王逢鑫:双语加油站二十六
微乎其微的影响
句子:广告对大学生的影响是微乎其微的。
误译:Advertising has merely a small effect on college students.
正译: 1) Advertising has very little effect on college students.
2) Advertising has merely an insignificant/unimportant effect on
college students.
3) The influence that advertising makes on college students is very small/insignificant/unimportant/trivial.
解释: “小”和“微”(smallness)的概念有三层意思:体积(size)小、数量(quantity)小、和重要性(importance)小。“影响微乎其微”是“重要性小”,英语一般用little, insignificant, unimportant或trivial表示。没有small effect这样的搭配。但是,可以说small influence, small mistake, small differences和 small change,例如:
1. 我对这个孩子的影响小,所以他不会按照我说的去做。
My influence over the child is small, so he won’ t do as I say.
2. 你犯了个小错误,要不你的工作干得很好。
You made a small mistake, but otherwise your work was good.
3. 这两种译文之间仅有细小差别。
There are only small differences between the two translations.
4. 这个计划有个小小的变动。
There has been a small change in the plan.
“体积小”常用small表示,例如:
5. 老鼠是一种小动物。
The mouse is a small animal.
6. 这顶帽子太小,我戴不上。
The hat is too small for me.
“数量小”可以用a small number of表示,后跟可数名词;也可以用a small amount of 表示,后跟不可数名词。例如:
7. 桌子上有少量的书。
There are a small number of books on the table.
8. 我设法节省了一点钱。
I managed to save a small amount/sum of money.
(编辑:youke)