Exactness of English Words
选词与猜词
英译中选词与猜词是根据全文的意思来揣摩词意,并且要注意词语搭配和句子的的感情色彩。
1.Sentence Translation
1)The custom had its spring in another country.
(首先看看spring的多种意思:
n.①季节:春天②泉水,hot spring③起源,源泉,源头④弹跳,弹起⑤弹簧
v.跳跃,发芽
spring up弹起,崛起,兴起,拔地而起
spring from起源于……)
根据句子语境理解,这里应该是“起源”的意思:
这个风俗起源于另外一个国家。
2)The draft resolution urges the United Nations to send its peace-keeping troops to the region in accordance with the resolution adopted at a special meeting last May.
草案敦促联合国根据今年五月特别会议上通过的决定派遣维和部队到该地区。
英译中的语序常常不一样,这是为了句子的通顺。
根据中文语境第一个resolution可以不译,意思也能表达,而第二个则是“决定”的意思。
3)He once again imparted to us his great knowledge, experience and wisdom.
他再一次向我展示了他那渊博的知识,丰富的经验以及过人的才智。
根据中文的搭配,可以讲great的意思扩展得很丰富。这也是中英文不同之处:英语力求节俭明了,意思紧凑,而中文则喜欢重复,讲究搭配,语言华丽。
4)Many American parents may be totally divorced from the church, or entertain grave doubts about the existence of God,but they send their children to Sunday Schools and help them to pray.
许多美国家长也许根本不信教(远离教堂),对上帝的存在深表怀疑,但他们仍会把他们的孩子送到主日学校,让他们学习祈祷。
divorce和entertain根据字面意思解释根本无法理解原句意思,因此我们要读完整句句子后来揣摩它们在句子中的意思,使句子通顺。
5)The popularity of television and the difficulty of financing plays have helped to close many theatres.
电视的普及以及戏剧筹资的困难迫使许多戏院关了门。
这里的help是句子结构所需,根据语境,应解释为“迫使,使得”。
6)Many people are moonlighting to put money away for luxuries or retirement.
许多人兼职是为了攒钱买高档消费品或养老。
luxury是奢侈品的意思,但带有贬义,用到原句里不太适合,所以还是用中性点儿的解释“高档消费平”。
go moonlighting兼职
7)The EEC's common agricultural policy is a dinosaur which is adding £13 a week to the food bill of the average British family.
欧共体共同的农业政策是不合时宜的,它使每户英国家庭每周食品支出增加了13英镑。
dinosaur是恐龙的意思,这里是指不合时宜的政策。
EEC—European Economic Community 欧洲经济共同体,简称“欧共体”。
8)The men sorted out the catch,carefully throwing back fish beneath a certain size.
渔夫们把鱼挑选了一番,小心地把一定尺寸以下的鱼扔了回去。
根据句中出现的fish,我们可以推测这里的men是指渔夫,catch自然就是渔夫们捕捉的鱼了。
2.Passage Translation
翻译练习,注意划线词在段落中的意思哦。
History is a narrative of what civilized men have thought or done in past times—whether a day a year, a century, or a millennium ago.Since men do not live in isolation,history is necessarily concerned with social groups and especially with states and nations.Just as biography describes the life of individuals,so history relates therise,progress,and decline of human societies.
History becomes an account of the entire culture of a people.The historian wants to learn about their houses,furniture,costumes and food; what occupations they followed; what schools they supported; what beliefs and superstitions they held; what amusements and festivals they enjoyed.