二. 二级笔译实务
(1)英译汉的命题同样选材于《纽约时报》,但与三级英译汉相比,二级中体现了一些句子的考点。此次二级英译汉中的第二篇文章体现了略带文学色彩的文章。要提醒考生注意的是,在2012年以后的二级英译汉中会逐渐体现一定的文学色彩,比如,散文或杂文的翻译,以加大考试的难度。
二级笔译英译汉的主题是:
(1)海洋生态学家与渔业管理学家共同研究鱼类的维系和管理问题
Can we have our fish and eat it too?An unusual collaboration of marine ecologists and fisheries management scientists says the answer may be yes.
我们能否二者兼得,既有鱼可吃同时还能维系鱼类继续生存呢?由海洋生态学家与渔业管理学家进行的一项非同寻常的合作项目表明,这一答案也许是肯定的。
第一句原本可以译成汉语的一句习语:鱼与熊掌不可兼得。但是,根据该篇的上下文,如果按汉语习语来译,就显得很不妥当,因此,在翻译该句时应适当对含义做出调整,使之符合文章的要求。
Their conclusions are at once gloomy —overfishing continues to threaten many species —and upbeat: a combination of steps can turn things around.
两组科学家的结论喜忧掺半:忧的是过度捕捞将继续威胁着许多鱼类,喜的是若采取综合措施将会扭转事态。
该句的翻译考点是:采用“总分结构”还是“分总结构”翻译该句。如按照原句的顺序来译,就不太符合汉语的表达习惯,因为原句的表达形式是采用“分总结构”,而汉语则习惯于“总分结构”。
They sought and received financing and began organizing workshops at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, an organization sponsored by the National Science Foundation and based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
他们获得了研究资助并开始在国家生态综合分析中心组织研讨会。该中心是国家科学基金会资助的一个研究机构,位于圣巴巴拉市加利福尼亚大学。
在翻译此句时,要注意将同位语译成一个独立的句子,以使汉语表达更为通顺。
(2)野火与植物强劲的生命力
Perhaps naively, I had expected to find that many trees had been killed. They hadn’t. They had blackened bark, but were otherwise looking rather well.
也许处于幼稚,我本料想会看到许多烧死的树木。但它们并没有被大火烧死,只有被烧黑的树皮,要不是这场大火,它们本来长势良好。
But unlike a normal animal, it’s a shape-shifter.
然而火并不像一个普通的动物,它是一个可以使物体改变形状的动物。
“a shape-shifter”名词转动词。词性的转换在翻译中是一个常用的手法,这是由英汉两种语言表达方式的差异所决定的。
汉译英部分对考生使用句式的熟练程度,词语内涵的把握都有较高的要求。
例句:
1. 尽管中国在禁烟和控烟方面做了大量的工作,但中国控烟形势依然严峻。
Considerable work as China has done in its campaign to control smoking and use of tobacco, the situation of smoking control still remains grim.
该句使用了一个“让步状语从句”的特殊句式。
2. 中国的烟草和烟制品的生产和消费占世界第一。
China ranks first in the world for its production and consumption of tobacco and tobacco products.
该句的主语应该如何确定,到底是“生产与消费”作主语,还是“中国”作主语?该句考察了考生对汉英语中的表达习惯不同的认知。
3. 许多烟民认为,吸烟可以消除疲劳、解除烦闷、振奋精神、刺激情绪;吸烟可以社交联谊、广交朋友等。
Many smokers believe that smoking can help eliminate one’s fatique, relieve one’s boredom, heighten one’s spirit and stimulate one’s mood. Moreover, smoking can help socialize oneself with others, extend one’s circle of friends.
汉语中习惯用四字词组,译成英语时也应尽力选择字数相等形式来译。
4.高储蓄为促进国内投资的快速增长提供了充足的资金,而高投资反过来又促进了经济的快速增长。
The high rate of savingsprovides sufficient funds for the rapid growth of domestic investment and the high investment in turn greatly facilitates the fast growth of economy.
5. 高储蓄率主要是中国的计划生育政策下的人口结构、经济快速增长背景下家庭消费习惯改变缓慢等长期因素作用的结果。
The high rate of savings can be chiefly attributedto the long-term factors that the population structure is formed under China’s one-child policy and household consumption habits change very slowly under the circumstances of the rapid economic growth.
6. 尽管家庭收入随着整体经济增长而迅速增加,但个人消费习惯可能需要好几年甚至好几十年才能改变。
Although the family income has quickly increased with the overall economic growth, it may take years or even decades beforethe personal consumption habits will change.
7. 在“过度储蓄优点”的影响下,中国已经并可能继续保持高增长、低通胀,而且只要继续保持高储蓄率,就足以抵御来自外部的冲击。
Under the effects of the “excess savings advantages”, China has and will continue to maintain a situation of high growth and low inflation. And so long as China continues to maintain a high rate of savings, it will be able to withstand external impact.