常用翻译技巧之:正译法和反译法
正译法和反译法这两种方法通常用于汉译英,偶尔也用于英译汉。
所谓正译,是指把句子按照与汉语相同的语序或表达方式译成英语。所谓反译则是指把句子按照与汉语相反的语序或表达方式译成英语。正译与反译常常具有同义的效果,但反译往往更符合英语的思维方式和表达习惯。
例(评析内容仅供参考):
But even as rising temperatures are upending traditional Greenlandic life, they are also offering up intriguing new opportunities for this island of 57,000 — perhaps nowhere more so than in Narsaq.
然而,气温升高虽然正在颠覆格陵兰传统的生活方式,但同时也给这个有着5.7万人口的海岛带来诱人的新机遇——这种情况可能在纳萨克镇显得尤为突出。
分析:该句中的“nowhere more so than in Narsaq”若直译,则为“没有地方比纳萨克镇(更符合这种情况)”,“so”代指前文“气温升高颠覆传统生活方式,但也带来新机遇”。在译为中文时,译者采用了“反译法”,转变成“在纳萨克镇显得尤为突出”,使得中文的表达更加自然。
对抗将是双输,战争没有出路。
Therefore, neither of us will benefit from confrontation, and war will lead us nowhere.
分析:本句讲到关于中美之间,全球各国之间的关系“对抗将是双输,战争没有出路。”原文中的“双输”这个词,译者并没有正译为“both/all will lose…”,而是采用反译的方法,译为没有人会赢/没有人会从中获益“neither of us will benefit”,更加符合英文的表达习惯,更为地道。
此外,环顾当今世界,从反恐到网络安全,从核不扩散到气候变化,从中东和平到非洲发展,也都离不开中美两国的共同参与与合作。
In addition, issues in the world ranging from counterterrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation to climate change, and from peace in the Middle East to Africa’s development, cannot be resolved without the participation and cooperation of both China and the United States.
分析:原文中的“离不开”译成英文时,译者并没有采取反译法转变成“rely on”(依赖于),而是按照原文的表达发生,译成“cannot be resolved without”,为正译法,更加贴合原文,能强调出原文的语气。
生物多样性丧失和生态系统退化对人类发展构成重大风险。
Biodiversity loss and the deterioration of the ecosystem pose grave risks to human development.
分析:本句在翻译时,译者并没有采取反译法,转换原文的语序,变成“人类发展面临生物多样性丧失和生态系统退化的重大风险”,而是采用正译法,依照原文的语序进行翻译,更加贴合原文, “生物多样性丧失和生态系统退化”作为主语,也更突出问题严重性。
老百姓通过互联网更容易表达他们的意愿,更容易对我们现有的一些产品提出批评性的意见。
The Internet has made it easier for people to express their views and criticism on products.
分析:该句中“老百姓通过互联网更容易……”主语为“老百姓”,译为英文时则用与汉语相反的语序,译为“The Internet has made it easier for people to…”(互联网让老百姓更容易……),为典型的反译法,逆转了语序。
在美国,人人都能买到枪。
In the United States, everyone can buy a gun. (正译)
In the United States, guns are available to everyone. (反译)
你可以从因特网上获得这一信息。
You can obtain this information on the Internet. (正译)
This information is accessible/available on the Internet. (反译)
他突然想到了一个新主意。
Suddenly he had a new idea. (正译)
He suddenly thought out a new idea. (正译)
A new idea suddenly occurred to/struck him. (反译)
他仍然没有弄懂我的意思。
He still could not understand me. (正译)
Still he failed to understand me. (反译)
无论如何,她算不上一位思维敏捷的学生。
She can hardly be rated as a bright student. (正译)
She is anything but a bright student. (反译)
Please withhold the document for the time being.
请暂时扣下这份文件。(正译)
请暂时不要发这份文件。(反译)
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