一.汉语中常见的非常简练而独特的说法
(short-hand phrases)的翻译
对于汉语中那些含义深刻而表达简练的特别说法,在翻译成英语时,应遵循两条基本原则:一是尽量参考英语中原有的类似的说法,二是尽量运用英语中的习惯用法。下面举一些常见的例子:
“下海” To go into commercial business To drop out of (teaching, etc.) and venture into business To be seduced into commerce / industry
康居工程 The Affordable Housing Program
“货币分房” The “own-as-you-pay” housing system
“吃饭财政” A “mouth-feeding” budget-a budget much of which is used for a burgeoning government payroll
以外贸企业为龙头 With foreign trade companies as the locomotive / flagship
“摸着石头过河” “To wade across the stream by feeling the way”
文化搭台,经贸唱戏 Cultural events set the stage and trade activities play the star role.
大锅饭 The “big pot” distribution system under which everyone gets the same “portion” irrespective of his work / contribution
饭后百步走,活到九十九。 An after-dinner walk a day keeps the doctor away.
“金梧桐”企业实 行网上招聘人才。 Companies wishing to attract talents worldwide have set up recruitment homepages on the Internet.
带职分流, 定向培训, 加强基层, 改善结构。 无情调节, 有情安排。 To stream out redundant government staff with their ranks retained; to provide tailor-made training programs geared to re-entry purposes; to move downward to join and rejuvenate grass-roots organizations and to improve the personnel composition with “fresh blood” injected. To trim out redundancies relentlessly, and to re-assign the laid-offs considerately.
(集邮爱好者语)方寸之间,深情无限。 On these tiny postage stamps, Philatelic friendship “franks.”
生意场上“一锤子买卖”的做法 The “grab-the-money-and-run” business mentality
堤外损失堤内补 To gain on the swings what was lost on the roundabouts
把企业推向市场 To lead/guide enterprises (at their elbows) to the market To let enterprises “swim” / “immerse” in the marketplace
二.带数字的归纳语的翻译
这是指“三要三不要”之类的说法。翻译成英语是“three do’s and three don’t’s”。再如“三农问题”(指农业,农村,农民),我们似可把“三农”英译为rural economy, rural development and rural demography。下面再举一些例子:(参见下表)
“三包”;包修、包换、包退 We offer 3-R guarantees: guaranteed repair, replacement and refund.
“三来一补”:来料,来图,来样加工;补偿贸易 The “Three plus one” trading mix: custom manufacturing (with materials, designs or samples by the customer) and compensation trade.
“三公”:公平、公正、公开 The recruitment is based on the principle of equal opportunity, fair treatment and open competition.
“三个面向”:面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来 Out education is oriented to the modernization program, to the global perspective and to our nation’s future goals.
“四大目标”:建设大港口、扶持大工业、发展大经济、实现大繁荣 We are determined to build a port of large size, foster an industry of large scope, develop an economy of large scale and achieve prosperity of large magnitude.
“四自原则”:自找伙伴,自筹资金,自主经营,自负盈亏 The “four-self” principle: self-supporting in finding partners, self-reliance in raising capital, self-decision in management, and self-responsibility for losses and gains.
一个确保、三个到位、五项改革 One goal to attain, three tasks to accomplish and five areas to undergo reform
“五讲四美”:讲文明、讲礼貌、讲卫生、讲纪律、讲道德;心灵美、语言美、行为美、环境美 Five merits to advocate and four virtues to promote: civilized behavior, common courtesy, hygienic conditions, proper discipline and public morality; loft sentiments, refined language, good manners and environmental awareness
“九通一平”: 通水、通电、通热、通气、通下水、通邮、通讯、通闭路电视、通还道路;平整土地 Eight availables and two accessibles: Water, electricity, heat, gas, sewage, post, telecommunications, and closed circuit TV are available. You are accessible to paved roads and leveled ground.
八个环境:园区的创新环境、开放环境、法制环境、引进人才环境、继续教育环境、产业发展空间环境、政府管理和社会服务环境 To create a favorable environment in the Science Park for: technical innovation, outward orientation, operation legalization, talent attraction, continuing education, industrial expansion, governance and service provision
(英译汉)the three-P’s: patience, persistence, and perseverance “三性”:耐性、持久性、坚韧不拔性
三.带“化”字的表达方式的翻译
汉语比较灵活,许多字后面都可以加一个“化”字,例如下面的“螺马化”。而英语则不然,不可随意在任何名词和形容词的后面加上相应的词尾(-ize, -ization, -izing)而使其“化”字化。例如,下面若干个带“化”字的词中唯有mechanized一词是“正宗”的,而其余的“化”字全都是根据意思“绕着弯儿”翻译的。这样一来,汉语原文中的简练有力而整齐划一的特色就没有了。但是,意译的效果也有一定的特点,那就是意思清楚、语言地道;再加上大体整齐,或者有可能的话,争取做到对称押韵。
男女平等制度化,同工同酬定规化。
The equality between men and women is here to stay, and equal work for equal pay is the order of the day.
重型装备的驮运已经从骡马化发展到机械化。
The moving of heavey-duty weaponry has undergone the stage from the use of draught animals to mechanized haulage.
干部队伍要革命化、知识化、专业化、年轻化。
The contingent of cadres should be composed of staunch revolutionaries who are better educated, better trained, and younger in age.
四.证书和奖状的翻译
在把中文的证书和奖状翻译成英文时,应该考虑到以下几个方面:首先当然是要准确传达原文的内容;译文中的意思必须正确无误。这一点是毋庸置疑的。其次是要反映出英文证书和奖状的文字风格和语言特点。如果我们找来一些英语国家的证书(如结业证书、学位证书、公证书、营业执照等)和奖状(如学校奖状、企业奖状等)加以研究,我们不难看出,其中的文字都十分庄重、严谨、贴切,并且都有一些特定的表述方法。此外,英文证书和奖状在形式上的特征也不能忽视,译文要尽量模仿其常用的格式。只有这样,译文才能称得上是贯彻了“洋为中用、外为我用”的方针;取得了“达意、传神、表形”三统一的效果;从而为外国读者所喜闻乐见。
下面是一个中文奖状的例子。这里提供的译文(包括格式)参照了英文奖状的一些特点:
发明创造 科技之星奖 为表彰在科学技术 方面做出卓越成就 特此颁发证书 获奖者 获奖项目 AWARD This certificate of nomination is presented to Star of scientific/technological invention/innovation (name of recipient) for the outstanding accomplishment of (name of project) Signed by Date