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如何避免中式英语?翻译技巧分享

时间:2023-06-06 理论教育 版权反馈
【摘要】:Chinglish 一词是由Chinese与English掐头去尾而成,它指中式英语,即那种畸形的、混合的、既非英语又非汉语的语言文字,虽然形式上是英语,但在用词搭配上又不符合英语习惯用法,也可称之为“具有汉语特色的英语”。例如,将“经济发达国家”译成“the economically developed countries”,“一小撮捣乱分子”译成“a tiny handful of troublemakers”都是我们常见的典型的中式英语。

如何避免中式英语?翻译技巧分享

Chinglish 一词是由Chinese与English掐头去尾而成,它指中式英语,即那种畸形的、混合的、既非英语又非汉语的语言文字,虽然形式上是英语,但在用词搭配上又不符合英语习惯用法,也可称之为“具有汉语特色的英语”。这是中国的英语学习者在学习过程中受到母语的干扰而导致的一种既不符合英语语法、又不符合英语惯用法的语言表达方式,是“死译、硬译、字字对译”的结果,这种受汉语思维影响的“双边英语”往往是中国人看不懂,外国人也不明白。翻译家Peter Newmark指出:“He (one who writes or speaks in a foreign language) will be ‘caught’ out every time, not by grammar, which is probably suspiciously ‘better’ than an educated natives, not by his vocabulary, which may well be wider, but by his unacceptable or improbable collocations.”(讲或写外语的人,很容易被讲本族语的人识别出来,他们不是通过语法,因为其语法可能比一个受过教育的本族语人还要好;也不是通过单词,因为其词汇量可能很大;而是通过他所用的词汇搭配难以或者根本不可能为讲本族语的人所接受这一点而判断出来的)。Newmark这里所说的,也就是汉译英译者最应该努力克服的中式英语。曾在外专局工作多年的美国专家Joan Pinkham曾对中式英语下了一个比较全面的定义:“Chinglish, of course, is that misshapen,hybrid language that is neither English nor Chinese but that might be described as‘English with Chinese characteristics’”。(所谓中式英语就是那种畸形的、混合的、既非英语又非汉语的语言文字,也可称其为“具有汉语特色的英语”。)(Pinkham 2000:1-4)。

例如,将“经济发达国家”译成“the economically developed countries”,“一小撮捣乱分子”译成“a tiny handful of troublemakers”都是我们常见的典型的中式英语。因为“developed countries”,本来就是指“经济发达国家”,而“a handful of”本来就是指“一小撮”,译文中所添加的“economically”“tiny”都是十足的画蛇添足。在英语中,这些“多余的词”显然与其所修饰的成分构成了“语义重复”,而为讲英语的本族人所难以接受。如果说,“语义重复”式的中式英语,一经点破,能够或者容易为译者所识别和接受的话,“语义冲突”式的中式英语,即使教师(尤其是母语为汉语的翻译教师)指出,却难以为汉译英学习者所信服。比如,学生将“学习知识” 译为“study/learn knowledge”,“犯错”译为“commit a mistake”,老师指出这样译不妥,学生对此难以理解和接受。他们会问“为什么可以用“acquire knowledge”而不可以用“study/learn knowledge”?为什么可以用“commit a crime”而不可以用“commit a mistake”呢?对于以上问题,只用在英语中习惯上如此这样的解释是没有什么说服力的。最重要的是,如果在以后的翻译中碰到类似的问题,我们怎样才能判断这样的译法是不妥的?怎样译才是自然、地道的英语呢?语言的学习是终生的。我们不能因学习者的语义能力不是短时间内就能够获得而感到汉译英教学意义不大。事实上,随着语料库语言学的发展,尤其是借助于英语语料库对搭配的研究,可以有效地帮助学生克服不妥当的语义组合,加快语言习得的内化过程,避免中式英语,译出自然、地道的英语表达方式。

因此,汉英翻译中的Chinglish是影响译文质量的主要问题之一,究其原因主要有三:一味追求字面对应而忽略了意义对应(字字对译);忽视了汉语重“意合”而英语重“形合”的重大差异(简单移植逻辑关系);只看到了语言而忽视了文化差异(只见树木,不见森林)。下面通过平行语料对所谓的“中式英语”做一剖析。

(1)中国对世界经济增长贡献率超过30%。

译一:China’s contribution to global growth exceeded 30 percent.

译二:China contributed more than 30 percent of global growth.

译三:China contributed more than 30 percent to global growth.

分析:以上三个译文都较准确地传达出了原文的意义,区别在于表达方式的不同而已。

(2)旅客登记时,须凭足以证明本人身份的有效证件,并说明住宿原因。

译一:Guests are requested to show their own valid papers to prove their identities and to tell the reason for lodging when they check in at the hotel.

译者缺乏跨文化交际意识,片面忠实,译文的口气不够委婉,甚至居高临下、盛气凌人,可读性较差。译文二则完全以目的语受众能接受的方式予以翻译:

译二:Please help us to speed up your check-in by presenting your ID.

(3)我们要坚持“两手抓,两手都要硬”的方针。

根据中国国情,“两手”指的是一个事物的两个方面,即精神文明物质文明,因此要在译文中需要增补表达出来:

We must stick to the principle of attending to both spiritual and material civilizations and keeping a firm grip on both.

(4)一架印尼客机雅加达起飞后不久坠海。据信,飞机上的189人全部遇难,这是今年来最严重的商业航空灾难。

An Indonesian airliner crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Jakarta.All 189 people on board are thought to have died in what is the worst commercial airline disaster so far this year.(主动语态变为被动语态)

(5)东方明珠广播电视塔位于黄浦江畔、浦东陆家嘴嘴尖上,塔高468米,三面环水,与外滩万国建筑博览群隔江相望,是亚洲第一、世界第三的高塔。

这是一个由零句组成、典型的汉语整句。整句中经常是短句一个接着一个,流泻铺排,形散神聚,呈流散形句式。英语中类似汉语的零句被称为“破句”(fragments),这类句式也没有完整的主谓结构。通常来说,英语讲究句子结构的完整与严密,破句不属于常规句式。如果照常直译,产生的译文要么不合英语语法,要么是拖沓冗长、松散无力的中式英语。因此,我们可采用改译法加以化零为整,将其缩合成符合英语表达习惯、完整严密的译文:

Situated on the Huangpu River and at the point of Lujiazui in Pudong, the Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower is surrounded by waters on three sides and faces a row of buildings of variegated international architectural styles in the Bund across the river.This 468-meter-tall tower ranks first in Asia and third in the world in height.

(6)高利率和具有风险性的新的融资挤垮了住房抵押贷款

Home mortgages were devastated by towering interest rates and risky “creative financing”.

(7)最近刚上市的中国电动汽车制造商蔚来(Nio)的股价飙升了五分之一,因为有消息称,特斯拉最大的外部投资者、基金经理贝利·吉福德(Baillie Gifford)持有这家总部位于上海的公司11.4%的股份。

The share price of Nio, a Chinese electric-carmaker which recently listed on the stockmarket, soared by a fifth upon the news that Tesla’s biggest outside investor, Baillie Gifford, a fund manager, has amassed an 11.4% stake in the Shanghai-based company.(改变逻辑关系)

(8)世界贸易组织成立于1995年1月1日,其前身是关税与贸易总协定。

The World Trade Organization, whose predecessor was the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, was established on January 1, 1995.

(9)中国汽车需求放缓,捷豹路虎(Jaguar Land Rover)计划关闭其位于英国的主要装配厂,为期两周。

A brake in demand for cars in China caused Jaguar Land Rover to plan a two-week closure of its main assembly plant in Britain.(改变主语)

(10)专家们普遍认为,积极的财政政策对于最近几年的经济快速增长势头起了很大作用。

It is generally agreed among experts that the proactive fiscal policy has considerably contributed to the rapid economic growth in recent years.

(11)善欲人见,不是真善;恶恐人知,便是大恶。

A good deed is no longer good if it is done for show;

An evil deed is all the worse if it is covered up.(裘克安译)

分析:原文出自《朱柏庐治家格言》,上半句指出:真正的善行出于人的天性,它赋予行善者以人格尊严。如果善行只是为了作秀,便不成其为善行。下半句指出:恶行如果没有得到揭露和清算,反而被掩盖起来,那么其危害性更为严重。

(12)大众汽车(Volkswagen)表示,旗下品牌汽车9月份在中国的销量下降了10%,加剧了其在欧洲的销售疲软,大众汽车的许多车型没有达到欧洲更严格的排放标准。

Volkswagen said its sales in China had dropped by 10% in September, adding to poor sales in Europe, where many of its vehicles do not meet tougher emissions standards.(改变逻辑关系)

(13)美国雇主在九月份增雇了13.4万名工人,这是一年来最小的增幅。美国失业率降至3.7%,为1969年以来的最低水平。

American employers added 134,000 workers to the payroll in September, the smallest increase in a year with its unemployment rate falling to 3.7%, the lowest since 1969.(改变逻辑关系)

(14)漫长炎热的夏天给英国经济注入了一些热量。在截至2018年8月份的3个月里,GDP以0.7%的强劲速度增长,与截至7月份的3个月持平,这是自2017年初以来的最快增速。

The long hot summer injected a bit of heat into the British economy with its GDP growing at a robust rate of 0.7% for the three months to August, 2018, the same as the three months to July, which was the fastest pace since early 2017.(改变逻辑关系)

A.小组讨论下列译文,提出修改意见。

1.由港澳国际投资公司投资海口电站工程因其建设速度和质量得到高度评价。

译文:The Haikou Power Station Project invested by the Hong Kong-Macao International Investment Co., Ltd.was highly appraised for its construction speed and quality.

2.上海SFECO拥有5个控股子公司

译文:Shanghai SFECO Group has 5 share-holding companies.

3.中国民生银行有限公司

译文:China Minsheng Banking Corporation, Ltd.

4.项目中标之后,我们将立即开始前期准备工作。

译文:After the bid is awarded, we shall immediately start our advance-phase preparation.

5.欢迎您参观我们交易会!

译文:Welcome you to visit our fair!

6.我公司出口工业产品、化工产品、医药等。

译文:Our company exports industrial products, chemicals, medicines and etc..

7.我们将委托贵公司作为我公司在毛里求斯业务代理。

译文:We hereby entrust your company to be our business agent in Mauritius.

8.本合同签订之后,签约双方中任何一方不得将合同内容泄露给第三方。

译文:Any of the two parties can not divulge the contents of the contract to a third party after the conclusion of the contract.

9.在双方签约之后,各方将严格遵守本协议。

译文:After this agreement is signed by the two parties, all parties shall strictly abide by it.

B.试评改下列广告正式译文。

1.“________”是________工程师发明的新型植物生长调节剂,是我国获奖最多、获奖级别最高、使用面积最大、增产效果最好的叶面喷施剂。

________创办的________厂列为1991年国家级火炬计划,是高科技、大产业的标志。

译文:

“________”is a new kind of regulating agent for plant growth invented by Engineer________.Among the domestic leaf-spraying agents, “________”is the one with the most prize rewards, the highest prize, the widest application and best output increasing result.

________Factory set up by________was listed in the Senate’s 1991 Torch Program.“________”is a symbol of high-tech and large-scale production.

2.“________” 口服液是国内首创的新一代保健佳品,经________省药物研究所药理试验,并通过省级鉴定。含有丰富的蛋白质氨基酸维生素及微量元素,具有调节机体功能,促进消化吸收机能增强体质,提高心脑工作效率和记忆力,消除疲劳。适于健康人和病后体虚,小儿厌食,老人体弱,尿频,中年用脑过度,失眠。(www.xing528.com)

本品空腹服用效果最好,每日早晚各一次,首服加倍,体虚及有病者加大剂量服用效果更佳。常饮无任何副作用,不含激素及防腐剂。

译文:

“________” oral liquid is the new generation of the best health protection product invented first in China.It has been experimented by________, and has passed the provincial assessment.It contains rich protein, amino acid, vitamin, as well as trace elements.It has abilities to regulate the function of the human body, promote the physical quality, raise the heart and brain’s efficiency and the remembrance, and get rid of tiredness.It has the evident effect for those including the normal people, the weak patients who have just recovered from disease, and the children who are tired of foods, the weak old people, the patients who have a frequent micturition, the middle-age people who overwork their brain, and the patients who have insomnia.

“________” is suitable for the patients to take with empty stomach, two times each day, one ampoule each time, the dosage for the patients to take it first should be double.If the weak or sick people take the excess, it will have better effect.“________” has no poisonous side effect when you take it frequently, and does not contain any hormone or antiseptic.

蒂森克虏伯电梯集团年销售额约53亿欧元,公司拥有43 000名员工,分布在全球800多个办公场所,使用着20多种语言。在摩天大厦、住宅楼、办公楼、星级酒店、机场和购物中心,无论您是在水平或垂直空间内移动,蒂森克虏伯电梯都将快速、安全及舒适地把您带到目的地。蒂森克虏伯电梯由六大业务单元组成,其中四个业务单元主要集中于地区性的电梯业务,包括:中/东/北欧、南欧/非洲/中东、美洲以及亚洲/太平洋。其他两个则是全球性运作的产业业务单元,包括:扶梯/登机桥以及无障碍设施(无障碍升降机、平台升降机以及家用别墅梯)。

With annual sales of €5.3 billion, ThyssenKrupp Elevator has almost 43,000 employees at more than 800 locations speaking more than 20 languages.In skyscrapers, residential buildings, office buildings, luxurious hotels, airports and shopping malls: whether you need to move upward or forward, ThyssenKrupp Elevator takes you there quickly, safely and comfortably.ThyssenKrupp Elevator is organized into six business units, four of which concentrate on the regional elevator business (Central/Eastern/Northern Europe, Southern Europe/Africa/Middle East, Americas and Asia/Pacific).The other two, which operate globally, are: Escalators/Passenger Boarding Bridges and Accessibility (stair and platform lifts,as well as smaller elevators for private homes).

公司名称的表达方式

1.line(s) (轮船、航空、航运等)公司

Atlantic Container Line 大西洋集装箱海运公司

Hawaiian Air Lines 夏威夷航空公司

2.agency 公司,代理行

The Austin Advertising Agency 奥斯汀广告公司

China Ocean Shipping Agency 中国外轮代理公司

3.store(s) 百货公司

Great Universal Store 大世界百货公司(英)

Tesco Stores (Holdings) 乐购百货(控股〕

4.associates (联合)公司

British Nuclear Associates 英国核子联合公司

Subsea Equipment Associates Ltd.海底设备联合有限公司(英、法、美合办)

5.system (广播、航空等)公司

Mutual Broadcasting System 相互广播公司

Malaysian Airline Svqtpm Rhd.马来西亚航空公司

6.office 公司,多与head,home branch等同连用

3M China Limited Guangzhou Branch Office

3M中国有限公司广州分公司

China Books Import and Export Corporation (Head Office)

中国图书进出口总公司

7.service(s) (服务)公司

Africa-New Zealand Service

非洲-新西兰服务公司

Tropic Air Services

特罗皮克航空公司

此外,exchange,center等词在特定的上下文中也可转义表示“公司”。例如:

American Manufacturers Foreign Credit Insurance Exchange

美国制造商出口信用保险公司

Binks (Shanghai) engineering Exhibition Center, Ltd.

宾克斯(上海)涂装工程设备展示有限公司

8.联合公司

Consolidated coal Company 联合煤炭公司(美)

United Aircraft Corporation 联合飞机公司(美)

Allied Food Industry Co.联合食品工业公司(新加坡

Integrated oil Company 联合石油公司

Federated Department Stores 联合百货公司

Union Carbide Coronation 联合碳比合物公司(美)

Associated British Plectra Corporation 英国联合影业公司

China Agricultural Machinery Import and Export Joint Company

中国农业机械进出口联合公司

9.保险公司

Export Credit Insl1rance Corporation出口信贷保险公司

Export Payments Insurance Corpora出口支讨保险公司(澳)

Federal Savings and Loan insurance Corporation联郭储蓄贷款保险公司(美)

Development underwriting Ltd.开发保险公司

AIA 美国友邦保险公司

AIG 美国国际公司

10.实业公司

太平洋实业公司 Pacific Industries

华广轻工实业公司 Hua Guang Light industrial Corporation

广联实业有限公司 The Guanglian industrial Commerce Corporation

珠海特区发展实业公司 Zhuhai SEZ Developing Enterprises corporation

广东省外贸实业公司 Guangdong Foreign Trade industry Enterprise Corporation

11.general 既是“总”,又是“通用

General American Transportation Corp.美国运输总公司

Central OII Company 石油总公司(美)

General Motor 通用汽车

General Electric 通用电器

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