六、 主动式与被动式转换
英语中被动语态用得较多,而汉语中被动语态则用得相对较少,因此英译汉时被动语态常常可转换为主动语态,当然有时也可以保留其被动语态。而英语中的主动语态,有时汉译也可根据汉语的表达习惯转换为被动语态。
(一) 被动转换为主动
英语被动句式转换为汉语主动句式时,原文中的主语在译文中有时仍可作主语,有时也可作宾语,有时全句还可译成带表语的主动句。例如:
(1) Heat is constantly produced by the body as a result of muscular and cellular activity. 由于肌肉和细胞活动的结果,身体不断地产生热。
(2) In a moment he will turn and see us, and his face will be lighted by a smile so radiant you'll feel warm all the way through……过一会儿他会转过身来看着我们,那时他脸上会泛出灿烂的微笑,让你全身都感到温暖。
(3) With the development of speech, the number of occasions producing sudden experiences of pleasure increased, and since laughter was closely associated with speech, man had this means of expressing his pleasure. 随着说话的发展 ,产生突然感受愉快的机会增多了,并且,由于笑与说话密切相关,人类就有了这种表达愉快的手段。
(4) In future conflicts, similar logistical problems are likely to be repeated——raising the prospect of mass confusion in a full-scale mobilization. 在未来的冲突中,类似的后勤问题大概还会重复出现,从而在一次大规模的动员中有可能出现大乱。
当然有时英语被动语态翻译成汉语时仍可用被动句式,例如:
(1) When we were first captured, my own reaction was mainly one of fear and suspicion. 我们刚被俘时,我的感觉是又害怕又怀疑。
(2) The visitor was flattered and impressed.客人受宠若惊,深为感动。
(二) 主动转换为被动
有时, 英语中主动句在汉译时可用汉语中的被动句来表达,但这一现象似不多见。例如:
(1) His acceptance into the Party is a quite natural thing. 他被吸收到党内是完全应该的。
(2) Appalled by what he had done, Bob rushed to the parapet and flung himself on the rocks below, where the sea claimed him immediately.鲍勃对他所做的一切感到震惊,他冲到护墙处,纵身跳到下面的岩石上,立即被大海所吞没。
七、分句转换
分句转换是指一种英语分句翻译成汉语时转换成另一种分句,例如:
(1) They felt that it was much easier and safer to rob their own people, for they knew that white policemen never really searched diligently for Negroes who committed crimes against other Negroes.他们觉得抢劫他们的同种人要安全得多,因为他们知道,如果黑人侵犯的是黑人,白人警察便从来不认真搜捕。(定语从句——条件状语从句)
(2) Her great grief in this relation was that her only child, on whose education no expense had been and would be spared, was now old enough to perceive these deficiencies in his mother. 这一方面给她造成了极大的苦闷,也就是有关她的独生子的问题。虽然过去和今后在儿子的教育费用上既不曾也不会省掉什么钱,然而如今他的年纪已经不小,能注意他母亲的这些缺点了。(定语从句——让步状语从句)