大學(xué)英語六級翻譯技法:(五)語態(tài)轉(zhuǎn)換法

(五)語態(tài)轉(zhuǎn)換法

英語中被動句的使用遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)多于漢語。由于英語是法治語言,強(qiáng)調(diào)主謂的完整性,因此在無從指出、沒有必要指出或不想指出動作發(fā)出者時,就用動作的接受者作主語,將句子變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。另外,為了強(qiáng)調(diào)動作的接受者,為了上下文的連貫、句子的平衡或?yàn)榱宋捏w(科技文體、政論文體、公文文體)的需要也大量使用被動句。漢語被動句的使用則很少,因此翻譯時很多漢語的句型應(yīng)翻譯成英語的被動句。

I.無標(biāo)志詞的漢語被動句譯成英語的被動句

根據(jù)漢語的思維習(xí)慣,人的行為必然是由人來完成的,不可能由事物來完成,因此在表達(dá)時往往可以省略動作的發(fā)出者,而把重點(diǎn)放在動作的承受者和動作本身上。又因?yàn)闈h語沒有詞形變化,同一動詞既可以表主動意義,也可以表被動意義,因此“動作接受者+動詞”的句式就成了一種表達(dá)習(xí)慣,如“蘋果吃了嗎?”“作業(yè)做完了嗎?”“工作找到了,房子買了,老婆也娶了。”這些句子翻譯時固然可以根據(jù)上下文加上動作的發(fā)出者,譯成英語的主動句,不過更多類似的句子卻因?yàn)闊o從指出、沒有必要指出或不想指出動作發(fā)出者而要譯成英語的被動句。

1)村子里很多房子都修繕得很漂亮。

A lot of houses in the village have been beautifully restored.

2)電腦模型可以用來演示細(xì)胞工作的方式。

Computer models can be used to simulate the way that cells work.

3)賬單拿過來時我驚呆了,價格大大超出了我的預(yù)料。

I was startled when the bill of fare was brought,for the prices were a great deal higher than I had anticipated.

4)就雌鹿和幼鹿而言,很多能量耗費(fèi)在產(chǎn)奶或生長上,脂肪積累得不如成年雄鹿那么快。

In the case of does and fawns,a great deal of energy is expended either in milk production or in growing,and fat is not accumulated as quickly as it is in full grown males.

5)傭人們經(jīng)常不允許外出,也拿不到任何工錢。

Often the domestics are not allowed to go out,and they do not receive any payment.

II.漢語無主句譯成英語的被動句

漢語是意合語言,當(dāng)不需要或不能說出動作發(fā)出者時可以采用無主句的形式,但英語是形合語言,注重句子結(jié)構(gòu)完整,句子中不能沒有主語,因此翻譯時除了給漢語的無主句加上一個泛指的主語譯成主動句外,常?？梢园言瓉韯幼鞯慕邮苷吣眠^來當(dāng)句子的主語,翻譯成被動語態(tài)。

1)應(yīng)該允許醫(yī)生剝奪其他人的生命嗎?

Should doctors be allowed to take the lives of others?

2)必須立即采取有效措施消除沙塵暴。

Effective measures must be taken immediately to eliminate sandy storms.

3)現(xiàn)在還不知道機(jī)器人有一天是否能擁有像人一樣的視力。

It is not yet known whether robots will one day have vision as good as human vision.

4)只有假設(shè)地球表面是彎曲的才能解釋這一現(xiàn)象。

This phenomenon can only be explained by assuming that the earth's surface is curved.

5)對多數(shù)人而言,是經(jīng)過至少六個月的認(rèn)真計劃才做出出國留學(xué)的決定的。

For the majority,the decision to study abroad is taken only after a period of at least six months of careful planning.

III.漢語泛指人稱主語句譯成英語的被動句

漢語在不需要或不能說出動作發(fā)出者時可以用“有人”、“人們”、“我們”等泛指代詞作主語,而英語喜歡用被動語態(tài)。

1)有人看見一個賊闖進(jìn)了那棟房子。

A burglar was seen to break into the house.

2)沒人能阻止比林斯先生實(shí)施他的計劃。

Mr.Billings cannot be stopped from carrying out his plan.

3)有人說,關(guān)于年輕最可悲的事情就是因?yàn)槟暧谉o知而浪費(fèi)了年輕時光。

It has often been remarked that the saddest thing about youth is that it is wasted on the young.

4)但人們可能還不太了解,即使有了儲存的脂肪,野生動物在冬天耗費(fèi)的能量也比夏天少。

But it is probably less well known that even with their stored fat,wild animals spend less energy to live in winter than in summer.

5)曾有人說,失業(yè)不光帶來經(jīng)濟(jì)壓力,而且還導(dǎo)致極大的心理問題。

It has been observed that unemployment,quite aside from exerting financial pressures,brings enormous psychological troubles.

IV.漢語的“是……的”結(jié)構(gòu)譯成英語的被動句

漢語中有些“是……的”結(jié)構(gòu)其實(shí)也是表示被動概念的,因此可以翻譯成英語的被動句。

1)這本書是魯迅1921年寫的。

This book was written by Luxun in 1921.

2)這些產(chǎn)品是中國制造的。

These products were made in China.

3)知識產(chǎn)權(quán)的問題是在這一基礎(chǔ)上提出來的。

On such a basis has the question of intelligence property rights been raised.

4)有些鐵是隨著汗液流失的。另外由于某些未知原因,高強(qiáng)度的耐力運(yùn)動有時伴隨著消化系統(tǒng)出血。

Some iron is lost in sweat,and,for unknown reasons,intense endurance exercise is sometimes associated with bleeding of the digestive system.

V.漢語的某些主動句譯成英語的被動句

英語的被動句無處不在,甚至有些動作的發(fā)出者非常明確的句子英語也要用被動來表達(dá)。

1)她生了個男孩。

She was delivered of a boy.

2)這個村子住著約1,300戶人家。

The village is populated by about 1,300 households.

3)我有理由接受他們關(guān)于地球形狀的這種說法。

I am justified in accepting their say-so about the shape of the earth.

4)組織者宣布,所有工人都有權(quán)得到每小時5美元的報酬。

The organizer had declared that all the workers were entitled to $5 per hour.

5)但要是有人說讀者應(yīng)該只是接受方,不要信他的話。

But don't let anybody tell you that a reader is supposed to be solely on the receiving end.

6)每年的十月一日中國各族人民都慶祝國慶節(jié)。

National Day is celebrated on Oct.1 by the Chinese people of all nationalities every year.

7)結(jié)果,平均出生人數(shù)從每個婦女5.6個孩子減少到3個。

As a result,the average number of births has been cut from 5.6 children per woman to 3.

8)一些人誤以為人們喜歡積蓄能量,喜歡休息,喜歡多一事不如少一事。

Some people are deceived into thinking that people like to store up energy,to rest and save themselves as much as possible.