【翻译技巧】英语笔译技法——转态译法

更多学习材料：【译之灵翻译培训】学习园地http://www.yizhil.com/list-12-1.html 　　所谓转态译法，就是在翻译过程中把原文的被动语态（主动语态）转换成译文的主动语态（被动语态）。我们知道，英语更惯用被动语态，而汉语更多用主动语态。因此，在英译中时，通常将英语原文的被动语态转换成汉语译文的主动语态；而在中译英时，则将汉语原文的主动语态转换成英语译文的被动语态。 　　科技英语是使用被动语态最为频繁的一种文体，不仅有语言结构上的原因，也有一定的语义价值。科技英语总是把事物的名称作为主语放在突出的位置，用被动语态表述相关的动作或状态，有利于突出表述的客观事实，结构简练。 　　汉语则惯用主动语态，大量使用无主语、形式主语、意义被动的句子以及判断句等。此外，汉语中使用的被动语态也不仅限于“被”字，还包括“挨”、“给”、“让”、“受”、、“遭到”、“为…所”、“经…所”等大量被动含义的词，其形式更多样化和随意化，不像英语那样有固定或比较统一的构成形式。 一、英译汉中的转态译法 1、英语被动句译成汉语主动句（最常见） 　　(1) 原文主语在译文中仍作主语 　　① 根据原文语序直接顺译成主动句（将动词改为主动态），译文虽为主动句但意义是被动的 　　The news was passed on very soon. 消息很快传开了。 　　The enemy’s plot was exposed. 敌人的阴谋暴露了。 　　This plan is good， but can still be improved. 这计划不错，但还可以改进。 　　② 译成“是…的”结构，强调施事者，译文意义是被动的 　　That ridiculous idea was put forward by his brother. 这个怪念头是他哥哥想出来的。 　　The credit system in America was first adopted by Harvard University in 1872. 美国的学分制是1872年在哈佛大学首先实施的。 　　③ 改变原文的谓语动词，译句的意义是主动的 　　The teacher was satisfied with the answer. 老师对回答感到满意。 　　The long river is originated from that high mountain. 这条大河发源于那座山。 　　(2) 原文主语在译文中作宾语 　　① 一般情况 　　Rainbows are formed when sunlight passes through small drops of water in the sky. 阳光透过天空中的小水滴时形成了彩虹。 　　② 原文by后的宾语做译文主语 　　He was assured by the doctor that the medicine could cure him of his insomnia. 医生向他担保，那种药能治好他的失眠。 　　Other forms of energy can be changed to electric energy by generators. 发电机能把其他形式的能量转变为电能。 　　③ 原文其他介词后的宾语做译文主语 　　Heat is removed from the body during sweating. 出汗时人体散发热量。 　　The compass was invented in China four thousand years ago. 中国在四千年前发明了指南针。 　　Communication satellites are used for international live transmission throughout the world. 全世界都将通讯卫星用于国际间的实况转播。 　　④ 添加“有人”、“没有人”等泛指人称做译文主语 　　If you are asked personal questions， you need not answer them. 如果有人问你的私事，你可以不回答。 　　She hadn't been told Bette’s other name， or she’d forgotten it. 没有人告诉过她蓓蒂姓什么，要不然也许是她忘了。 2、英语被动句译成汉语被动句 　　(1) 直接用“被”字做成被动句 　　Vitamin C is destroyed when it is overheated. 维生素C受热过度就会被破坏。 　　Once the flower has been pollinated and fertilized， the plant provides the newly formed seeds with a reserve of food materials， which will be needed when they themselves germinate. 花一旦被授了粉受了精，植株就会对新生种子提供养料贮藏，以备种子未来发芽之需。 　　(2) 用其他被动词做成被动句（“挨”、“给”、“让”、“叫”、“受”、“受到”、“遭到”、“为…所”、“经…所”等） 　　The crops were washed away by the flood. 庄稼给（让）大水冲跑了。 　　The Wright brothers were highly praised for having made the first flight in the world. 莱特兄弟因为进行了世界上第一次飞行而受到了高度赞扬。 　　He was described as impressed by Deng’s flexibility. 据说他为邓的灵活态度所感动。 　　The Secretary was aware that final decisions must be held open for the President. 国务卿心中有数，最后的决定必须由总统来作出。 3、译成无主语句 　　— 无主语的用法在科技英语中最为常用，凡是说不出动作执行者（施事者），或无从说出施事者时，都可以用无主语的形式来处理。 　　A new office was founded in Beijing. 新设了一个办事处在北京。 　　Politeness and order are demanded in the church. 在教堂里要有礼貌、守秩序。 　　As oil is found deep in the ground its presence cannot be determined by a study of the surface. 因为石油深埋地下，所以单靠研究地面还不能确定有无石油储量。 4、固定结构 　　(1) 形式主语“It is / was / has been / have been”结构 　　— 可以用“据 / 根据 / 有人 / 人们 / 大家 + 谓语动词（改成主动）”的形式来处理 　　It is hoped that … 希望 … It is said that … 据说 … 　　It is stated that … 据称 / 有人声称 … It is reported that … 据报道 … 　　It is known that … 据了解 / 据悉 … It is supposed that …据推测 … 　　It is asserted that … 有人主张 … It is believed that … 有人相信 … 　　It must be admitted that … 必须承认 … It must be pointed out that … 必须指出 … 　　It is well known that … 众所周知 … 　　◆ 变化形（根据具体情况决定是否需要添加时间副词）： 　　① 一般过去式，译文加“曾”或“曾经” 　　例如：It was told that … 人们曾说， … 　　② 过去完成时，译文加“已”或“已经” 　　例如：It has been found that … 已经发现，… 　　③ 加“now”，译文加“现在”或“目前” 　　例如：It is now considered that … 现在 / 目前认为， … 　　④ 加“should”，译文加“应”、“应该”、“应当” 　　例如：It should be pointed out that … 应当指出 … 　　⑤ 加“may”，译文加“可以” 　　例如：It may be safely said that … 可以有把握的说 … 　　It is pointed that there may be as many as 100，000 different sorts of proteins in a man’s body. 有人指出，人体内不同种类的蛋白质可多达10万种。 　　It is well known that laughter has a tonic effect on the mind and body， suffusing the body with a feeling of well-bing. 人们知道 / 众所周知，笑具有健身作用，身心皆宜，它可以使人体充满一种愉快的感觉。 　　It was reported that Yugoslavian President Tito told a Soviet envoy to “go to hell”. 据报道，南斯拉夫总统铁托叫一位苏联使者“别胡诌”。 　　During the enquiry， it was discovered that her death had not been an accident. 在调查中，人们发现她并非死于意外事故。 　　(2) 其他固定结构 　　sb. / sth. be said to + v、 据说 …. 　　sb. / sth. be found to + v、 据发现 / 据证实 …. 　　sb. / sth. be stated to + v、 据称 / 有人声称 …. 　　sb. / sth. be known to + v、 据了解 / 据悉 / 人们知道 / 众所周知 …. 　　sb. / sth. be reported to + v. 据报道 …. 　　sb. / sth. be supposed to + v. 据推测 …. 　　sb. / sth. be asserted to + v. 有人主张 …. 　　sb. / sth. be believed to + v. 有人相信 …. 　　【变化形同4(1) 所示】 　　She is said to have studied English for three years. 据说她已经学了三年英语。 　　The area is known to be rich in natural resources. 据了解，这个地区有丰富的自然资源。 　　The novel is said to be translated into English. 那部小说据说即将译成英语。 　　All bodies on the earth are known to possess weight. 人们知道，地球上一切物质都具有重量。 　　The so-called precious pearls have been found to be common stones. 已经发现，那些所谓的宝珠竟然是些普通的石头。 CONCLUSION： 　　1、用转态译法将英语译成汉语时，最常见的是将英语被动句译成汉语主动句，但汉语主动句不一定要加主语。 　　2、有些英语被动句译成汉语时仍以被动语态出现，但要避免直接用“被”字，而应根据上下文用“受”、“为”、“由”、“获”等其他表示被动概念的词语代替。 二、汉译英中的转态译法 1、汉语主动句译成英语被动句（最常见） 　　(1) 原文主语在译文中作主语 　　① 根据原文语序直接顺译成被动句（用被动态的谓语代替原文主动态的谓语） 　　江菊霞也佩服徐义德的见解。（周而复《上海的早晨》） Jiang Juxia was also struck with admiration at Xu Yide’s suggestion. 　　全国人民所渴望的政治协商会议现在开幕了。（《毛泽东选集》） The Political Consultative Conference so eagerly awaited by the whole nation is herewith inaugurated. 　　马路两旁是整齐的梧桐树。（周而复《上海的早晨》） The avenue was lined with neatly-spaced plane trees. 　　② “是…的”结构的主动句 　　这些产品是我国生产的。These products are made in our country. 　　风速是用秒/米表示的。The speed of wind is measured in meters per second. 　　③ 含“加以 / 予以”等词的主动句 　　这个问题将在下一章加以讨论。This question will be discussed in the next chapter. 　　这个词必须予以特别注意。This word must be paid special attention to. 　　(2) 原文宾语在译文中作主语 　　① 原文有主语（原文主语与宾语位置互换） 　　中美已经建立了外交关系。 Diplomatic relations have been established between China and the United States. 　　一群人立刻把他围住了，向他提出了一个又一个的问题。Very soon he was surrounded by a crowd and was snowed under with questions. 　　② 原文无主语 　　说话时，已摆上茶果上来。（曹雪芹《红楼梦》）Meanwhile refreshments had been served. 　　必须使温度很快从室温升至摄氏125度。 Temperature should be changed from room temperature to 125℃. 　　不要故意把这些问题混在一起。These questions should not be mixed up. 　　(3) 原文其他成分在译文中作主语 　　全国同胞们，中华人民共和国现已宣告成立。（《毛泽东选集》） Fellow-countrymen， the founding of the People’s Republic of China is proclaimed. 2、汉语被动句译成英语主动句 　　珍妮被雨淋感冒了。Jane caught a cold because of the rain. 　　天太冷，水管都给冻住了。It was so cold that the pipe froze. 3、汉语被动句译成英语被动句 　　他被选为校学生会主席。He was elected Chairman of the Students’ Union. 　　社会主义思想体系已为全国人民所接受。 Socialist ideology has been accepted by the people of the whole country. 4、汉语主动句译成英语主动句 　　— 这是一种特殊类型的主动句，虽然看上去是主动句，但其谓语动词多为不及物动词或某些特殊用法的动词 　　这酒口感不错，与价格相称。This wine drinks well for its price. 　　白台布容易脏。 The white table cloth stains easily. 　　这种食物不好消化。 The food won’t digest well. 5、固定结构 　　(1) 译成形式主语“It is / was / has been / have been”结构 　　【参考“英译汉中的转态译法 4 (1)”】 　　众所周知，火药是中国古代的四大发明之一。 It is well known that gunpowder is one of the four great inventions of the ancient Chinese people. 　　必须指出，有些问题还需要澄清。 It must be pointed out that certain questions have yet to be clarified. 　　有人说即将举行的六级考试很难，我们应当做好准备。 It is said that the coming Band 6 English Exam is to be rather difficult， so we are supposed to get fully prepared for it. 　　(2) 译成其他固定结构 　　【参考“英译汉中的转态译法 4 (2)”】 　　中国拥有丰富的物质财富和精神财富，因而注定要在国际事务中发挥决定性的作用。China， which abounds in material and cultural resources， is destined to play a decisive role in international affairs. 　　今天下午有一场英语讲座，全体三年级学生请务必参加。 There will be an English lecture this afternoon. All the third-year students are expected to attend. CONCLUSION： 　　3、用转态译法将汉语译成英语时，最常见的是将汉语主动句译成英语被动句，且英语被动句一定要有主语，但可以是形式主语。 　　4、汉语主动句译成英语主动句这是一种特殊类型转换，虽然英语译文看上去是主动句，但其谓语动词多为不及物动词或某些特殊用法的动词。