翻译的最基本任务不是语言的转换而是信息和内容的传达。成功的翻译绝不仅仅是了解了语法、词汇等语言基础知识后就能做到的。王佐良说：“翻译里最大的困难是什么呢？就是两种文化的不同。”美国翻译理论家尤金·奈达指出“翻译是两种文化之间的交流。对于真正成功的翻译而言，熟悉两种文化甚至比掌握两种语言更重要。因为词语只有在其作用的文化背景中才有意义。”这说明翻译要将中西文化结合起来，离开文化背景去翻译，不可能达到两种语言之间的真正交流。
一、中西文化差异
由于东西方在各自文化下的生产方式、历史传统、哲学思想、语言文化等方面有较大的不同，作为社会文化产物的思维方式与存在较大的差异，有时甚至是相互冲突的。如“talk along parallel lines”，若我们按既然平行就不会相交的模式来理解，就会将其译成“谈不拢”或“意见不一致”；而实际上英语民族的思维习惯正好相反，他们认为平行不交叉即是不矛盾，是“英雄所见略同之意”。可见思维方式差异对英汉翻译的影响之在大。
在抽象思维与形象思维两种方式上，中西文化各有所好。中国人在说明问题时爱用形象与比喻法，即使涉及逻辑推理问题也偏爱形象思维；相对而言，受西方哲学思想体系影响，英语民族偏爱抽象思维。这一差别在语言上的体现十分明显。此外，中国人偏好综合思维，其思维方式是整体优先式，而英语民族偏爱分析思维，其思维方式是部分优先式。反映在时间与空间概念的表达上，两种语言的排列顺序正好相反。汉语思维总的来说注重的是整体效果，对形式上的完整及各部分之间的关系是否严谨并不十分重视。与汉语相反，英语特别注重形式上的完整及各部分之间的关系在形式上的体现。了解了这个差别，我们在翻译时就要注意词语与句子顺序的调整、关联词的增减和句子结构的调整。评析下列平行译文：
（1）学问是自己的事，是不能依靠别人的。环境好，图书设备充足，有良师益友指导启发，当然有很大的帮助，但是这些条件具备，也不一定能保证一个人在学问上就有成就。世间也有不少在学问上有成就的人，并不具备这些条件。最重要的因素还是个人自己的努力。求学是一件艰苦的事，许多人不能忍受那必经的艰苦，所以不能得到成功。
译一：Knowledge is one’s own business, which cannot rely upon others.It will certainly be of great help, if there are good environment, sufficient books and equipment, as well as instructions and enlightenments from scholarly mentors and beneficial friends.But even if you have got all these favorable conditions, you cannot be sure to succeed in learning, for not a few people who are successful in learning are not armed with all these things.The most important factor consists in one’s own effort.To learn is rather a painstaking and persevering business.Many a man is a failure because he cannot bear such indispensable hardships.
译二：Learning is your own business and you should get rid of dependent mentality.Good environment, sufficient books, convenient facilities, as well as advice and help from teachers and friends will without doubt contribute much.But these favorable conditions do not necessarily make it certain that you will become succeed.Many people have done without them; therefore the most important thing is your own painstaking effort.To learn, actually, is to experience the indispensable pain and those who can not get it over with cannot become learned.
译三：Learning, being one’s own business, should be free from any dependent mentality.It will certainly be of great assistance if one is armed/equipped with such favorable conditions as sufficient books and equipment, as well as instructions and enlightenments from scholarly mentors and beneficial friends.However, the possession of them does not necessarily ensure one’s success in learning, while the absence of them may not mean a doomed failure since what matters most lies in one’s own arduous effort.As knowledge acquisition actually means to experience the indispensable pain, those who cannot beat it will be a doomed failure in this respect.
分析：原文中的“学问”应该在译文中有不同的翻译以体现英语的多样性特征，比如：learning, to learn, knowledge acquisition, to be learned, academic pursuit等。这样做可以避免机械地重复词语。同理，为了避免重复，英语往往采用替代形式，包括“词语替代”和“结构替代”两种基本类型。虽然汉语文章一般不忌词语重复，但是译成英语，行文则有必要遵循英语的习惯。译一在有限的篇幅内不断重复“succeed in learning”，毋宁采用“learn”的同源形容词“1earned, learning”或“to learn”与之呼应。在这点上，译二就做得较好。此外，主语选择与逻辑关系处理也是翻译的难点与重点，译三选择了两个抽象名词possession和absence做主语，较好地实现了从“意合”到“形合”的成功转换。最后，英语中的关系分句可以表达状语的某些功能，如因果、条件、目的以及让步等，因此，汉译英时可将上述关系翻译为由“who, which, that, where”引导的关系分句，如译二和译三。
（2）书是我的良友。它给我一把金钥匙，诱导我打开浅短的视界，愚昧的头脑，闭塞的心灵。它从不吝啬对我帮助。
书是我青春期的恋人，中年的知己，暮年的伴侣。有了它，我就不再愁寂寞，不再怕人情冷暖，世态炎凉。它使我成为精神世界的富翁。我真的是“不可一日无此君”。当我忙完了，累极了；当我愤怒时，苦恼时，我就想亲近它，因为这是一种绝妙的安抚。
译一：Books are the best friends of mine.They provide me with a golden key to broadening my horizon and my stupid mind and closed heart.They spare no efforts to help me.
Books are my sweet heart in youth, companion and comforter in age.They can divert me from loneliness, relieve me of worries and isolate me from the snobbish ways of the world,making me a billionaire inwardly.Actually, they have become things which I cannot live without.To my indignation, dismay or tiredness after work, they are a panacea.
译二：Books are my good friends.They have offered me a key to broadening my horizon and ridding myself of stupidity and ignorance.They never turn their backs upon me when I am in need.
Books are my sweetheart in youth，my bosom friends in middle age, and my companions in my declining years.Accompanied by books, I never feel lonely, nor fear social snobbery or fickleness of the world.They have made a rich man of me in the inner world.I cannot do without them even for a single day.When I feel tired after finishing my work, or when I am in a bad mood, I will try to get close to books for comfort—the best way for me to find spiritual consolation.
分析：原文中“浅短的视界，愚昧的头脑，闭塞的心灵”实为中国文人的一贯写作手法，成为谦虚也好、自贬也好，都不宜按其字面翻译，不能一一对应，如译一那样；相反，译文应淡化处理，以期实现意义对应，如译二。此外，原文中的“不可一日无此君”为典故，出自宋代黄庭坚，原喻“竹子”，但译文若直译的话，徒增译文理解难度，不如直接转化为“书籍”，以便读者理解。
（3）保持健康并不是一种时尚，而是一种生活方式。事实证明，有了健康的体魄，就可以在很大程度上减缓甚至逆转随着年龄的增长而造成的衰老现象。成千上万的人主动追求健康，因为他们认识到自己的健康状况与其说掌握在医生的手里，倒不如说是掌握在自己手里。
Fitness is more than a fad, which is a way of life, shown to slow and, to a large extent,even reverse much of the deterioration associated with aging (advance in years).It is pursued by millions who have realized that their medical fate lies more in their own than in their physicians’ hands.
分析：“健康”一词在原文中出现4次，但在译文中只出现一次，因为重复在汉语中是连接语篇的一种方式，而英语中除了修辞外，最忌重复。文中最后一句中的两个“掌握在……手里”只保留了一个。此外，全文用了变通手法以符合英语的行文习惯：第一句用了正反表达法，紧接着的几句用了合句法，最后一句用了被动语态以达到前后语义的连贯，同时将状语从句“因为他们认识到……”译为定语从句“who realized that...”。
二、“信”是翻译的基本要素
实践证明，我们只能要求译文和原文“等值”，而不能要求完全等同。按照奈达的理论，绝对一致的翻译是不存在的；译者寻求的应当是“对等语（equivalence）”，而不应是“同一语（identity）”；理想的翻译是在译入语中找到最切近的对等语。绝对忠实只是一个梦想，是极难办到的事。翻译只可能尽量忠实准确地用译文形式把原作的思想内容、风格、神韵等再现出来，尽可能使译文读者的感受和反应与原文读者的感受和反应基本一致。在严复指出“信”“达”“雅”三原则的基础上，朱光潜和钱钟书把翻译归根到底落实到一个“信”字上，认为其含义兼具“达”“雅”的内容。离开了“信”，一切都没有意义。请阅读下列平行文本：
（4）原文：
敬启者：
事由：人造纤维毛衫
贵方2003年6月8日报盘（即纽约到岸价每打，包括5%佣金，大号22美元，中号20美元，小号18美元）收悉，谢谢。
此复，我们非常抱歉地奉告，贵方报价偏高，与现行市价不一。鉴于此，由于类似质量的货在此处可以较低价格购到, 故请贵方降低所报价格，建议降低百分之五。这样我们或许能达成交易。
鉴于我们之间长期的贸易关系，我方做出如此还盘。由于市价日趋下跌，我们极其真诚地希望贵方能考虑我方还盘，并尽早赐以回复。
××谨上
译文：
To Whom It May Concern,
Subject: Acrylic Sweaters.
Thank you for your letter of June 8, 2003, offering us USDL.22, M.20, S.18 per dozen CIFC 5% New York.
In reply, we very much regret to say that we find your price rather high and out of line with prevailing market level.Such being the case, it is impossible for us to accept your price,as the goods of similar quality are easily obtainable here at a lower figure.Should you be prepared to reduce your limit by, say, 5 %, we might come to terms.
It is in view of our long-standing business relationship that we make you such a counter-offer.As the market is declining, we hope you will consider our counter-off most favorably and answer us as soon as possible.
Sincerely yours
分析：原文包含许多国际贸易价格术语，比如：报盘、到岸价、佣金、报价、现行市价、还盘等等，译者须小心对待，表现出译文的专业性与职业素养。
（5）茶厅内陈设古朴典雅。八仙桌、靠背椅以及屋顶悬挂的盏盏宫灯，无不渗透出浓郁的京味气息。
译文：The elegantly furnished (equipped) teahouse features furniture of strong Beijing flavor,such as the “Eight Immortals” table, a square table large enough to seat eight people with eight wooden high-back chairs, and palace lanterns hanging from the roof.（贾文波）
分析：文中的“八仙桌”“靠背椅”“宫灯”及“京味气息”都是目的与读者比较陌生的东西，译者应当对此做一定的解释，为读者提供明示的充分的语境效果。按照这个原则，那种只看重译文是否通顺、过分迎合目的语读者口味的做法应予纠正。译文能否被目的语读者接受，首先应看译文是否忠实地体现了原文的思想内容，尤其是源出语的文化内涵。在体现原文的风格和文化特点方面，英译汉的译文并不是越中文化越好，汉译英的译文也是如此。如果反其道而行之，在译文中丝毫看不出源出语的文化特征，则违反了翻译中求“信”的基本要求。在全面求“信”的同时应避免矫枉过正。
（6）我公司成立至今已有三十八年历史，是某某省自营出口最早的公司之一。目前已与世界五大洲五十二个国家和地区的五百多家客户建立了贸易关系。我们愿本着“客户至上，信誉第一”的宗旨，在平等互利的基础上与世界各国各地区贸易界人士发展贸易关系。为便于接洽业务，兹将我公司各商品部经营的主要品种介绍如下。
Our Branch has been established for 38 years and is one of the earliest branches for exports in ×× province.So far, we have established business relations with more than 500 customers from 52 countries and regions of five continents in the world.With the aim of“Customer above all, credit first”, we should like to develop business relations based upon the principle of equality and mutual benefit with all countries and regions in the world.In order to be more efficient in connection, we introduce you the principal commodities handled by our every commodity division.
分析：显而易见，这篇“简介”的制作者，其思路、选材、用词完全是对内一套。从外国人看来，一家中国公司有38年历史说明什么呢？（中国不老在宣传某种产品或某个字号已有几千或几百年历史吗？）“自营出口最早”又说明什么呢？这“500多家客户”是大企业，还是中小企业？（国际上有哪一家公司会告诉别人自己有多少客户，都在什么地方？）在国际上做生意，谁不讲“客户至上，信誉第一”?谁不要求“平等互利”？因此，这一大段话就只能被认为是毫无意义和作用的空话。从翻译的角度来说，这样的空话就不是如何译好的问题，而是值不值得翻译、需不需要翻译的问题。
（7） 在南京附近的长江畔新建起一座现代化的化纤之城——仪征化纤工业联合公司。在这片方圆10平方公里的地方，有500幢住宅楼和风格迥异的公用建筑楼群拔地而起；还有一座座厂房、仓库、水塔、管架高低交错。这是国家在80年代的重点工程之一。第一期工程于1984年建成投入试生产，现在已进入第二期工程建设。
原译：In this 10-sq-km area 500 new public apartments and buildings in different styles have sprung up.In addition, there are many workshops, warehouses, water towers, and crisscrossed industrial pipes.
分析：用这样晦涩、刻板的语言开头，是无法吸引读者的。译者用读者能接受的表达方式对中文进行了删节。首先突出了重点和事实（见译文第一句），用动词spread out交代了工厂的位置在南京东北面的仪征市。往下又突出另一个事实，即二期工程的建设时间（见译文第二、三句）。至于大片住宅、仓库、水塔，这在现代化工厂区是常见的，罗列起来也不符合英文表达习惯，故统统被省略了。
改译：The Yizheng Synthetic Fiber Complex is a key state project that spreads out over an area of 10 square kilometers in Yizheng County, northeast of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.Construction began in the late 1970s, and the first phase went into operation in 1984.The second phase is now at about the halfway mark.
（8）陕西延长石油（集团）有限责任公司（简称“延长石油”）是中国拥有石油和天然气勘探开发资质的四家企业之一，也是集石油、天然气、煤炭等多种资源一体化综合开发、深度转化、循环利用的大型能源化工企业。
延长石油已有百余年历史，是中国陆上石油工业的发祥地和开拓者。1905年经清政府批准创建“延长石油厂”，1907年打成中国陆上第一口油井，结束了中国陆上不产石油的历史。1935年起，延长石油在中国共产党的领导下不断发展。1944年毛泽东同志题词“埋头苦干”予以鼓励。在民族独立、解放战争和建国初期，延长石油曾为中国革命和建设做出重要贡献，被誉为“功臣油矿”。改革开放以来，特别是历经1998年和2005年两次重组，延长石油走上了集团化、规模化快速发展道路。2010年营业收入突破千亿元； 2012年进入世界企业500强，也是陕西乃至中国西部地区首家世界500强企业。
Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Corp.Ltd.(abbreviated as Yanchang Petroleum Group), directly attached to Shaanxi People’s Provincial Government, is one of the four qualified enterprises for oil and gas exploration in China.In 1905, Yanchang Petroleum Factory was established; In 1907, drilled the first oil well in mainland China; In 1944, Mao Zedong wrote the inscription “Immerge in hard work”; Since China adopted “Reform and Opening-up” policy, Yanchang Petroleum adhered to “Supporting the enterprise via oil,combining mining with refining, and rolling developing”; In 1998 and 2005, two great restructurings were undertaken, resulting in integration and reorganization of Shaanxi YanchangPetroleum (Group) Co.Ltd.; In 2012, it ranked No.89 among top 500 Chinese companies.
分析：由于中西方语言和文化上存在着差异, 中国企业的简介文本一般包括公司的性质、宗旨、规模、业绩、荣誉、历史沿革、服务内容、产品介绍、经营范围、发展理念和目标、联系方式。汉语企业外宣材料表现出大量使用辞藻华丽的形容词和修饰语等特点，而英语企业外宣材料在语言表现形式上通俗易懂、富有表现力。中文读者的思维习惯更注重艺术性和审美性，英文读者更注重信息性和逻辑性。在将汉语企业外宣材料翻译英文时可适当降低原作的美感和渲染程度，文采斐然转为简洁易懂。在操作层面，译者应注意必要删减，删去冗词和次要信息，根据英文习惯和逻辑顺序，对原文结构进行调整。好的企业外宣翻译不仅能宣传公司历史、组织结构、业务范围、业务能力和经营理念，还能树立公司良好形象, 促进业务合作。上例的“延长石油”简介，暂且不说语法问题，就斜体字部分而言，属于企业的历时性信息，应该尽可以省略，以便突出共时性信息。
改译：Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd.(hereinafter referred to as Yanchang Petroleum Group), one of the four qualified enterprises to explore and develop oil and gas in China, has been a time-honored pioneer engaged onshore oil exploitation.In 2012,it ranked No.89 among top 500 Chinese companies.
Its main businesses include oil and gas exploration, engineering construction, technical research and development, equipment manufacturing, oil and gas development, petrochemical engineering, oil refining, comprehensive chemical engineering of oil, gas, coal, and salt,pipeline transport, etc.
传统的翻译教学重点放在语言方面，教和学的注意力大都集中在词汇、短语、句子等的翻译技巧训练上，而忽略了文化差异方面所造成的问题。语言的基本训练固然重要，但只强调翻译技巧则有失偏颇。正确的态度是应从文化角度看待翻译，因为翻译本身就是不同文化间的交流。具体讲，译者需要一手抓语言，一手抓文化，两手都要硬。
翻译下列段落，注意专有名词的处理。
虽然全世界已经开始习惯中国飞速增长的全球贸易顺差，但是中国官员正在为本国一个不断出现赤字的领域苦恼，那就是文化领域。
中国现在是世界第四大经济强国，在全球贸易谈判以及汇率等各个问题上的影响力与日俱增，但是它没有像《哈利·波特》和《达·芬奇密码》这样的畅销书，只有这样的东西才能让它变成一个文化强国。
通过关注文化来提升中国在海外的形象，这是北京制定的旨在把自己描绘为一支“软力量”的外交总体战略的一部分。
为了将中国文化推广到全球各地，他们采取了一项旨在普及汉语的大规模行动。北京宣布，计划在全球各地成立100所孔子学院，帮助外国人学习中国普通话。
企鹅图书有限公司花费10万美元买下了姜戎所著的《狼图腾》的英文版权，从中可以看到这个世界上发展最快的图书市场的未来。国务院新确立了“文化遗产日”，旨在宣传和保护中国非物质文化遗产。政府还拟定了一份“濒危”文化传统清单，其中包括一些古老的手工艺和节日，此外还就保护中国文化遗产出台了一部法律。
我和丈夫结婚已经五年了，从我们的腰围就能看出来。虽然我们俩都还算天生苗条，也尽量定期健身，但自打结婚生子以来我们还是无可避免地长胖了一点。（事实上，我那个还在学步的孩子这段时间最喜欢的活动就是揪着我的肚皮狂笑。真是多谢了。）
刊登在《肥胖》杂志和《商业周刊》网站（BusinessWeek.com）的新研究发现，已婚夫妇变得肥胖的几率是正在恋爱但尚未结婚或同居的人的两倍。结婚时间越长，体重增加、变得肥胖的风险就越大。(www.xing528.com)
北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校（University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill）的研究人员说，两个人生活在一起就会一同行动，比如说一块儿吃饭看电视。科学家们还强调，婚姻会带来许多健康方面的好处，比如说少抽烟，死亡率也会降低。
Does Marriage Make You Fat?
My husband and I have been married for five years and you can tell by our waistlines.While we’re both naturally pretty slim and try to exercise somewhat regularly, we’ve definitely put on a few pounds since we exchanged vows (that’s us in the picture) and since we had our son.(In fact, my toddler’s favorite activity these days is squeezing my belly and giggling hysterically.Thanks.)
New research, published in the journal Obesity and written about at BusinessWeek.com,found that married couples are twice as likely to become obese as people in romantic relationships who weren’t married or living together.The longer couples are married, the greater the risk of gaining weight and becoming obese.
The researchers, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, say when people are living together they share behaviors, such as eating meals together and watching TV.The scientists also note that marriage provides a number of health benefits, including decreased cigarette smoking and lower mortality.
汉译英热点词汇（四）
采取市场多元化战略 adopt the strategy of a multi-outlet market
仓储式超市 stockroom-style supermarket
产品结构 product structure
畅销产品 marketable products
创建卫生城市 build a nationally advanced clean city
创汇产品 foreign exchange earning experts
促进住房商品化 promote the commercialization of housing
大学生创业 university students’ innovative undertaking
第一/第二/第三产业 the primary/secondary/tertiary industry
第四产业 quaternary/information industry
电视直销 TV home shopping
对外招商 attract foreign investment
发行股票、债券 issue shares and bonds
发展新兴产业和高技术产业 develop rising and high-tech industries
发展畜牧业、养殖业、林业 develop animal husbandry (livestock farming), aquaculture and forestry
反对铺张浪费 oppose/combat extravagance and waste
防止经济过热 prevent an overheated economy (overheating of the economy)
防止国有资产流失 prevent the loss (devaluation) of state assets
防止泡沫经济 avoid a bubble economy
分流下岗人员争取再就业 redirect laid-off workers for reemployment
扶贫、脱贫 poverty reduction and elimination
改进产业结构和产品结构 improve the industrial pattern and product mix
该公司股票已经上市 The stock of the company have been listed/have gone public/have been launched.
赶上或超过国际先进水平 catch up with or even surpass advanced world levels
获薄利 earn (make) narrow profits
获厚利 earn (make) substantial profits
黄金时段 prime time
基础设施工程 infrastructure project
积极培育新的经济增长点 actively cultivate new points of economic growth
技术/劳动/资本/知识密集型产业 technology-intensive/labor-intensive/capital-intensive/knowledge-intensive industries
加速科技成果商品化、产业化进程 accelerate the commercialization and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements
精品 competitive products
就业前和在职培训 pre-employment and on-the-job (in-service) training
扩大/缩小地区发展差距 widen/narrow the gap/disparity between regions/localities in terms of development
劳务输出 export of labor services
劳务招聘会 a labor fair; a job fair
名牌产品 famous-brand products
耐用消费品 consumer durables
农副产品 agricultural (farm) and sideline products
农村/城市信用合作社 rural/urban credit cooperatives
泡沫经济 bubble economy
拳头产品 knockout product or competitive product
人才 competent people; trained personnel; experts; specialists
人才市场 the personnel market
融资 financing
投资热点 a region attractive to investors; popular investment spot
推进政府机构改革 restructure government institutions
脱贫致富 cast (shake/throw) off poverty and set out on a road to prosperity
外商独资企业 wholly (solely ) foreign-owned enterprises
外向型经济/城市 an export-oriented economy/a foreign-oriented city
外资企业 foreign invested enterprises.
一次付清 pay in full
一次偿还信贷 non-installment
有价证券投资 portfolio investment
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