // The bottle becomes wet.
原子核由质子,或带正电荷的粒子和中子,不带电荷的粒子的结 合体组成,// 各种元素内的质子和中子数量可以不等,但只有一些结合体是稳定的。
Atomic nuclei consist of combinations of protons, positively-charged particles, and neutrons, or uncharged particles. // The number of protons and neutrons in each element can vary, but only certain combinations are stable.
耳朵是用来听声音的器官,//鼻子用来嗅气味,// 舌头用来尝滋味。
The ear is the organ which is used for hearing. // The nose is usedfor smelling. // The tongue is used for tasting.
(3)复杂定义句:定义的主干部分成一句,其他补充或说明部分另立一句;补充或说明部分含并列或多重意思的可进一步拆分。
因此,关于阀的开启有效行程应当是指(气包压力开始下降(即 气箱压力明显上升)的) A点到(气包压力开始趋于平稳的) B点阀所经 历的行程。
Therefore, the effective stroke of the valve during opening should be the distance the valve travels from point A to point B. // At point A the pressure in the air tank begins to fall (that is,the pressure in the clearance of the upper part of the flask begins to rise obvious at point B the pressure in the air tank begins to be steady.eobviously).
2、采用“先总说、后分述”或“先分述、后总说"结构或因果关系的长句,一般: 总说为一句、分述为一句,或原因为一句、结果为一句。
总之,微波只能以射线方式传播,// 没有一系列的转播塔,它们 就不能越过漫长的距离,把消息传递到遥远的地方。
In short, microwaves can only travel in straight line. // Without a series of relyowave towers, it is impossible for them to send messages over long distances to remote places.
人的觉悟是不容易的,//要去掉人民头脑中的错误意识,需要我们做很多切切实实的工作。
The political awakening of the people is not easy. // It requires much earnest effort on our part to rid their minds off wrong ideas.
典型的流水句,内容较多,层次分明,逻辑清晰。英译时一般把句子断开,按照断句来进行翻译 接着,他继续设想,//鸡又生鸡,//用鸡卖钱, //钱买母牛, // 牛繁殖,//卖牛得钱, //用钱放债, //这么一连串的发财计划, 当然也不能算是生产的计划。
He went on indulging in wishful thinking. // Chickens would breed more chickens. //Selling them would bring him money.//With this he could buy cows. //The cows would breed too and selling oxen would make more money for him. // With the money, he could become a money leader// Suchasccession of steps for geting rich, of course, had nothing at all to do with production.
①学院请来-位洋教师,②长得挺怪,红脸,金发,连鬓大胡须,有几根胡子一直逾过面颊,挨近鼻子,③他个子足有二米,④每进屋门必须低头,才能躲过门框子的拦击,⑤叫人误以为他进门先鞠躬,这不太讲究礼貌了吗?
分析:此长句共有五层含义,①句讲学院请了洋教师,②句讲洋教师的长相特征,③句讲他的个头,④句讲他的特殊行为,⑤句讲人们的感受。①~⑤句重点各有不同,语义复杂,因此,在翻译此句时可以考虑将这五层意义分开来译,而不要流水般“一气呵成”或不分主谓搭配地“胡子眉毛把抓”。
red-faced, golden-haired with a thick rowth of whiskersthat reached all the wav to the nose. He was reall all - no less than six foot five. When he came in through the door, he had to lower his head to avoid banging against the door frame. It looked as though he always bowed to you at the door and that was much too polite.