(4)不译:不译或省略翻译是在确切表达原文内容的前提下使译文简练,合乎汉语规范,决不是任意省略某些介词。
① 表示时间或地点的英语介词,译成汉语如出现在句首,大都不译。如:
There are four seasons in a year. 一年有四季。
Many water power stations have been built in the country. 我国已建成许多水电站。
② 有些介词如for(为了),from(从…),to(对…),on(在…时)等,可以不译。如:
The barometer is a good instrument for measuring air pressure. 气压计是测量气压的好仪器。
The air was removed from between the two pipes. 两根管子之间的空气已经抽出。
Answers to questions 2 and 3 may be obtained in the laboratory. 问题2和3的答案可以在实验室里得到。
Most substances expand on heating and contract on cooling. 大多数物质热胀冷缩。
③ 表示与主语有关的某一方面、范围或内容的介词有时不译,可把介词的宾语译成汉语主语。如:
Something has gone wrong with the engine. 这台发动机出了毛病。
Gold is similar in color to brass. 金子的颜色和黄铜相似。
It’s never occurred to me that bats are really guided by their ears. 我从未想到蝙蝠居然是靠耳朵引路的。
④ 不少of介词短语在句中作定语。其中of(…的)往往不译。如:
The change of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done in motors. 电能变为机械能是通过电动机实现的。 (of短语和change在逻辑上有主谓关系,可译成立谓结构。)
Some of the properties of cathode rays listed below. 现将阴极射线的一些特性开列如下。(第一个of短语和some在逻辑上有部分关系,of不译出。)
(5)反译:在不少情况下,有的介词短语如不从反面着笔,译文就不通,这时必须反译。如:
① beyond, past,against等表示超过某限度的能力或反对……时,其短语有时用反译法。如:
It is post repair. 这东西无法修补了。
There are some arguments against the possibility of life on this planet. 有些论据不同意这行星上可能有生物。
Radio telescopes have been able to probe space beyond the range of ordinary optical telescopes. 射电望远镜已能探测普通光学望远镜达不到的宇宙空间。
② off, from等表示地点、距离时,有时有反译法。如:
The boat sank off the coast. 这只船在离海岸不远处沉没了。
③ but,except,besides等表示除去、除外时,有时用反译法。
Copper is the best conductor but silver. 铜是仅次于银的最优导体。
The mdelecular formula, C6H14, does not show anything except the total number of carbon and hydrogen atoms. 分子式C6H14只用来表示碳原子和氢原子的总数。
④ from,in等介词短语作补足语时,有时用反译法。如:
An iron case will keep the Earths magnetic field away from the compass. 铁箱能使地球磁场影响不了指南针。
The signal was shown about the machine being order. 信号表明机器设有毛病。
“一个词脱离上下文是不能翻译的”(索伯列夫),没有上下文就没有词义。介词的翻译须根据上下文和词的搭配灵活处理,切忌作对号入座的机械翻译。
(来源:旺旺英语)
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