0908技巧6正反译法

翻译技巧

第六讲正说反译，反说正译法

正说反译，反说正译法(Negation)

Negation is an important composition of any language, but different languages have various ways to express negation, which are reflected not only in the use of negative words but also in different structures of negation.

英语的否定形式多种多样——全部否定, 部分否定, 双重否定, 形式否定, 意义否定

汉语的否定形式单一——negative words are always put before the part to be negated.

1. 否定转移

(1) 一般否定——〉特殊否定

例1. I don’t teach because teaching is easy for me.

我并不是因为教书容易才教书的。

例2. We don’t read novels for amuseme nt.

我们读小说不是为了消遣。

例3. The planets do not go around the sun at a uniform speed

我们读小说不是为了消遣。

(2) 特殊否定——〉一般否定

例1. No sound was heard. 没有听到声音。

例2. So far we know of no effective way to store solar energy.

到目前为止，我们还不知道储存太阳能的有效办法。

2. 意义否定的译法

所谓意义否定，就是英语中某些形式上是肯定的，但意义上却是否定的句式。

此类句式中，既没有否定词(no, not, none, nothing, nobody, neither, hardly, seldom, rarely, little等) ，也没有带否定的前缀( dis-, ir-, im-, non-, un-等)的词。其句意上的否定意义，均缘于句中的某些词的词义。

(1)由某些名词引起的意义否定

例1. A few instruments are in a state of neglect .

一些仪器处于无人管理的状态。

例2. In the absence of gravity, there would be no air around the earth.

没有重力，地球周围就没有空气。

例3. Shortage of workers kept the progress of the project slow.

由于工人不够，该项目进展缓慢。

(2) 由某些动词或动词短语引起的意义否定( e.g. fail, refuse, keep off, reject, deny, prevent from, refrain from, give up, withhold, avoid, stop, turn down, fall short of, lose sight of, shut one’s eyes to, turn a deaf ear to等) 例1. He failed to appreciate our kindness.

两次检查都没有发现引擎中导致事故的故障。

例2. The name slipped from my memory.

我记不起这个名字了。

例3. The specification lacks detail.

这份证明书不够详尽。

(3) 由某些介词引起的意义否定

例1. Theory of Relativity worked out by Einstein is now above many people.

爱因斯坦提出的相对论现在还有不少人理解不了。

例2. It was beyond his power to sign such a contract.

他无权签订这种合同。

例3. The score could have been higher but for some excellent goalkeeping by Simon.

若不是因为西蒙守门技术精湛，得分还会更高些。

例4. When Philip missed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do.

菲利普误了最后一班公共汽车，茫然不知该怎么办。

(4) 由某些连词引起的意义否定

例1. He would rather die standing than live kneeling.

他宁肯站着死，也不愿跪着生。

例2. I’ll see you dead before I accept your terms.

见你的鬼去吧！我才不会接受你的条件呢？

例3. Unless there is motion, there is no work.

没有运动就没有功。

(5) 某些形容词引起的意义否定

例1. Our drinks are free from all artificial colorings and flavorings.

我们的饮料不含任何人工色素和调味品。

例2. Appearances are deceptive .

外表是靠不住的。

凡事不可貌相。

例3. The explanation is pretty thin.

这种解释站不住脚(理由很不充分)

例4. 这个问题远非那么复杂。

This problem is far from being complicated.

(6) 某些句子引起的意义否定

例1. He was 75, but he carried his years lightly.

他七十五岁了，可是并不显老。

例2. Imagine that. So you’re a navy officer now.

真没想到, 你现在成了一名海军军官了。

例3. Don’t be a damned fool. Remember I’m not a gentlem an. I know how to use my fists.

别犯傻，我可不是正人君子，我的拳头可不是吃素的。

In the other way round, then, in translating Chinese into English, a number of negative sentences can be turned into the affirmative.

你没事吧？Are you all right/OK?

不要客气。Make yourself at home.

别挂断电话。Hold the line, please.

雨一直不停，下了三天。It has been raining continuously for three days.

3. 形式否定的译法

所谓形式否定句，是指某些形式上是否定的，但其意义上却是肯定的句式，且肯定语气往往更加强烈。

例1. I couldn’t agree with you more.我和你意见完全一致。(你我配合得再合拍不过了。)

例2. It’s no laughing matter.这可是件严肃的事。

例3. Don’t lose time in posting this lette r. 赶快把这封信寄出去。

例4. His speech leaves nothing to be desired. 他的讲话精彩极了。

Then in translating Chinese into English, the other way round is often a good choice.

我的头痛老不见好。My headache persisted.

他们一开始很不习惯。They had a hard time becoming accustomed to it.

我们讨论中国文化问题，不要忘记这些基本观点。

These basic concepts must be kept in mind in our discussion of China’s cultural problems.

4. 部分否定的译法( partial negation)

部分否定句由all, every, both, everything, everybody, always等含有“整体”或“多数”意义的词，与否定词not构成，通常译成“不全是”、“未必都”、“并非全”等。

例1. Both of the instruments are not precise. 并非这两台机器都是精密的。

例2. I don’t know all the meters.这些仪表，我并非全都熟悉。

5. 双重否定的译法（negation of negation / double-negation)

例1There is no smoke without fire. 无风不起浪。

例2Nothing venture, nothing have. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子

例3One cannot succeed without perseverance. 无毅力不能成大事。

例4A home without love is no more a home than a body without a soul is a man.

正像没有灵魂的身体不称其为人一样，没有爱情的家庭也不称其为家庭。

例5Sunlight is no less necessary than fresh air to a healthy condition of body.

日光和新鲜空气对人体的健康状况同样是必要的。

Assignment

翻译下列句子，注意正反译法的转换

1.She never comes without bringing some candy for the children.

她每次来都给孩子们带些糖果。

2.If the weather holds a couple of days, the plane will take off.

要是天气三两天内保持不变,飞机就起飞。

3.His refusal is not final. 他的拒绝并不是不可改变的。

4.The significance of these incidents wasn’t lost on us.这些事引起了我们的重视。

5.You can’t make something out of nothing. 巧妇难为无米之炊。

6.February 17, 1915, was just another day at the Western Savings Bank in Chicago. That is, until 2:30P.M.

一九九五年二月十七日，芝加哥的西方储蓄银行里一切如常，但到下午两点半钟情况就不同了。

7.No man is wise at all times. 智者千虑，必有一失。

8.She went out before I realized what was happening. 没等我弄清楚发生了什么事，她就走出去了。

9.That thermometer must be lying. 这个温度计一定不准。

10.The meetings were marked by such an absence of lively discussions that at times they were almost on the point

of breaking up. 这个温度计一定不准。

11.活到老学到老。No man is too old to learn.

No man is so old but he can learn.

12.这个问题我不懂。This problem is above me .

13.你要特别小心。You can’t be too careful.

14.今天的世界很不安宁。The world today is far from peaceful.

15. 会议开得冷冷清清，有时甚至开不下去。

The meetings were marked by such an absence of lively discussions that at times they were almost on the point of breaking up.

16. 这事容易极了，我们半小时就做完了。

The job was no sweat; we finished it in half an hour.